Southeast Texans excited about Open Carry

“It’s not very clear…I can read it one way, I can read it another way”, said Donna Edmundson, the city attorney for Houston, at a town hall meeting two months ago.

Violation of the law could result in a misdemeanor or loss of license to carry.

Though about 40 states allow their residents to openly carry their guns under some conditions, the new rules in the more populous Texas sparked mixed emotions over the possible consequences. Williamson County law enforcement addressed several questions in December 2015.

Mike Eppler said generally everything from a concealed carry license that’s now legal will be legal for an open carry license on the first of January, but the adjustment might still catch some citizens by surprise.

The name of the previous Concealed Handgun License (CHL) is changing to a License to Carry (LTC).

“To many people who have not been aware that people in the community have been carrying [guns], they will be faced with encountering people in the community that are carrying handguns”, Hogan said.

Texans do not need a state license to buy a handgun but must meet the federal qualifications.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that “Existing Texas law requires licensed gun owners to hide their handguns so they aren’t in plain view”.

State Rep. Diego Bernal, a Democrat who represents the urban center of San Antonio, and who voted against the bill, says ‘introducing firearms into an urban environment is a mistake’. The first few days or weeks people were apprehensive and probably will be again, but I think they’ll come to realize the person just has another “tool in their belt” or however they want to see it, and it won’t be that big of a deal.

Belton police Chief Gene Ellis doesn’t anticipate any major issues with the law, he said in a Wednesday email.

Kroger, Home Depot and Bass Pro Shops have said they will allow customers to openly carry their handguns, said the Morning News.

Garza said if anyone sees someone suspicious with a weapon, they should call their local police department.

Those who already have a concealed handgun license do not need to undergo any additional training or pay any additional fees once the open-carry law goes into effect. Other places where open carry may be banned is at churches and where government meetings are held, as long as signs with proper language are posted. He has chose to ban open carry at his restaurant, saying if a customer walks in with a gun, he’ll ask that customer to hide it.

Business owners do have the option to prohibit guns on their property. However, if an officer wants to go and get their HL, they will be allowed to carry a handgun out in the open as long as they are not carrying it under the authority or policies of the Georgetown Police Department. Like the saloons of old, some cowboys might just have to leave their guns at the door (or more properly, secured in their car).

The new law will not allow for open carry at schools, sporting events or at bars. A spokesman for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who also has a concealed-carry license, said Patrick did not plan on openly carrying a weapon.

There are restrictions on Open Carry as well. While Texas has not move that far, today’s rally recognized a significant step in the direction of what many refer to as Constitutional Carry.

The new law is anticlimactic for one other reason.