Texas Handgun Open Carry Bill Clears Legislature

[Little Tich]

Source: Huffington Post / AP

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas lawmakers on Friday approved carrying handguns openly on the streets of the nation's second most-populous state, sending the bill to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who immediately promised to sign it and reverse a ban dating to the post-Civil War era.

Gun owners would still have to get a license to carry a handgun in a visible holster.

The state known for its wild west, cowboy history and some the nation's most relaxed gun laws, has allowed concealed handguns for 20 years. Concealed handgun license holders are even allowed to skip the metal detectors at the state Capitol, as state troopers providing security assume they're armed.

But Texas was one of only six states with an outright ban on so-called open carry, and advocates have fought to be allowed to keep their guns in plain sight. Cast as an important expansion of the Second Amendment right to bear arms in the U.S. Constitution, it became a major issue for the state's strong Republican majority.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/29/texas-handgun-open-carry-_n_7473344.html

[onehandle]

1. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAA!

I'm a born Southerner, so I can say that.

Guns! Literacy Tests! FREEDUMB!!!

[Marengo]

47. "FREEDUMB"? Would that be the latest release from Minitrue?

[calimary]

2. "Gun owners would still have to get a license to carry a handgun in a visible holster."

For NOW, anyway. I'm sure they're already working to rip the guts out of THAT particular regulation, too.

[S_B_Jackson]

6. So when Abbott signs...

approximately 825,957 persons (the number of persons with active Concealed Handgun Licenses at the end of 2014) who will be immediately eligible to carry openly if they choose. Of that number, 221,893 (i.e. 25.2%) are women.

I don't think Texans will make a a huge push to do away with the licensing requirment, and let's face it, the legislature won't make any changes for two years - the next time they'll be in session.

[rock]

36. What! No invisible holsters!

What is this? Russia?

[quadrature]

3. Texas joins the other 45 states with open carry ...nt

[onehandle]

4. Idiocy has peaked.

The great contraction is coming.

[img][/img]

Gun nuts should bank on it.

[GGJohn]

9. Hmmmmm, any day now?

[NaturalHigh]

23. The people WANT gun control, right?

Right? I mean, that's why they're busy phoning their representatives every day to ban those eeeeeevvvillll guns!

[dhill926]

5. and the rest of the world shakes it's collective head....

[former9thward]

56. Yeah, especially those in the Middle East.

[butterfly77]

7. Maybe this will...

help them fight the floods.

[NCjack]

8. Future Headline: Upon birth, The State of Texas will give every baby a gun. nt

[SoapBox]

10. Let the shooting begin.

I wonder how many shot feet will show up at hospitals on day one?

[GGJohn]

16. Probably the same as when TX passed their CCW law.

IOW, none.

[Logical]

48. Open carry is not needed and is idiotic. CC is all you need. It is so macho gun nuts can.....

show off. And it does alarm some people who do not like guns.

[GGJohn]

50. I agree open carry isn't needed, my point is that there won't be rivers of blood because of

this new law, it'll be the same results as when CCW was enacted, IOW, nothing.

[Logical]

51. I agree, but a lot more dipshits hurting the cause by showing off. nt

[GGJohn]

52. Agree 100%. eom.

[Big_Mike]

68. Yes, I can see it now

More pictures of the two mouth breathers, with ARs or AKs on single point slings. ARRRGGH!

[Logical]

69. Yep, yelling "freedum" nt

[Duckhunter935]

59. At times

The high heat makes open carry more practical. I agree it is normally not preferred by most including myself 😀

[GGJohn]

61. Well, up here in the Flagstaff area, we get hot temps a couple of months a year,

nothing like Phoenix, but still hot and I rarely see any open carry, we do find a way to CC when it's hot.
I'm against open carry, it makes people nervous and hurts more than helps our cause.
Of course, it's just my opinion.

[Duckhunter935]

62. Saw quite a bit actually

Down in Yuma when I was TDY. Nobody had any issues with them from what I saw.

[GGJohn]

63. On the few occasions I get into town, I've yet to see anyone open carrying,

then again, Flagstaff isn't a very big city, pop. of about 65,000, but there may be more than I'm seeing, like I said, we don't go into town much.

[Lizzie Poppet]

55. Agreed. If you're carrying for self-defense, open carry is a bad idea.

It might deter some potential attackers...but I'd think it would simply say "take this one out first" to even more. Bad idea...

Here in Oregon, open carry is legal, but cities and counties have the explicitly-stated right to preempt the statewide regulation. Both the city of Portland and Multnomah County (where I live) prohibit open carry...and I could care less. I have a CCW permit and no desire whatsoever to carry openly here in town.

[S_B_Jackson]

64. Since only those with a concealed handgun license will be

legalized to carry a handgun openly then it makes no difference. You're looking at the same set of individuals who have demonstrated almost no history of criminal acts and no tendency to "macho" showing off.

Myself, I'll continue carrying as I normally do but it will be nice not to be overly concerned about "printing" or inadvertent incidents where putting on or taking off a jacket reveals that I do concealed carry.

[Logical]

66. You can address accidental exposure without open carry. nt

[S_B_Jackson]

72. As a practical matter, passage of open carry

reduces the need for police departments to adopt a rational, coherent enforcement policy based upon the conduct of the individual carrying the firearm and not upon the visual presence of a firearm.

[Duckhunter935]

26. Probably none

[Logical]

49. No need for it. That is my problem. Just showing off mostly. nt

[Duckhunter935]

58. Well I never cared for open carry

Concealed carry is much better in my opinion buy with the high heat of Texas, that is at times quite hadd to do legally.

[orbitalman]

11. Back to the Wild West days...

[ManiacJoe]

19. History, yes. Hollywood, no.

[Turbineguy]

12. Look at the bright side.

From the Somali point of view. Look at the number of assholes who will not be immigrating.

[quadrature]

13. Jim Crow and Blue laws are tough to get rid of

the struggle has been long and hard.
the struggle continues.
L.C.

[Evar]

14. Paranoia rules in Austin

What can we expect when we have a governor who placates those who distrust the U.S. Army, and a Lt. Governor who defines extremism? The lunatics are running the asylum, which is what the Texas Legislature has become. When will the "good people of Texas" finally get enough of this madness?

[ananda]

15. This is a result of all that extreme redistricting ...

... and gerrymandering.

It has pushed our legislature farther and farther to
the crazy insane extreme right.

The liberal counterbalance has literally been pushed
out.

[turbinetree]

17. And just think

we have U.S. Supreme Court that is going to rule on gerrymandering case in the very near future.
Which is not being reported by the MSM---------------nope, hardly a word-----------not unless they can commercializes it and bend it to the right wing machine.

This opinion / ruling / rigging / further destruction of the one vote rule will affect the rural population with the metropolitan population.

In other words the rural voter the more right wing conservative in the plains of good old Texas, Nebraska's and my all time favorite Kansas, South Dakota, Wyoming ect.... get my drift, they are will have a bigger voice against the more populated centers, isn't this just great ----------we get a right wing majority U.S. Supreme court that has eviscerated the voting rights act and now they get to do this, they really are that corrupt--------the one person one vote rule.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/05/26/1387790/-Supreme-Court-to-Revisit-One-Person-One-Vote-Rule#

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/19/us/one-person-one-vote-rule-reaches-supreme-court.html?_r=0


Oh-------- yippee--------------can't wait for this court to see what other destruction they can inflict

[freshwest]

18. Just imagine, Bandidos sporting AR-15s as they cruise on by. One hopes they won't take time to aim.

[ManiacJoe]

20. Like they obey the law already.

[freshwest]

22. But NOW they can't be arrested for this new gift from RWNJ land, can they? n/t

[ManiacJoe]

31. Before you can legally open carry,

you first have to legally possess the gun. That rules out most of the 1 percenters right there.

[freshwest]

45. I don't think they're going to wear badges that say 'HELLO: FELON HERE' on themselves.

Until they are stopped and asked questions about their criminal past, they must be assumed to be innocent by LEOs.

I'd say this will escalate the chance of the police getting heavy handed - or walking away from danger. The people pushing this are wanting us to all live in a war zone. Only those who can afford guns and ammo will be free, the rest had better shut up and get out of the way. They don't behave well:

Spitting, Stalking, Rape Threats: How Gun Extremists Target Women

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/05/guns-bullying-open-carry-women-moms-texas

Having known two girls, one who was 12 and the other 13, who were kidnapped off the streets and kept for a week and gang raped, I don't think these guys follow the law, either. But they'll have the cover of this law in practice. Did you see who they all played the innocent little lambs out the restaurant in Texas having hidden their weapons in the flour sacks and tortilla chips, then sat out their looking like they did nothing as by that time they were not armed?

And fast could that have turned into a war zone if everyone in that parking lot had the legal right to carry? Do you really believe all of these guys have records or tattoos on them that say "I can't carrry?"

People don't use their frontal lobe thinking when they see a gun, it's more reflex. Of course, NOT ALL... you know like NOT ALL MEN... etc. etc. have military training and know how to behave with a gun. And we don't want that on our streets anyway, do we?

The law enforcement resisted this being passed in Texas. I suspect it's because they anticipate more of these one percenter criminals going the sovereign citizen route and shooting first and not staying around to answer any questions.

I don't want to live like that, and the people I know in Texas didn't want this law passed. And consider the source who said he'd sign it if he was passed - the same guy who claimed Obama was going to start rounding people up at WalMarts to ship them to FEMA camps.

The entire thing going on down there stinks to high heaven, and it's not even 'a dead skunk in the middle of the road.' It just stinks.

[ManiacJoe]

73. Actually most criminal bikers do self identify via the "colors" they wear.

Did you see who they all played the innocent little lambs out the restaurant in Texas having hidden their weapons in the flour sacks and tortilla chips, then sat out their looking like they did nothing as by that time they were not armed?

The reason they were able to do that is because they were concealed carrying without holsters.
Open carry requires holsters. Holsters indicate gun possession, which is not legally available to the 1 Percenters. The cops know who the locals are and whether or not they are legally allowed to have weapons.

Are some of the 1 Percenters legal for gun ownership and carrying? Absolutely. They are the ones designated to do so within the gang. Everyone else only illegally carries (concealed) when it is absolutely necessary; none of them will illegally carry openly.

[Duckhunter935]

27. This is open carry for handguns

Rifles have always been open carry eligible. That is why those knuckleheads have been using them to protest the handgun ban on open carry.

[Duckhunter935]

60. Open carry of long guns is already legal

You do know that right?

[Vinca]

21. Maybe this is a good thing.

Guys with tiny penises will be easy to spot.

[NaturalHigh]

24. And yet again an anti-gun type makes an inappropriate sexual comment.

I don't get the obsession with gun owners' penises.

[Duckhunter935]

28. It's all they have

Childish but what can you say, it makes them happy.

[GGJohn]

29. Neither do I.

They always fall back on the sexual comment or the NRA talking points meme.

[Skittles]

30. careful

gun humpers are OK with senseless slaughter but penis jokes upset them greatly

[GGJohn]

32. Doesn't upset me,

I find it quite amusing.

[Skittles]

33. so says the guy who claims to be unaware of "gun humpers"

[GGJohn]

34. Still don't know what a gun humper is.

But I find it quite amusing that controllers are reduced to making sexual comparisons to gun owners.

[Skittles]

35. LOL

strange what upsets them and what does not

[Duckhunter935]

39. what another sexual reference

to firearms owners here on DU? How amusing. You must be extremely proud of yourself.

Have a great night!

[Duckhunter935]

38. Does not upset me

Just find it childish and idiotic behavior and as so, point it out.

Just like your name calling, "gun humpers"

Makes your side look very immature that you have to resort to that instead of making a good point.

[Vinca]

46. So it seems . . . LOL.

No common sense (who really needs to take their gun to Dunkin Donuts) and no sense of humor.

[sarisataka]

37. What will it tell you about

the woman who carries?

[Skittles]

40. that they can gun hump just like men

[sarisataka]

41. So you believe women

masturbate using firearms. That is disturbing, even if not the first time I have heard such a claim.

[Skittles]

43. went right over your head, did it?

[sarisataka]

44. Well with all of the gun = penis references

it is not easy to tell if the context is meant literally.

As mentioned I have a pro control poster explicitly state he believed a female used her gun for sexual pleasure; we were discussing a picture of a seventeen year old holding a typical duck hunting shotgun

[Lizzie Poppet]

57. You sure about that?

[NaturalHigh]

25. I don't carry personally.

It would be awkward to walk around with a shotgun. I'm not opposed to it, though.

[Aristus]

42. Keep it up, Texas. I'm already never coming back.

Do you want me to forbid my descendants even unto the 7th generation from ever visiting my erstwhile home state?

[NickB79]

53. I see your profile lists your residence as Washington state

Hate to break this to you, but......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Washington

As a general rule, a person may legally open-carry in Washington state in any place it is legal to possess a loaded handgun, as long as it does not manifest "an intent to intimidate another or [warrant] alarm for the safety of other persons." To open-carry a hand gun in a vehicle (i.e., car, bus, etc...) a person must have a valid concealed pistol license. The county sheriff or city police chief shall issue a concealed pistol license to any applicant, age 21 or older, who meets certain requirements, including no felony convictions, no misdemeanor domestic violence convictions, and no outstanding warrants.[5][6] Open carrying of firearms is not prohibited by law although trouble with some law enforcement agencies has been encountered while open carrying in the past, most notably in a case in Ellensburg, Washington.[7]

Basically, Texas is playing catch-up with states like Washington.

[Aristus]

54. We don't see a lot of open-carry up here.

We don't have Texas' ludicrous shoot-from-the-hip, take down them varmints, remember th'Alamo, gun-slingin' cowboy myths to live up to.

Up here, we see you open-carrying, we know you're a limp-dick, douchebag, odious, laughable, Rambo wanna-be. With us, open-carry is like farting in an elevator; sure, you have a right to, but you're a slime-bucket if you do...

[NickB79]

65. I've seen one guy open-carrying here in Minnesota

Pretty much like you described.

[Aristus]

67. That's Minnesota.

Maybe they're still afraid of Jesse James' daylight bank robberies...

[ileus]

70. OC has it's places.

Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, Biking ect...

[Devil Child]

71. Bingo

That is why I support allowing open carry.