Open Carry In Texas!

[carlson1]

I would sure support OPEN CARRY. To be honest I do not like having to have a CHL. I think I should be able to carry because I am an American! I don't think I should have to be licensed to be able to excerise my right, but then again I don't like seatbealts

[kw5kw]

Not that I want to hijack your scenario, but you can avoid this kind of thing by taking a credit card out of your wallet before getting out of the car. Likewise, if I have to go into a Stop and Rob, I put the cash in my pants pocket before getting out of the car.

The wallet does not see the light of day.

- Jim

And what’s to keep a perp, any perp, from just coming up to anyone, if they have their wallet out, or just a credit card, and demanding money. If your wallet is in your pocket or in your car they are still robbing you.

Wallet in hand was an illustration, not a necessity.

Kw5kw, You are right on this one.

Thank you.

I followed the story about your encounter in Lubbock with great interest. Great Job there.

I don't want to hijack the thread either but in the scenerio given, what keeps BG from taking your wallet and weapon?

Same question if you’re in condition WHITE (because you’ve become complacent because you carry) and you have your weapon concealed and the bad guy sees the weapon because of an accidental, nervous flash when you go to hand him your wallet. I’ll bet he demands the weapon at that time as well.

Or they see your weapon, devise a plan to disarm you, rob you and kill you with your own weapon. I don't see a problem with people open carry, but I do see a problem with people who are open carry and don't even understand about the 5 level or awareness, or even remotely have some sort of training on open carry. I guess it's more like a double edge sword.

They are the perps that will do anything and nobody is save around them at any time.

The only problem that I have with open carry states such as Alaska (and others) is that anyone without any sort of training can carry—period. No permit, no training, nothing-nada-zilch.

I know that a permit is a privilege and without a permit is a right, but I’d still go for the training aspect over no training, and if it takes a permit to gain said training, then so be it.

The whole trick is to not become complacent when/while carrying.

Yes a 2 edged sword. I think there are far more street thugs that want easy victims & would pass an open carry citizen as their victim than there are those who will take the chance of winning the fight. They would rather steal the gun from an empty house than fight for it on a public street.
My .02 cents & some think it worth about half that.
LT

I agree LT.

I know that it can't always be avoided.....but gas stations and other vulnerable places are open during the day I make a real attempt not to put myself in these situations and try to choose an open, well-lighted station when I have no choice. If open carry was legal....I seriously doubt that I would ever do it. I prefer the rights we have....better for the criminal to wonder what I will do.
Jason

Most of the time I can gas while it’s still light, however, in winter time the sun comes up after I get to work and the sun goes down before I get off then there is little I can do about it.
Also traveling on vacation is another thing. If you’re going through an unfamiliar city—you don’t know the area’s that are ‘good’ and those that ‘aren’t’. All you know is you need gas and this place is open and the price is right. That’s my wife, price, price, price. ((Hijack my own thought here: I think she would drive 20 miles, use a gallon of gas, to save $0.05/gallon. Never mind that she would use 2 gallons to save that nickel and the combined savings per tank would have been $0.50 (for 10 gallons) but would have cost $5.00 (2 gallons at $2.50 and 20 mpg). So the net loss per would have been $4.50 on that savings of a nickel per gallon.))

I think open carry would be even more a deterrent for criminal behavior. Just my opinion.

Russ

[carlson1]

The only problem that I have with open carry states such as Alaska (and others) is that anyone without any sort of training can carry—period. No permit, no training, nothing-nada-zilch.
I know that a permit is a privilege and without a permit is a right, but I’d still go for the training aspect over no training, and if it takes a permit to gain said training, then so be it.Russ

I like the ideal of training, but I remember the day when LEO'S were chosen because of their stature. There was no training. When I went to work you could work up to two years before you went to any school. It was just common sense. I guess there is not much common sense and character left. I remember the reports when the CHL was started how there would be all of these random killings. Go figure.

[seamusTX]

.. you can avoid this kind of thing by taking a credit card out of your wallet before getting out of the car.

And what’s to keep a perp, any perp, from just coming up to anyone, if they have their wallet out, or just a credit card, and demanding money.

Nothing, if they're determined to rob you.

You need both hands to take a credit card or money out of your wallet, and you have to look at what you're doing.

If you get out of the car with the credit card in your hand, you can continue to observe your surroundings, and keep one hand free. If you have to drop the credit card, it's just one credit card, not your entire wallet.

- Jim

[longtooth]

Lets let this thing evolve a little more. I am a supporter, great outspoken supporter of less govt is better. I to believe carry is a right not a liscensed privilege. There are some problems though that do not have a right answer.
1. We pass unliscensed open carry because it is a right & it becomes common. Citizen guns are regularly visible.
2. There will be the criminal ellement that will seek to open carry as he goes to do his mischief.
3. Fellons should not be allowed to have one.
4. Where is the line that prevents a LEO from stopping me while he checks a record (taking an hour, & he disarms me for his safety, handling gun in public & close proxcimity to other citizens) to see if I am "Joe GoodCitizen" or "Wanted PosterBoy."
5. If it is liscense to carry a weapon then it is instant answer to the above, but still regulation, & felon deterrent. (However so slight)

[Mithras61]

.. you can avoid this kind of thing by taking a credit card out of your wallet before getting out of the car.

And what’s to keep a perp, any perp, from just coming up to anyone, if they have their wallet out, or just a credit card, and demanding money.

Nothing, if they're determined to rob you.

You need both hands to take a credit card or money out of your wallet, and you have to look at what you're doing.

If you get out of the car with the credit card in your hand, you can continue to observe your surroundings, and keep one hand free. If you have to drop the credit card, it's just one credit card, not your entire wallet.

- Jim

That's part of why I love my SpeedPass. I get out of the car with my keys in hand with the SpeedPass on the keychain, wave it at the spot on the pump, & fill up. No cash, no credit card, no fumbling.

[seamusTX]

Where is the line that prevents a LEO from stopping me while he checks a record...

I don't know, but the states where open carry has been legal forever don't seem to have a problem.

Personally, I think branding felons (violent ones, anyway) would solve a lot of problems, but they keep telling me that's uncivilized.

- Jim

[kw5kw]

Where is the line that prevents a LEO from stopping me while he checks a record...

I don't know, but the states where open carry has been legal forever don't seem to have a problem.

Personally, I think branding felons (violent ones, anyway) would solve a lot of problems, but they keep telling me that's uncivilized.

- Jim

A big "F" on the forehead, much like the big "A" in the Scarlet Letter.

It could mean any number of things: failure, felon...

Russ

[longtooth]

Good point seamusTX. I know that but did not think of it. 'Coarse 'bout 2 thangs ata time's all I kin handle.
kw5kw, I read that in high school & again in college.

[cyphur]

I vote yes. I'd open carry in many instances.

[wrightcrew]

Whether or not an individual would open carry makes for interesting discussion here, but I have to agree with the previous posts about this being a right. As I read 2A, it is my right as an American to go about my daily life armed as I see fit. I know there are some who disagree with that opinion of 2A, but I fully believe that is both what it says and what it means. As I read the 2A, the government is not permitted to place conditions on the exercise of our right, including licensing and training classes. I agree that training is the right thing to do, but I disagree that the government can require it.

I'd like to see our state (as well as all of the other states) recognize the right guaranteed to us by 2A. Those who do wrong should be punished. But, those of us who have not done wrong should not be punished because of what we might do if we were allowed to exercise our constitutionally guarnanteed rights.

[Chris]

i would never support open carry. by policy, i can carry openly, but you would never catch me doing so. on duty, i have to carry openly. i've had people jump me, and try and take my gun, and it's in a retention holster. people who think blatantly displaying a firearm is protection in and of itself, are only fooling themselves. a visible gun tells you and everyone else that there is a gun on scene. whether you can hang on to it is a whole different story. i'd rather not show my hand until i choose.

i know criminals like to hang around outside and scope out their targets just a few minutes before they hit it. who do you think is going to get shot first? the guy with the concealed weapon who chooses when to react, or the rambo flaunting a firearm?

i'll vote against it if it comes up. sorry. i support concealed carry 110%, but open carry is not a very good idea.

[longtooth]

i would never support open carry. by policy, i can carry openly, but you would never catch me doing so. on duty, i have to carry openly. i've had people jump me, and try and take my gun, and it's in a retention holster. people who think blatantly displaying a firearm is protection in and of itself, are only fooling themselves. a visible gun tells you and everyone else that there is a gun on scene. whether you can hang on to it is a whole different story. i'd rather not show my hand until i choose.

i know criminals like to hang around outside and scope out their targets just a few minutes before they hit it. who do you think is going to get shot first? the guy with the concealed weapon who chooses when to react, or the rambo flaunting a firearm?

i'll vote against it if it comes up. sorry. i support concealed carry 110%, but open carry is not a very good idea.

Another good post. This is what makes a horse race.
We are all glad to have conceal carry. If open ever comes to pass then everyone will have to make their own decission.

[Venus Pax]

Like many of you, I prefer concealed carry for myself. I like the idea of open carry too. This way, if I accidentally flash someone, it's no big deal--they've seen it enough already on the street.
I'm with many of you-- I don't think I need to pay for a CHL. I'm an American citizen, and a good citizen. If a citizen hasn't proven himself/herself to be harmful (ie. a felon), then that person should be permitted to carry anywhere. That includes postoffices, courts, the White House, and any other public property.

[1TallTXn]

Like many of you, I prefer concealed carry for myself. I like the idea of open carry too. This way, if I accidentally flash someone, it's no big deal--they've seen it enough already on the street.
I'm with many of you-- I don't think I need to pay for a CHL. I'm an American citizen, and a good citizen. If a citizen hasn't proven himself/herself to be harmful (ie. a felon), then that person should be permitted to carry anywhere. That includes postoffices, courts, the White House, and any other public property.

you just summed up my opinion!