texas senate passes open carry (Plano, Killeen: 2014, crime, movie theater)

[War Beagle]

I don't think I have ever seen anyone open carrying in the open carry states I have visited. I suspect there won't be all that many open carriers in Texas either. There is actually a long-running debate in the pro-gun community about open carry. While the consensus is that it should be a legal option, most people seem to have the opinion that they would rather conceal carry for a number of reasons (not being an obvious target, not being harassed in public, having your gun stolen, etc.).

It'll end up being a non-issue if passed.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by LeagleEagleDFW

How about this - there is no proven correlation between allowing concealed or open carry and any decrease in violent crime. In fact, the data suggests a higher rate of aggravated assaults in open or concealed carry states.

So if you feel like you can't get through the day without carrying a gun you obviously have the right to, although I would question what is so fundamentally broken inside you that you need to have a gun on you. But don't delude yourself into thinking it makes you any safer or any less likely to experience violent crime. And while I'm sure that every CHL holder is profoundly sure of how awesome they are and how they can hold off an entire regiment of raving criminals with only their concealed carry weapon, there is again no data to support that, and most studies suggest the opposite - pulling out a gun is more likely to make things worse.

This is all about America's fetish with guns. Americans as a culture have this weird fetish with guns. Even though they are totally unnecessary to modern life, people seem to think it makes them....something. Guns complete them.

All states allow concealed carry to some degree. So which data do you speak of?

I think an interesting comparison is Texas vs. California. The two largest states in the country, both share a border with Mexico, and they have nearly opposite postures on gun laws.

Yet violent crime rates are nearly identical - with gun murder rates slightly lower in Texas.

Gun violence in the United States by state - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by War Beagle

I don't think I have ever seen anyone open carrying in the open carry states I have visited. I suspect there won't be all that many open carriers in Texas either. There is actually a long-running debate in the pro-gun community about open carry. While the consensus is that it should be a legal option, most people seem to have the opinion that they would rather conceal carry for a number of reasons (not being an obvious target, not being harassed in public, having your gun stolen, etc.).

It'll end up being a non-issue if passed.

I agree. Although I think the legislature has devoted too much time to something that doesn't matter much, it will end up being a non-issue.

The primary effect of this will be that gun owners who normally concealed carry and prefer to do so will not face arrest if they are inadvertently in a situation where their weapon is visible.

[War Beagle]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

I agree. Although I think the legislature has devoted too much time to something that doesn't matter much, it will end up being a non-issue.

The primary effect of this will be that gun owners who normally concealed carry and prefer to do so will not face arrest if they are inadvertently in a situation where their weapon is visible.

Yes, I see that as the main benefit also.

[RooCeleste]

If open carry passes, it doesn't mean you MUST carry open. It just means you CAN. I certainly won't. It will be beneficial, however, on the chance that your weapon is briefly and unintentionally revealed...it would no longer be an offense.

My concern is that more businesses will put up the 30.06 sign (or whatever it ends up being) to prevent open carry in their establishments, even if they didn't have a problem with concealed carry.

[wintersbone]

Louisiana has open carry I may see one person once in a blue moon openly carrying. Just remember criminals aren't going to openly carry.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

I agree. Although I think the legislature has devoted too much time to something that doesn't matter much, it will end up being a non-issue.

The primary effect of this will be that gun owners who normally concealed carry and prefer to do so will not face arrest if they are inadvertently in a situation where their weapon is visible.

this was already fixed in a prior legislative session maybe 2 years ago.

I think people might open carry over the first year because of the novelty of it. That is the window in which bad things could happen which would set carry rights back.

[TexasReb]

=LeagleEagleDFW;38870896]Now guys will be able to openly advertise how insecure they are.

And you will hope they are around if you are ever in a mass shooting situation. Wait a minute, I was wrong. Likely those intent on killing everyone in sight would not pick a place where law-abiding citizens were "insecure" and carrying.

[TexasReb]

=Muzzle of Bees;38873445]In Virginia you can carry in bars. I don't hear of too many gun fights.

Of course you don't, MuzzleoB. That is because armed societies are polite societies. Those like LegalBeagal are all for their utopia...until it comes to when an armed citizen might save their a$$.

[slingshot]

In 1986 when I was riding in a motorcycle club that was based in Texas, I had club business to take care of in Arizona. While there, we all carried open while riding. Anywhere we went we open carried. No problems whatsoever. Back in Texas, it was carrying only while traveling. No CHL in those days.