TexasCHLforum.com

I posted this on OpenCarry.org, but figured I would post it here as well:

Please forgive my ignorance on the OC subject, but I have been a CHL holder for over a decade now. I have a question regarding "OC" and its actual legal definition (or at least what is being proposed by the bill being drafted).

I understand the arguments that OC is a basic right, that 44 other states allow it, and that CC in the TX heat and humidity is hard on equipment and body.

What I would like to know is how the proposed OC rulas and CC rules will blend so to speak. Say for example if I am wearing jeans and a polo type shirt. If I have my shirt tail untucked and carrying in an OWB holster that CAN be discerned as a handgun by a reasonable person, yet the gun is actually covered....would this only be a violation of CC law,...or OC law as well? What I am envisioning is (if bill is ever passed) will I have to deliberatly and totally conceal, or deliberatly and totally "Open Carry" my gun. It would be wonderful to be able to throw on and OWB rig and a t-shirt and hit the door.....not worrying about my gun getting covered in sweat from IWB carry, or geting tackled by LEO's if my shirt rides up a bit in the cool breeze.

Is it possible to write (or have, in the case of states other than TX) legislation that would seamlessly meld the two together? Would it be feasable to enact something along the lines of a "Defensive Handgun Permit" that would allow handgun carry in whatever manner the bearer sees fit?

just bouncin stuff around in my head....feel free to smack it back my way

I'm no expert in the politics of the thing, but my guess is that OC would not supplant CHL in the law. My understanding of it is that people with CHLs would still be able to carry concealed if they want to. From my own perspective, assuming that to be the case, I would still carry concealed, but probably OWB rather than IWB, and I would worry less about printing, or about the bottom of my holster becoming visible.

I carry OC everywhere. I think it's a great supplement to a firearm.






Oh, you meant that other OC....

DoubleJ wrote:I carry OC everywhere. I think it's a great supplement to a firearm.






Oh, you meant that other OC....

Man! And I was just about to correct you until I saw the second line.

There are two general approaches to open carry by supporters in Texas. One proposal would simply do away with requirement that CHLs conceal their handguns. So a license to carry would still be required, but the licensee could carry openly or concealed as they wish.

The other approach is unlicensed open carry meaning anyone not prohibited from possessing firearms could openly carry a handgun. If you wanted to carry a handgun concealed, that would still require a CHL.

Chas.

I am all for the "anyone not prohibited" option, but I see the other option as a far easier pill for the public at large to swallow.

Russell wrote:*Flame shield up*

The shield may not be necessary - at least for my part. We lost our rights incrementally, and it was that incremental nature that was so deadly efficient (the old boiling frog analogy). We may have to get them back incrementally.

I kind of see it working this way: successful licensed CC leads to licensed OC & CC, which leads to unlicensed OC & licensed CC, which leads to unlicensed OC & CC. It would be nice if we could get there more directly and quickly, but that is not politically realistic.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

Russell wrote:*Flame shield up*

The shield may not be necessary - at least for my part. We lost our rights incrementally, and it was that incremental nature that was so deadly efficient (the old boiling frog analogy). We may have to get them back incrementally.

I kind of see it working this way: successful licensed CC leads to licensed OC & CC, which leads to unlicensed OC & licensed CC, which leads to unlicensed OC & CC. It would be nice if we could get there more directly and quickly, but that is not politically realistic.

agreed....I don't like it but to think that one day the sun will rise and it will be OK for all to once again walk the streets armed is unrealistic.

I support "Alaska carry", where both OC and CC are legal with no license required, but a license is available for reciprocity purposes.

Beyond that, I support elimination of PC Chapter 46 -- guns, knives, all of it.

It took a long time to get licensed CC, then it took a number of years and a couple of clarifications to get unlicensed car carry. I don't expect to get everything we want in one big bite.

KBCraig wrote:I don't expect to get everything we want in one big bite.

Supreme Pizza. you take a good sized bite, and you can actually get one of each topping.
it's truly heaven, specially with good sauce and dough. maybe a sprinkle of parmesan.
no ranch, though (otherwise known as Texas Gravy). that's just blasphemy.

I like to OC my OC. just put it on my keychain and cruise. there it is, dangling from the "ignition switch" in my Beheamoth. Usually just leave it hangin' out of my pocket. makes the keys easier to grasp, too.

KBCraig wrote:I support "Alaska carry", where both OC and CC are legal with no license required, but a license is available for reciprocity purposes.

Beyond that, I support elimination of PC Chapter 46 -- guns, knives, all of it.

It took a long time to get licensed CC, then it took a number of years and a couple of clarifications to get unlicensed car carry. I don't expect to get everything we want in one big bite.

Hold the phone...are you saying I can legally carry a gun in my center console around town and none of the "you must be on a bonafide journey of more than two counties away from your home" junk?

Quote: "Hold the phone...are you saying I can legally carry a gun in my center console around town and none of the "you must be on a bonafide journey of more than two counties away from your home" junk?"

As the saying goes, "You're new around here, ain't cha?" Welcome.

Ya might wann search threads using key words such as "H.B. 1815" or "Motorist Protection Act".

Thanks guys, I am new, and a little embarrassed. Would you believe that I'm a research scientist? So much for doing my research . I've been reading this forum for well over a month and this fact has completely escaped me. I'm going to clean out my center console right now. Anyone know of a good mountable holster or another device good for storing and quick retrieval out of an F150 console?