When did Texas lose open carry?

[theblakester]

While this is true, it would be a highly unlikely outcome. The old law was very specifically about "intentionally" not concealing so an accidental slip would be quite unlikely to get a person in trouble.

The new law is a good step, but given that I have not heard of anyone being prosecuted or arrested for accidentally failing to conceal, it's hard to know how much of a practical benefit it will actually provide.

Neither have I, but I have a cop neighbor who told me that in Texas they are more strict about it than in Florida generally (although I did see the video of the Florida trooper pulling the guy and his wife over and arresting the guy for accidentally displaying his CC).

I like the idea of open carry being legal. I would be able to do it when I go out to the ranch or hunting elsewhere, and if I need to go into the town to the store, I wouldn't have to switch guns/holsters. In the city however, I would probably stick to CC, because i think open carrying would make me an initial target against a couple thugs looking to rob someone or some business. I just wouldn't worry about dressing around my pistol to guarantee concealment as much (even though sometimes my T shirts still print a little since I haven't lost last years winter weight)

 

[JustinJ]

I like the idea of open carry being legal. I would be able to do it when I go out to the ranch or hunting elsewhere,

If you're on private property you can open carry. I wouldn't recommend on the front porch in a neighborhood but if you're on a private ranch or land and the owner doesn't object you're fine to open carry.

 

[Chris-bob]

OC and CC should be legal without any permits required. In fact, the 2A should be the only firearm related 'law' in this country.

 

[Outlaw Man]

"As of August, 2009, four states that currently restrict open carry as a remnant of the post-Civil war Reconstruction era[37] (Texas, South Carolina, Oklahoma and Arkansas) are considering making it again legal.

Arkansas is reaping the benefits of the first Republican controlled House and Senate since Reconstruction. I don't remember how many pro-gun bills passed, but there were several. A specific OC bill failed due to the RINO Speaker and Democrat Governor. There's some question about whether or not constitutional carry was passed.

It's been nearly 150 years, and I'm definitely not saying we need to go back to Reconstruction or the Civil War, but here's hoping all four of those states - and they're all fairly pro-gun - get that Draconian law scrubbed from the books.

 

[theblakester]

OC and CC should be legal without any permits required. In fact, the 2A should be the only firearm related 'law' in this country.

I know. I'm talking about if I'm open carrying on the ranch, but have to drive into town for corn, gas, food, etc. then I have to swap holsters/guns so that I am concealed while in town.

 

[Dean1818]

The second Texas has OC some dudes will walk through suburbia plano with an OCed Glock 17 and 5 spare mags on the belt. Cops will get a lot of MWAG calls and the interactions will be posted on YouTube. Don't need that and don't miss that. Get your CHL, learn how to properly conceal and have a nice day.

I agree....

Right now, I can CCW almost everywhere.

I fear if OC is passed everywhere in Texas, there will be signs everywhere.


Possible meaning? OC everywhere may mean LESS actual carry

Some people think OC is the only way to have 2A rights.

I feel my 2A is fully excersiced with CCW

I do think that OC s fine in rural settings.

Also, The very progun governor is against OC everywhere in Texas

I open carry when I hunt, but think its not a great idea for the major cities

 

[JohnKSa]

Years ago, I OC'd on trails in Texas. I was also told that it was legal to have a loaded unconcealed handgun in your vehicle.

Unless by "years ago" you mean over 140 years ago, you were breaking the law unless the trails were on your own property or private property where you had been given permission to OC.

Believe that is history now assuming I was told correctly in the first place.

Whoever told you it was legal could have gotten you in a lot of trouble--both for carrying a handgun in public and for having a handgun in your vehicle. Neither has been legal since the end of the civil war except in very limited circumstances.

It still isn't legal to OC in public or have an unconcealed handgun in your vehicle but you can (for the last few years) have a concealed handgun in your vehicle with or without a CHL and since 1995 you can carry a concealed handgun in public with a CHL.

 

[X-Rap]

The idea is for citizens to be armed and removing as many of those obstacles as possible should be the goal of legislators.
I'm not a hard core OC guy I'm a hard core carry guy and the thought of being arrested because someone sees my gun is ridiculous in what most claim to be such a freedom loving state.
I feel I use discretion in how I carry just like I do in my dress but some times I get it wrong according to some but the way I see it is, it's a right not a privilege so get over it I'm not the bad guy.

 

[22-rimfire]

Unless by "years ago" you mean over 140 years ago, you were breaking the law unless the trails were on your own property or private property where you had been given permission to OC.Whoever told you it was legal could have gotten you in a lot of trouble--both for carrying a handgun in public and for having a handgun in your vehicle. Neither has been legal since the end of the civil war except in very limited circumstances.

It still isn't legal to OC in public or have an unconcealed handgun in your vehicle but you can (for the last few years) have a concealed handgun in your vehicle with or without a CHL and since 1995 you can carry a concealed handgun in public with a CHL.

That is pretty much what I gather now. I really knew nothing about laws concerning carrying a gun in public back in the 70's. I knew you needed a permit to carry concealed, but that is about it. I routinely carried a loaded 22 revolver in my pickup when I did field work and I covered a tremendous amount of the state area. There was no internet to look things up and I followed what others told me and accepted it to be true. Glad no issues ever developed at that time.

 

[Dave Workman]

Sorry, but I'll continue to argue for OC. It is a pain and too difficult to CC a decent combat pistol in a decent caliber.

Nonsense.
There are a variety of marvelous CCW holsters available, and plenty of major caliber guns that are easily carried concealed. I've carried everything from a .32 Beretta to a Model 27 S&W 6-inch in .41 Magnum and nobody was the wiser. It simply required a bit of care toward one's wardrobe.

My typical carry piece is a Colt Commander (all steel or lightweight version) and sometimes I go for the gusto with a Government Model, either a Springfield or my fancy custom made Olympic Arms Street Deuce. And again, nobody is the wiser, but of course, I carry these guns in one of my own rigs.

 

[PoPo22]

Dave, Agreed, I've been a Texas LEO for over 27 years and exclusively carried a "full size or commander size" 1911 while "off duty". No one in all that time has noticed that I was carrying a "full size .45". I personally wouldn't mind if people wanted to OC, but it causes too many problems with the uneducated and "anti-gun" crowds. Good luck.

 

[X-Rap]

When I hear about all the reasons reasonable people don't want OC in their state I
have to wonder what the number of states that allow it are and do they suffer from all the things that concern those opposed?
In a gun rich state like Texas I would think OC would hardly even be noticed just like it is in the states that allow it.
Just what are the arguments against that are presented in the legislature?

 

[NickEllis]

Mid-summer... IWB CCW... I've plenty of memories of sweaty, lightly rusted 1911's after a long day carrying that way. I see plenty of use for OWB, probably open carry in Texas.

 

[smalls]

I appreciate how CCW kinda avoids that whole mess

If you think about it, CC kinda made that mess.

In a lot of states CC was banned, and OC was still legal, and was the norm. Then when CC was made legal again, OC was unusual, and frightened the sheeple.

 

[GEM]

Easy to conceal a decent gun , even in the hottest periods in TX.

It's BS that you can't. Yesterday - for instance. I wore a Glock with a light t-shirt and then a very light weight cover shirt. Another mag on the other side.

 

[JustinJ]

I regularly carry as large as a Glock 19 concealed OWB with no issues. Yeah, if one looks hard they may notice a slight bulge but there is no outline of a gun. OWB with the right holster is very effective and can be done easily in hot weather with a button up shirt. The 5.11 concealed carry shirts are ideal but any standard button up should work. OWB with the right holster also avoids issues with sweat on the gun.

 

[Ed Ames]

I was recently in a fast food joint in North Texas where a fat dude in a cowboy hat was "concealed" carrying a full size nickel/stainless 1911. When he sat down to eat his chicken sandwich you could see the muzzle pointing at the floor plain as day under his schmancy jacket.

A good number of people saw it, nobody said anything that I could tell and no cops showed up.

It added to a long list of people I've seen who thought a jacket draped over a gun really concealed it in the real world. I saw the same thing from time to time in California even.

I personally am all for open carry in Texas/everywhere. Yeah, someone will cause a stir in Plano, but then again I know a guy who decided to take up jogging with a blue gun M4 decoy in Plano. He was going out before dawn and jogging in a MOLLE chest rig, carrying a fake rifle. In other words, people are already causing stirs. The trick is to believe you are right...that way you won't be embarrassed by the stir, you'll be offended by the reaction. Anyway, the cops didn't shoot him so it worked out.

 

[22-rimfire]

A good number of people saw it, nobody said anything that I could tell and no cops showed up.

It added to a long list of people I've seen who thought a jacket draped over a gun really concealed it in the real world. I saw the same thing from time to time in California even.

That is why in TN, open carry is legal with the HCP. Law enforcement prefer that you conceal as well as possible most of the time, but if something shows, it is still perfectly legal.

I sometimes see people open carrying in TN, especially out in the country but in public places. I see it and it doesn't particularly bother me, but I almost always ask myself why they might be open carrying in a public place? Did they just come from the woods? Are they trying to make a statement? It doesn't really matter, but I still ask myself the questions.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

We need to be free men and let the sheep pound Sand.

 

[X-Rap]

I think it should be called casual carry instead. Carry like you want and many will still conceal but if your shirt or jacket ride up and you gun shows no foul.
From what I understand Texas and Florida are pretty anal about this and that's what concerns me. If my garment allows the gun to print in the judgement of a trained eye or the lady in the checkout line sees some holster when I reach for my wallet I'd rather not have to deal with cops in the parking lot.

 

[texasgun]

OC is perfectly legal in WA State AND they have a very hassle free CPL (concealed pistol license) system....

while OC is good for hiking and hunting in the woods - you never hear about or see guys walking in downtown Seattle OC'ing a handgun... I like that "common sense" approach towards by concealed and open carry here in this State.

I sometimes OC when hiking in the Olympics but I would never think of going down to Pikes Place and parade around my 1911 so all the tourists can see it

or to quote a nice salesman at West Coast Armory where I bought a Glock 21 after moving here "Just be smart about it".

"Smart" in urban settings is definitely to conceal properly. And contrary to what some believe here... when a MWAG call comes to the 911 dispatcher - cops have to go out and investigate. I would not want to hear the outcry when a MWAG call comes in and the dispatcher tells the caller "that's legal. I wont send cops over" and then 5min later the MWAG starts emptying his gun into people .....

 

[X-Rap]

I wonder how many times a MWAG report with the gun actually fully holstered yet OC'ed turned into a gun emptying event?
You see a guy walking or running through the market with gun in hand then somethings wrong. Truth be told there are many more MWAG walking around concealed.
It really is more about the sheeple and their perceptions not reality.

 

[smalls]

I wonder how many times a MWAG report with the gun actually fully holstered yet OC'ed turned into a gun emptying event?
You see a guy walking or running through the market with gun in hand then somethings wrong. Truth be told there are many more MWAG walking around concealed.
It really is more about the sheeple and their perceptions not reality.

Was literally about to say the same thing.

Criminals hide their guns so that they don't get stopped before they do their crime with it. So please, knock it off with the "you'd all feel real dumb if no one stopped him and he went and killed 500 children around the block".

while OC is good for hiking and hunting in the woods - you never hear about or see guys walking in downtown Seattle OC'ing a handgun... I like that "common sense" approach towards by concealed and open carry here in this State.

You should talk with member NavyLCDR on here. He open carries EVERYWHERE he goes (he has a picture of himself OC'ing in the states capitol building) and lives in WA. He'll let you know he's never had a single problem.

 

[PavePusher]

One wonders how so many people concerned about freedom and liberty came to the conclusion that the exercise of both must be concealed when in public.

Puzzling and very saddening.

 

[texasgun]

I specifically spoke about downtown Seattle (or Bellevue, Tacoma for that matter). Like a place where actually a lot of people live. I'm sure OC'ing in Olympia or some village in the Olympics is fine.