bhhacker
Member
Anyone know the reasoning behind this? Is it just because it can scare people? To me, it just seems rediculous. Anyones input is appreciated.
I CANNOT believe you can't open carry in texas
- Thread starter bhhacker
- Start date
- Status
scurtis_34471
Member
It is a bit ironic that Texas and Florida, which are two of the more gun-friendly states in the country and have better reciprosity than anyone else both ban open carry. Go figure.
Still, how hard is it to throw on a cover garment, use an IWB or throw a mouse gun in your pocket? I don't think I'd open carry much if it was allowed, because of the crap I'd be sure to get from people. Then, there's the "shoot me first" factor. Nope. I'd stick with concealed.
Keep in mind that a tucked T-Shirt with an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt over the top won't attract any attention at all in a state with a hot climate. Some people might think it screams "questionable taste," but very few people think it screams "gun." I can walk around all day with an XD-40 Service in an OWB holster without any issues at all.
Still, how hard is it to throw on a cover garment, use an IWB or throw a mouse gun in your pocket? I don't think I'd open carry much if it was allowed, because of the crap I'd be sure to get from people. Then, there's the "shoot me first" factor. Nope. I'd stick with concealed.
Keep in mind that a tucked T-Shirt with an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt over the top won't attract any attention at all in a state with a hot climate. Some people might think it screams "questionable taste," but very few people think it screams "gun." I can walk around all day with an XD-40 Service in an OWB holster without any issues at all.
I don't know why it's not allowed, but I do know that TXCDL: http://txcdl.org/ is trying to fix it. I'm not a resident of TX anymore, but I hope you guys can get some OC legislation passed soon.
M2 Carbine
member
Some people think it makes you a target.
For instance if I was bent on doing no good, first I would neutralize anyone I saw with a gun.
Right after TX got the concealed carry, a co-worker's wife was in a Quick Stop holdup where the BG didn't pay attention to the two elderly ladies behind him. When the BG faced the clerk and pulled a gun on him one of the ladies pulled a 38 and cocked it while sticking it in the BG's ear. According to the co-worker's wife the elderly lady said, "Please don't drop your gun. I just spent a lot of money so I can kill you". The BG not only dropped his gun but pis*** himself.
I would like to see us have a choice. I'd probably open carry half the time.
Vern Humphrey
Member
And the proof of that is that police carry openly, and the streets are littered with the dead bodies of cops.
LittleLebowski
member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2006
- Messages
- 129
Littered? Cops are dying left and right solely because of the weapon their hip? Any corroborating evidence to back that claim?
rantingredneck
Member
I think Vern was being sarcastic. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.
LittleLebowski
member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2006
- Messages
- 129
Gotcha, sorry about that.
Vern Humphrey
Member
What, you mean the streets aren't littered with dead cops? Even though cops carry openly?
Gee . . . that must mean that open carry doesn't make you a target.
Car Knocker
Member
The first time I read the TX CCW laws, I was amazed at how restrictive they are.
M2 Carbine
member
That's not a reasonable comparison to Joe blow standing in a line at a 7-11 with a 45 on his hip.
All that will acomplish is the BG will leave with the store's money and a nice 45
Has an armed bank guard ever been a deterrent in a bank robbery? Probably almost never.
The guard is the first thing they take out and if you're gun was showing you would go down with the bank guard.
It's foolish to advertize that you have a gun.
I'm planning on moving to TX. I'm disgusted at the gun laws, Texans should be ashamed. If there' one state in the union where you should be able to go around strapped, if there was a LAST state to ban open carry, it should be texas. Here in Ohio we have our problems with our CCW law too but at least I'm not a criminal if my shirt rides up.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Never?!? Not ever?!?!
In point of fact, most retailers and armored car companies seem to think armed guards are a deterrent.
Riiiiiight. In states with open carry, the streets are littered with the bodies of people shot down for carrying openly.
Blackfork
Member
Texas Laws
Texas laws are not much better and frequently worse compared to many states. It's a struggle to get clearer, simpler better law on the books, plus to get folks to enforce the clarifications. The TSRA has twice gone back and had the "traveling" provision re-defined only to have district attorneys thumb their noses at the new state law and instruct their police to arrest people anyway. Not to mention the State Troopers being found overcharging for the CCL program and building an off-budget slush fund with the extra.
No open carry. The legislature killed the future of hunting a few years ago with a youth safety act requiring state training for hunters. Every session sees some big city legislator introduce a bill to ban handguns, register firearms, tax ammunition, require safe storage, et, et, et. All those bills have to be answered and fought.
Did you know you can be arrested on your own property for killing a poisonous snake with a firearm (outside city limits!)...unless you have a valid hunting license and drivers license on your person? The State Fish and Game lobbyists are very powerful.
On the other hand, like everyone else, we do have a big, fat, healthy, growing bureacracy with many perks, privileges and pensions for its members.
And a huge prison system.
Texas laws are not much better and frequently worse compared to many states. It's a struggle to get clearer, simpler better law on the books, plus to get folks to enforce the clarifications. The TSRA has twice gone back and had the "traveling" provision re-defined only to have district attorneys thumb their noses at the new state law and instruct their police to arrest people anyway. Not to mention the State Troopers being found overcharging for the CCL program and building an off-budget slush fund with the extra.
No open carry. The legislature killed the future of hunting a few years ago with a youth safety act requiring state training for hunters. Every session sees some big city legislator introduce a bill to ban handguns, register firearms, tax ammunition, require safe storage, et, et, et. All those bills have to be answered and fought.
Did you know you can be arrested on your own property for killing a poisonous snake with a firearm (outside city limits!)...unless you have a valid hunting license and drivers license on your person? The State Fish and Game lobbyists are very powerful.
On the other hand, like everyone else, we do have a big, fat, healthy, growing bureacracy with many perks, privileges and pensions for its members.
And a huge prison system.
M2 Carbine
member
Come back to earth.
I doubt that anyone thinks walking down the street open carry will get you randomly shot but if you get in the way of a BG determined to do a job, the fact that you have shown him that you have a gun will cause him to either change his mind or just take you out first.
I would like to see TX get open carry but I still say it's foolish to advertise that you are carrying a gun.
varoadking
Member
Pretty sound reasoning if you ask me. I think open carry is stupid, for any number of reasons...
Vern Humphrey
Member
If I don't seem to be on the same planet as yourself, you might check your nautical almanac.
Cops get in the way of BGs determined to do a job all the time (that's their job) but BGs rarely go looking for cops to shoot.
There is no evidence that being openly armed exposes you to any special danger -- and the converse is probably true, people who would pick on you avoid you when they know you're armed.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Where in the Constitution does it say "I think it's stupid" is grounds for setting aside the Bill of Rights?
M2 Carbine
member
I don't disagree.
Since I'm not opposed to open carry and there's no way to prove if it is a deterrent or not, it's a waste of time arguing the good or bad of it.
Personally, the way I look at it is if I turned BG I would sure like to know if any of my victims was armed. Then I'd act accordingly.
Maybe seeing a open carry in line at a 7-11 I'd go someplace else.
Maybe seeing a open carry in a jewelry store I'd take that man out first.
cloudcroft
Member
bhhacker,
Well, you COULD OC in Texas...way back prior to 1872 when the courts ruled against it...you know, during Reconstruction after the Civil War when the Union and assorted Carpetbaggers didn't want ex-Confederate soldiers (such as "Outlaw Josey Wales") packing heat...some say also they didn't want free Blacks carrying, either.
So, Texas USED to have OC...but not for 135 years now.
But we ARE trying to change that...join us:
http://txcdl.org/
-- John D.
Well, you COULD OC in Texas...way back prior to 1872 when the courts ruled against it...you know, during Reconstruction after the Civil War when the Union and assorted Carpetbaggers didn't want ex-Confederate soldiers (such as "Outlaw Josey Wales") packing heat...some say also they didn't want free Blacks carrying, either.
So, Texas USED to have OC...but not for 135 years now.
But we ARE trying to change that...join us:
http://txcdl.org/
-- John D.
varoadking
Member
All rights are subject to law...
The Constitution does not mention the subsequent 10 individual Amendments that comprise the Bill of Rights - be it the Second or otherwise - only the process to propose an Amendment. But then, I'm certain you knew that...
Vern Humphrey
Member
Are you trying to say a mere law can set aside the Constitution? Or that there are no rights specified in the Bill of Rights?
CypherNinja
Member
I think it's only logical that OC might make you a target.
How much of a target remains open to debate.
(I'd imagine that some BG's would put you at the top of the list, some would be highly conflicted, and some would just say "F$&@ this" and go somewhere else. The proportions of said critters could be argued until the end of time, there's no way to answer it.)
How much of a target remains open to debate.
(I'd imagine that some BG's would put you at the top of the list, some would be highly conflicted, and some would just say "F$&@ this" and go somewhere else. The proportions of said critters could be argued until the end of time, there's no way to answer it.)
Vern Humphrey
Member
That line could have come from Handgun Control's playbook
"I think it's only logical that having a gun might make you a target."
"I think it's only logical that the criminal would take your gun away from you."
"I think it's only logical that a gun in the house is more likely to kill a family member."
And on and on and on.
Hard to argue that disallowing open carry is infringing on your right to "keep & bear". They're not saying you can't carry, just that you have to follow the rules. Just as there are rules regulating every other right...
- Status