http://www.houstonpress.com/news/housto ... un-9635628
This article is in the Houston Press, which is a rag of a paper. I'm surprised they even acknowledge that it's OK for anyone to carry.
But then again, I know they got a few things wrong in the article:
We have permitted guns? Hmmm...“I would say 99.9 percent of the citizens who have a permitted [gun] are very [conscious] and aware to let us know that they are carrying,” said Kenneth Campbell, captain of the Houston Police Department Traffic Enforcement Division.
It would have been nice if they'd included the MPA in this one. I guess letting people know about that would be against the basic intentions of this reporter.Texas does not have any open carry regulations for long guns like rifles or shotguns, so a driver is not required to voluntarily offer that information. The same goes if you you are carrying without a permit, like if you are transporting firearms for whatever reason.
And they got some things right:
In general, common sense is the best practice when pulled over with a firearm. Don’t reach for a gun. Don’t even point at it, said Campbell, the Houston police officer. If the gun’s in the glove box with your insurance information, let the officer know and, still, it is probably best to avoid moving.
“Some people might say, ‘Yeah, I have one right here in my center console.’ Well, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, don’t do that.’” Campbell said.
Overall, given the source of this article (Houston Press), I'm pretty pleased with the middle ground that it took.Still, caution is necessary – from both the officer and the driver.
“It’s all about communication,” Campbell said. “Having positive and effective communications with the citizen is of the upmost importance.”