Texas Open Carry...Update

[Mainsail]

...and results in more person with a gun calls, which wastes law enforcement resources.

As a former LEO, you already know a police officer cannot detain a citizen for engaging in lawful activity. In other words, a cop can't demand ID or compel a citizen to remain for questioning if the officer cannot articulate a specific crime is afoot. If open carry is lawful there, there would be no articulable suspicion that a crime is afoot.

So how do such calls waste resources?

I have found that OC upsets citizens...

Is OC the only thing you've found that upsets citizens? I know that in certain locales people of different ethnic origins can greatly upset people. Are you saying that such people should be interrogated for their mere presence? Upsetting people isn't unlawful, and being upset about lawful activity is usually a sign of mental instability. Perhaps you were questioning the wrong people.

Somehow I feel like we've already had this discussion...

 

[Mainsail]

Back when CHLs first appeared, I used to carry some business card sized white cards with something like this on it if I saw a business with a 30.06sign:
I'd walk in, hand it to a manager or a front desk person, and walk out.

Business cards like that have been around a while now. The best ones are state specific and mention the process one goes through to be approved to carry concealed in comparison to the other unknown customers.

This is the first one a see when I search: Concealed Carry (CCW) Unfriendly Wallet Cards to Handout

You can buy them or make them easy enough. I haven't felt the need to use them here in WA- so far even with prolific open carry I have seldom seen any business bar customers for it. Most businesses, like regular people, either don't notice it, or if they notice don't care. The majority (like 98% or higher by my estimation) are indifferent mostly because a calm rational person doesn't look like a threat, armed or not.

 

[TX-Badger]

I was at the Stock Yards in Ft. Worth on Sunday and saw 1 person open carrying. Also saw the first 30.07 sign in a store window, but no 30.06 sign accompanying it, also in the Stock Yards.

 

[swsig]

... Also saw the first 30.07 sign in a store window, but no 30.06 sign accompanying it, also in the Stock Yards.

That 30.07 sign was in the Fort Worth Stockyards, that bastion of all things Western and Texan? In the Stockyards?? Really???

Where does the owner of that store think the Stockyards are? Fifth Avenue, NYC??

Amazing...

 

[OldeTSgt]

I love OC being available to me - and now I carry Open more than not - unique situation or one that is not common - I run dogs alot - I run into venomous snakes, hogs, and predators regularly - I carry Open because I think it is more comfortable and practical for me - most places I OC I see no signs - I am a creature of habit and patronize the same stores - regularly - the only thing in the relationship with the staff/owners is now they can see it - they always knew I was armed

 

[Dvan34]

If it is true,

Any 'trainer' (and I use that term purty loosely in this context right here) of armed
encounters and is preaching such false doctrine....

That's just stupidity gone to seed.


Somebody hold my Mule



.

.
Actually I think it is commonsense. Some people believe just having the pistol in sight gives them a sense of protection.

If you are OC in a bank, store, etc., when the shtf your options are severely limited. The BGs have already identified you as a danger, just like a uniformed guard or police officer. You must make a fast decision which can get you or someone else killed. What if you make the wrong decision, miss and accidentally shoot an innocent bystander? Plus if there is more than one BG on site that you have no identified? IMHO it is safer to CC and not stand out as a potential target. You maintain the option of committing or not when you decide.

 

[DevilDog72]

I have OC'd a couple times now and posted it in another thread here. I did not have anyone pointing at me or children running and hiding...no man with a gun call that I know of.... no gunfight in the street and no encounters with a nosey LEO.
My local Kroger posted a large type written letter on its doors stating lawful carry was accepted.
I have seen one (1) other individual OC. He was on a motorcycle going north on Hwy 360. He had a full sized Glock and 2 extra mags in very nice leather gear. I got his attention and gave him a thumbs up... good on him.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I walked into a restaurant in Richardson, Texas the other day. The place had a 30.07 sign on the door. Inside, at its bar, was the sign they probably used to have at the door:

The unlicensed carry of a firearm in prohibited.

That's my favorite sign. Looks official, it ain't, looks like a gun ban, it ain't; always makes me laugh.

I didn't care about the 30.07 sign on the door. I wasn't doing it, won't do it, don't care one way or the other about such signs.

 

[Mainsail]

.
Actually I think it is commonsense. Some people believe just having the pistol in sight gives them a sense of protection.

If you are OC in a bank, store, etc., when the shtf your options are severely limited. The BGs have already identified you as a danger, just like a uniformed guard or police officer. You must make a fast decision which can get you or someone else killed. What if you make the wrong decision, miss and accidentally shoot an innocent bystander? Plus if there is more than one BG on site that you have no identified? IMHO it is safer to CC and not stand out as a potential target. You maintain the option of committing or not when you decide.

You've fallen prey to the "all-or-nothing" misconception which is all too common when OC is discussed. Just as there is no law which bars a person from carrying openly (in most states) there is likewise no law that requires one to the exclusion of the other (in any state).

One can OC all day long, then if a stop at the bank is necessary, one can conceal. Thus, your argument is null.

As for "store, etc" I can point you to any of surveillance videos of robberies where the robber fails to notice anyone, including uniformed police officers, standing in the store. The empirical evidence suggest the robbers aren't looking around first; they're rushing the counter with complete disregard for the paying customers.

 

[keith44spl]

.
Actually I think it is commonsense. Some people believe just having the pistol in sight gives them a sense of protection.

If you are OC in a bank, store, etc., when the shtf your options are severely limited. The BGs have already identified you as a danger, just like a uniformed guard or police officer. You must make a fast decision which can get you or someone else killed. What if you make the wrong decision, miss and accidentally shoot an innocent bystander? Plus if there is more than one BG on site that you have no identified? IMHO it is safer to CC and not stand out as a potential target. You maintain the option of committing or not when you decide.

Somehow, that sound strange to me.

I sometimes open carry, I sometimes conceal carry, and other times I do both at the same time.

I ain't never been kilt yet...nor have I ever shot anyone I wasn't aimin' to shoot.


.

 

[Mainsail]

I ain't never been kilt yet...

You should get kilt. A kilt is perfect for OC, especially at the kilt store in downtown Seattle where, despite the predictions of the anti-gun anti-OC people, doesn't cause panic or shootings.

 

[shell627]

You should get kilt. A kilt is perfect for OC, especially at the kilt store in downtown Seattle where, despite the predictions of the anti-gun anti-OC people, doesn't cause panic or shootings.

I would not want to ask him what he carries under his kilt.

 

[Bugkiller99]

Only guy I know who wears a kilt is called Smack. No one says anything to a guy named Smack, regardless of what he wears.

 

[Old TexMex]

The idea that the first thing a holdup man does when he enters a liquor store or a bank is start shooting is Hollywood. Most bank robberies are committed with a note. Gunfire tends to attract police, and all those concealed carry folks will most likely kick into high gear if a fool starts shooting before he even gets to a teller to hand them his little note that says "I have a gum"....

 

[Goblin]

Open carry, concealed carry, now we Texans have more choices.

View attachment 225086

It looks like your holster isn't long enough for your roscoe.

 

[keith44spl]

Quote:
Originally Posted by keith44spl
I ain't never been kilt yet...

You should get kilt. A kilt is perfect for OC, especially at the kilt store in downtown Seattle where, despite the predictions of the anti-gun anti-OC people, doesn't cause panic or shootings.

LOL, ya knows I's Scottish, right.


.

 

[nyeti]

I ain't never been kilt yet...nor have I ever shot anyone I wasn't aimin' to shoot..

Well, as soon as I get my rig from you.....I ll carry with my Kilt so I can say I've open carried and kilt......

In all seriousness.....I am an urban creature. Open carry of weapons has never been socially acceptable in urban areas. Simple social norms. Just like walking around in a purple thong and a feather boa is not a socially acceptable way for a man to dress in public or walk around the mall. Legal, just not socially acceptable, thus it like open carry of weapons in the metropolitan environment will draw attention. That is usually a negative to me, others don't care. Is what it is.
Now,with that said I also travel to a rural area of Texas and train the local LE Special Response Team. I asked the guys at training the other day about seeing open carry. This is a place where I would be totally comfortable carrying openly and is not a place where it would be out of place. They said they had not seen anyone open carrying. During the discussion it came up that most of the folks they have in the area who would likely open carry can't because they cannot get a CHL. Usually due to some disqualifying misdemeanor records or other issues. Most of the known "advocates" for open carry they had don't have a CHL. Turns out they really wanted open carry because they could not carry concealed legally because they couldn't get a license. Heard this at numerous places in my area as well. It seems nothing has changed and this is a place where I would venture everyone at the local eatery has a J frame in their pocket.

Either way.....is what it is. What peeves me is how many places are getting combo signs that never had signage in the past and is an unintended consequence.

 

[keith44spl]

Well, as soon as I get my rig from you.....I ll carry with my Kilt, so I can say I've open carried and kilt......

Yeah,
Open carry has a time and place, just like when discretion is the order of the day.


It's one's own call I guess, as to one's own pleasure.


Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[caleb4387]

Well, as soon as I get my rig from you.....I ll carry with my Kilt so I can say I've open carried and kilt......

In all seriousness.....I am an urban creature. Open carry of weapons has never been socially acceptable in urban areas. Simple social norms. Just like walking around in a purple thong and a feather boa is not a socially acceptable way for a man to dress in public or walk around the mall. Legal, just not socially acceptable, thus it like open carry of weapons in the metropolitan environment will draw attention. That is usually a negative to me, others don't care. Is what it is.
Now,with that said I also travel to a rural area of Texas and train the local LE Special Response Team. I asked the guys at training the other day about seeing open carry. This is a place where I would be totally comfortable carrying openly and is not a place where it would be out of place. They said they had not seen anyone open carrying. During the discussion it came up that most of the folks they have in the area who would likely open carry can't because they cannot get a CHL. Usually due to some disqualifying misdemeanor records or other issues. Most of the known "advocates" for open carry they had don't have a CHL. Turns out they really wanted open carry because they could not carry concealed legally because they couldn't get a license. Heard this at numerous places in my area as well. It seems nothing has changed and this is a place where I would venture everyone at the local eatery has a J frame in their pocket.

Either way.....is what it is. What peeves me is how many places are getting combo signs that never had signage in the past and is an unintended consequence.

I'm sure it will it catch on like it did in ohio

 

[caleb4387]

onebilly43 is right, VA has been an open carry (OC) state for decades and yet very few are ever seen OC'ing. When someone is observed OC'ing LEOs are usually not far behind. My daughter is a 911 dispatcher and explains the law to callers but they insist on an officer being dispatched anyway.

I wouldn't dispatch the officer