Was wondering why we don't have open carry in Texas and if there is someone out there working to bring us open carry.
TC-TX said:www.TxCDL.org
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YES!!! Please Join Us!
TC-TX
Senior Member
Join Date: 09-26-05
Location: Texas
Posts: 276 www.TxCDL.org
YES!!! Please Join Us!
www.TxCDL.org
We are Active Supporters of the Political Initiative for Open Carry of Handguns in Texas.
Please email or PM our President (Gary Williams) or me if we can answer any questions...
On a personal note, I always do question why guys would want to open carry. I always wonder if it is really about crime prevention or is it more a self confidence issue or a machismo issue.
Open carry is one of those issues of which I am unsure. I can see both sides of the argument and both have a degree of merit. Historically most cities that have had open carry abandoned the practice in the gold rush days (according to a Discovery channel show I watched). It even sighted how guns were so valuable then that if you walked down the wrong alley with a nice firearm you might not make it out alive if someone else wanted that weapon. Luckily the average firearms is not a full years wages today like it was in those days so I doubt that would be as big an issue now.
I know it is not something I would ever want to do personally. I do not really see it being a big crime prevention method but who knows. I just don't like other people knowing what I am carrying or how I am carrying it. I also don't want to encourage anyone to just knife me in the back instead of giving me a chance to fight back, shoot me first, or just jump me in a way as to prevent me access to my weapon. I know these are all unlikely scenerios but why take the chance...we are all carrying incase of the unlikely event we would ever need a firearm anyway.
I guess, in the end, I have no real problem with someone open carrying if they are a licensed CCW holder but it is not something that would appeal to me. I still think people should receive training before being allowed to carry period so I stick with permit laws. But once you have shown you are a legal gun owner, responsible enough to go get the permit (which should be "shall issue" if you meet the legal requirements), and have taken the basic gun safety courses needed for a CCW permit go ahead and open carry if you feel some need to do so.
On a personal note, I always do question why guys would want to open carry. I always wonder if it is really about crime prevention or is it more a self confidence issue or a machismo issue.
Whether or not it's a good practice, I am indifferent to. I probably wouldn't indulge in the practice even if it were legal.
Given the choice between pushing for legalizing open carry or trying to obtain additional legal protection from civil suits stemming from exercising my right of self-defense - I'll take the civil liability indemnification, thankyouverymuch.