New TX "Open Carry" law as it pertains to San Antonio (Lucas: school, to live in)

[Paka]

Do the people on this board that see a threat from the new "open carry law" starting 1 Jan have ANY idea how many people they mingle with in public on a DAILY basis that are in possession of a concealed weapon??? I think there is a lot of "if I don't see it it does not exist" thinking going on if you think those numbers are low....

http://legallyarmed.com/ccw_statistics.htm

And remember, that only counts those in EACH STATE that carry properly, with the required license and registration.

[Azure110]

Why were handguns required to be concealed in the first place?

[DerpyDerp]

Originally Posted by ged_782

I doubt it. Concealed Carry has been permitted in Texas for the last 20 years.

Yeah, but many businesses have posted improper signage or have no signage at all. Open carry will likely freak some of them out and lead them to obtain proper 30.07 signs for open carry and I think it's likely that they'll jump on the 30.06 bandwagon while they're at it.

A few years ago I noticed an improper concealed firearm sign at a bar and politely informed the bartender that the sign wouldn't legally prevent people from carrying in the establishment. She insisted otherwise and then had the bouncer escort me from the building. He was a nice guy and admitted that the sign was not legally binding and said that the manager had ignored his warnings that the signs were not compliant with state laws.

[DerpyDerp]

Originally Posted by Paka

Do the people on this board that see a threat from the new "open carry law" starting 1 Jan have ANY idea how many people they mingle with in public on a DAILY basis that are in possession of a concealed weapon??? I think there is a lot of "if I don't see it it does not exist" thinking going on if you think those numbers are low....

I have a CHL and while the concept of open carry doesn't bother me, I'm a bit leery of the people who think it's a good idea to stroll in groups through Target with ARs.

Concealed carry is a good system precisely because of the lack of visible weaponry. Individuals can carry for protection, people who dislike guns can tell themselves that there are none in the vicinity and would-be criminals are faced with uncertainty about the armed status of their victims and bystanders.

I imagine that it'll all settle out nicely, but there are always people who will push the law too far.

[Paka]

Originally Posted by DerpyDerp

I have a CHL and while the concept of open carry doesn't bother me, I'm a bit leery of the people who think it's a good idea to stroll in groups through Target with ARs.

Concealed carry is a good system precisely because of the lack of visible weaponry. Individuals can carry for protection, people who dislike guns can tell themselves that there are none in the vicinity and would-be criminals are faced with uncertainty about the armed status of their victims and bystanders.

I imagine that it'll all settle out nicely, but there are always people who will push the law too far.

Oh, I TOTALLY agree with you, but just addressing the fact there are those out there that seem to think all of a sudden there will be folks out in public with weapons that are not already there.

I too don't get the need for it at all personally.

[GEM-Texas]

I have seen at Whole Foods a combined 30.06/30.07 sign. The problem would be if places that did not ban CHL in the past but wanted to ban OC would post a joint sign as it would be easy to buy it.

After the Jewish deli attack in Paris, I would think a popular grocery store would get its head out of its ideological rear end. Really think a nut cares about the sign, if they want to rampage through the Tofu section?

[VeeGer]

I'm licensed to carry but I don't really care to open carry except in certain circumstances so I like that option.

[RotseCherut]

Originally Posted by GEM-Texas

I have seen at Whole Foods a combined 30.06/30.07 sign. The problem would be if places that did not ban CHL in the past but wanted to ban OC would post a joint sign as it would be easy to buy it.

After the Jewish deli attack in Paris, I would think a popular grocery store would get its head out of its ideological rear end. Really think a nut cares about the sign, if they want to rampage through the Tofu section?

And Tofu contains a high amount of Manganese which has been tied into violent behavior and psychosis. Ironically, none of the Whole Foods here in Washington state have No Gun signs listed. I could care less if they did though. I'm not sure if No Gun Signs in Texas have the weight of law, but they don't in Washington. All they can make you do is leave. I never thought Whole Foods would have been a gun friendly store and their policy doesn't affect if I go shop there. Now, if a store that should be gun friendly, like a local hardware store, posts No Gun signs, then I would be all for boycotting this business. I cannot believe any tree-hugger health food store would ever come out as pro-gun. Ironically, the hippie health food store in Bellingham, Washington had a "No Open Carry" sign. When I first read the sign I got bit concerned, it said if you bring a gun into our store, you must conceal it.. I kind of thought it was funny.. I cannot blame a store for not wanting open carry, as not to scare customers. At least there are some respectable hippie health food store businesses in existence. Bellingham is a very gun friendly kind of town.

[RotseCherut]

Open carry does have one more benefit for conceal carriers that they don't know about. This has to do with brandishing laws. In states that ban open carry, if your conceal carry weapon is revealed at all or somebody calls the police saying they saw your gun (even just a print) you can be arrested for a weapons charge or for brandishing, which can have severe consequences. When open carry is legal, then the laws of brandishing become more complex and seeing a visible gun will no longer result in you being arrested or charged for a weapons offense.

So, if nothing else, all conceal carriers (like myself) should be happy that the open carry laws will also protect them in the case that your gun gets exposed. I'm sure in a place like Texas , with many 100+ days, many people here have at one time or other had their gun get exposed. Nobody wants to become a criminal or weapons offender for a simple mistake.

[Paka]

Originally Posted by RotseCherut

Open carry does have one more benefit for conceal carriers that they don't know about. This has to do with brandishing laws. In states that ban open carry, if your conceal carry weapon is revealed at all or somebody calls the police saying they saw your gun (even just a print) you can be arrested for a weapons charge or for brandishing, which can have severe consequences. When open carry is legal, then the laws of brandishing become more complex and seeing a visible gun will no longer result in you being arrested or charged for a weapons offense.

So, if nothing else, all conceal carriers (like myself) should be happy that the open carry laws will also protect them in the case that your gun gets exposed. I'm sure in a place like Texas , with many 100+ days, many people here have at one time or other had their gun get exposed. Nobody wants to become a criminal or weapons offender for a simple mistake.

Good to know! Tried to rep ya for it but gotta spread the love first!