Should Texas pass an "Open Carry" law? (Houston: crime rate, school)

[ram2]

Open Carry has been legal in Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin for decades. Not a problem in those states.

[jeremy2788]

Nope, I think they should stay concealed.

[Fillmont]

After watching videos like
this, I'm convinced that the hassle caused by open carry would be far greater than the worth. Cops have better things to do then try to settle situations where people who openly carried get stopped because, well, guns, for many people, are frightening to see in the hands of people whom they don't know they can trust. Keep 'em concealed.

[TX75007]

Why would you want to advertise that you are armed?

Surprise is 90% of the fun.

OTOH I hope it comes to pass, that way someone who is OC will be the one to get birdogged.

[jdrtx]

An armed society is a polite society. God bless us all. This used to be a hella country.

[OpenD]

CHL holder and lifelong shooting enthusiast here... and no, open carry is a bad idea.

A polite society is a polite society, and open carry is perceived as aggressive and rude by large segments of the public.

I have been in situations where someone came into a restaurant or cafe or hotel lobby with an unconcealed firearm, and I've seen what it does to people. It freaks them out! The entire dynamic of the place changes. The gun becomes the point of everyone's focus until it leaves the premises. Why would anyone want to do that to a bunch of other people?

Besides, with a CHL holder having the responsibility of making sure their gun is actually concealed, and not "printing," there's one more level of restraint against doing something rash that I think is a good thing. Police officers get ongoing training about when NOT to unholster their weapon, and when NOT to use deadly force, and they still mess up with alarming frequency. For a private citizen who is not subject to that level of training, the additional restriction of needing to keep their gun concealed is a useful damper on the possibility of runaway emotions or inappropriate actions.

[Austinite101]

Absolutely not.

[TX75007]

Originally Posted by OpenD

I have been in situations where someone came into a restaurant or cafe or hotel lobby with an unconcealed firearm, and I've seen what it does to people. It freaks them out! The entire dynamic of the place changes. The gun becomes the point of everyone's focus until it leaves the premises. Why would anyone want to do that to a bunch of other people? .

It is definitely intimidating in today's society.

I OC when on the family farms and when checking my leasees' operations. Even the hunters are intimidated by a person Open Carrying. Which is the point.

IMHO the open display of a weapon by a person or the covering of their face is the dividing line between a law abiding person and a criminal. It is a pretty clear cut distinction understood by most. Another good reason.

[John26]

I'd support open carry laws even though I'd prefer to concealed carry. It would be nice to have the option though.

What I'm really hoping will pass this legislative session is concealed carry on campus.

Campus Carry: What it IS and What it is NOT

[Austinite101]

Originally Posted by John26

I'd support open carry laws even though I'd prefer to concealed carry. It would be nice to have the option though.

What I'm really hoping will pass this legislative session is concealed carry on campus.

Campus Carry: What it IS and What it is NOT

As a soon to be university student, I cannot disagree more emphatically. I will help fight off any temptations the Legislature has with brushing on this again.