One Year of Open Carry...

[majormadmax]

...and much like concealed carry, the claims of "blood flowing in the streets" have proven to be incorrect. In fact, it has pretty much been a "non-event."

I had to go buy some new wiper blades for the Toyota, and for the first time outside a gun store was asked what kind of pistol I was carrying. I was actually caught off-guard by the question, as it has gotten to where no one seems to notice; but the person asking went on to explain he wanted to get his LTC and only needed to find time to take the class (he was also a firefighter).

So that brings me to my query, as we approach the first anniversary of open carry in Texas, what have been your experiences? I don't OC a lot, as I cannot carry where I work (on a military base); but I try to do so as much as possible during my "off-duty" time. I've also asked a lot of police officers I know if there has been any issues because of OC, and I have yet to hear of any at all.

The greatest positive--outside of restoring rights we should have never lost in the fist place--is as we approach a new legislation in the coming year the lack of any problems with open carry means that Texans in general are not as fearful of firearms as a few may try to lead us to believe. There is finally real "hope" for our future in that we have leadership not only at the state but also the Federal level that truly supports the Constitution. I don't know how well President Trump will do, but at least he is a firm supporter of the Second Amendment; and there is no questioning where Texas Governor Greg Abbott is on the issue.

So I am optimistic, and while I do believe efforts to advance the rights of gun owners need to be prioritized (I believe a reduction in areas automatically restricted by law from carrying is more critical than Constitutional carry, although both are very important), I honestly believe we are heading down the right path and will continue to do so!

Cheers! M2

 

[Brains]

Doesn't matter, we all died long ago in a huge gunfight at the OK Corral, exactly as the lefties predicted.

In all seriousness, I don't ever see folks openly carrying. Well, unless I'm at Brooks BBQ

 

[jrbfishn]

I open carry quite a bit. I have yet to have a negative experience.
The 3 most common things people say;
1. What model pistol do I carry?
2. Where did you get your holster?
3. How do I get my license?
No shootouts. Not even an altercation.

sent from an idgit coffeeholic

 

[Coiled]

I haven't OCd yet.
I have seen exactly two do so. One Feb or Mar inside a grocery store the other last week in a big box hardware.

Yup, the blood will run, people will be slaughtered like cattle and morgues will be full.

 

[Thegomezclan]

I had an issue with a Walmart employee once, asked to show ID because she said she had to because of the TABC. I didn't have my Go Pro with me so I opted to leave a cart full of groceries instead of show ID. Been back to the store several times and hadn't been asked again. One thing that chaps my ass is that people we elected think we are to stupid to take care of ourselves so they stand in the way of restoring our God given rights.

 

[Dawico]

I have not and do not plan to OC. I have only seen it once besides at the gun range.

It really seems to be the non issue that we figured it would be.

 

[Bozz10mm]

I've seen a total of one person open carrying. That was back in February. He was outside of Walmart, loading the Coke machine or something. Well, I don't get out too often.

 

[karlac]

If it's not already, HB 466 needs to be on your radar for 2017: 85R2327 JSC-F
	By: Anchia	H.B. No. 466

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to limiting the locations in which a license holder may
	openly carry a handgun; restricting an exception to a criminal
	offense.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 229, Local Government
	Code, is amended by adding Section 229.005 to read as follows:
	Sec.229.005.MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF OPENLY CARRYING
	HANDGUN. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), the governing body of a
	municipality with a population of more than 750,000 may adopt an
	ordinance prohibiting a person who holds a license to carry a
	handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, from
	carrying a partially or wholly visible handgun within the corporate
	boundaries of the municipality.
	(b)The governing body of a municipality may adopt an
	ordinance under Subsection (a) only if a majority of the
	municipality's voters voting at an election held for that purpose
	approve a proposition to authorize the governing body to adopt the
	ordinance.
	SECTION 2. Section 46.035, Penal Code, is amended by adding
	Subsection (m) to read as follows:
	(m)The exception provided by Subsection (a) is not
	available to a license holder who is carrying a partially or wholly
	visible handgun in a municipality with an ordinance that was
	adopted under Section 229.005, Local Government Code, and is in
	effect at the time of the offense.
	SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act in adding
	Section 46.035(m), Penal Code, applies only to an offense committed
	on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed
	before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
	effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is
	continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section,
	an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if
	any element of the offense occurred before that date.
	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

 

[BRD@66]

I OC'd & saw about 6 or 8 people OCing - at the same time, at the same place, last new years day.
We gunned each other down & that was that.

 

[Nightwatch]

I've seen two in one year...gotta get around to doing it...one of these days.

 

[easy rider]

I don't OC often, mainly because many places I do go to allow CC, but not OC. The first time I did OC I had thought more about it, wondering if anyone might go crazy about a person carrying, but nothing happened. Now on those rare occasions I do OC I don't think much about, other than the questions that others point out.

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

I OC when I fill up my truck.

Doing so has a tendency to keep the hard luck story, potential muggers, unsavory in general types away.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I have yet to see anybody OC.

 

[Ranger60]

I have seen a couple, one being jrbfishing, hope I got that right, when we were doing a deal. I sometimes open carry my .38 snub loaded with snake shot when walking my dog. Live in a rural area, but otherwise still prefer concealed when away from home.

 

[Saltyag2010]

I saw a guy in Jersey Mikes open carrying. The only place outside of a gun store that I've seen someone open carry.

I open carry about once a month. No one has talked to me while I open carried.

 

[Webreaker41]

Saw my 1st today at Buc-ees on 290 near Feed Store Road. I was backing out to leave and he was walking in. Watching the news to learn how many were killed.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Noggin]

I Recently posted this on another forum (so some of you may have already read it) but I guess it is appropriate here:

I went open carry for the first time last night. It was our wedding anniversary, so my wife and I along with her parents went to have dinner at The Republic Steakhouse in College Station. It was too warm and humid for a jacket or sweater and the wife did not want me to go untucked casual, so I ended up wearing my baby eagle on my right hip in plain view.

The meal was great best porterhouse I have ever eaten. As for the carry it was a total non-event. Even though our table was in the middle of the dining room so that anyone could clearly see what I was wearing. I saw no surprised or shocked looks or furtive glances, no comments from guests or staff, my gun could have been completely invisible for all that anyone seemed to care.

 

[V-Tach]

Number one question I get from Winter Texans.............

My Home State License is good in Texas....Can I open carry?

 

[RiverCity.45]

I've seen one... ONE person carry openly in my area, and that was a customer at the gun counter at Academy.

Sent telepathically

 

[Big Dipper]

Clearly the lack of sightings of open carriers is because most of them have been slain!

Afterall, they gave up their tactical advantage and became targets for all of the B/Gs. ;-)