New legislative push for open carry gun law

Rocket River · Jan 18, 2013

Can we have some legislation so I can carry a Samurai Sword too?
What could go wrong?

I saw this on the news last nite. . . . I reckon this is the guy that brought it up.

Rocket River

http://m.news-journal.com/mobile/ne...cle_80bd0955-5597-582f-af8f-e09c4a959eab.html

A sophomore Texarkana state representative caused a stir this week when he announced he would once again push for an open carry gun law when the legislative session convenes in January.

Rep. George Lavender hopes to spearhead legislation that would allow residents who have been approved for concealed-weapon carrying to carry holstered pistols in the open.

He was behind similar legislation that was not passed in the 2011 legislative session.

Texas is one of six states that forbids open carry in all forms.

“I definitely support open carry. The concealed handgun law to me is ridiculous... I am still carrying a gun on me, even if you don’t know. I honestly think open carry would be better because potential criminals could see right off ... Just the mere sight of a gun on a guy’s belt is a deterrent,” said Bob Godell, owner of The Gun Doctor in Longview.

Godell said firearms have been an important part of his life — so much that when he retired, he purchased the shop.

He said he has little tolerance for people who were more afraid if a gun was visible than concealed.

“It seems silly to me. Someone who has a weapon concealed is the same person with the same gun as someone who is open carrying. I see no purpose in hiding the fact that you are carrying the gun,” Godell said. “I would say, ‘Get over it.’ ”

Community activist Wray Wade said he was “100 percent against any type of open carry law.”

“An open carry law would only create more confusion in the gun control battle that exists now in this country,” Wade said. “It’s an obvious deterrent ... but I think the battle starts way before that. I think gun control is not something you do at the face of a situation. Guns need to be controlled from the manufactures, distributors, the streets and where the guns end up.”

Texas passed a law allowing the licensed concealed-carry of firearms in 1995.

Proponents of a bill argue, like Godell, that guns openly displayed can provide a deterrent to crime.

However, some concealed carriers are concerned brandishing a weapon openly would make a carrier the first target of a criminal.

Opponents of open carry legislation are concerned that openly brandished guns might not only fail to deter crime, but might cause ill will and hostility in situations where it would not have otherwise arisen.

“I look at it as the historical views of guns and places and the opportunity for guns to create hostile environments in places where there was no hostility,” Wade said. “I think of open carry as worse then concealed carry — it would contribute to an environment that already has way to many guns and in making guns too much a part of our society.”

East Texas law enforcement agencies fell short of throwing their support behind an open carry law Friday; however, they stressed they would support whatever brand of handgun carrying law the state permitted.

“Longview Police Department supports the public’s right to have concealed handgun licenses and own guns. Texas Concealed Handgun Law passed in 1995 has done its job of allowing licensed citizens to carry their handgun as long as it was concealed,” said Longview police spokeswoman Kristie Brian.

“The Longview Police Department will continue to enforce the law as it is written, whether the law requires citizens to conceal their weapon or if the law changes to allow citizens to openly carry a handgun,” she said.

Capt. Roman Roberson of the Kilgore Police Department mirrored the Longview Police Department’s statement.

“Our stand point at the department is that we enforce the laws. It’s really up to the Legislature,” Roberson said.

Lavender did not return a request for interview Friday.
Click to expand...

bobmarley · Jan 18, 2013

Wild Wild West y'all!

I always imagined what it would be like to carry a revolver in my holster that is attached to my bullet belt.

WNBA · Jan 18, 2013

It would be cool that I could decorate my car with a machine gun on the hood.

bobmarley · Jan 18, 2013

WNBA said: ↑

It would be cool that I could decorate my car with a machine gun on the hood.
Click to expand...

Twisted Metal 3, here we come.

JuanValdez · Jan 18, 2013

I don't much care whether the guns are open or concealed. Sometimes discretion is probably the best idea, but if you have the option either way, I don't see it as a big deal.

rocketsjudoka · Jan 18, 2013

Interesting that open carry isn't legal in TX. In MN there is a guy who owns a gun shop in St. Paul that has stood outside his shop with a gun and an American flag. Several people have complained but the police have said that it is fine as MN allows for open carry.

alexcapone · Jan 18, 2013

rocketsjudoka said: ↑

Interesting that open carry isn't legal in TX. In MN there is a guy who owns a gun shop in St. Paul that has stood outside his shop with a gun and an American flag. Several people have complained but the police have said that it is fine as MN allows for open carry.
Click to expand...

That's legal in Texas as well. Gun shop owners open carry in their stores all the time.

rocketsjudoka · Jan 18, 2013

alexcapone said: ↑

That's legal in Texas as well. Gun shop owners open carry in their stores all the time.
Click to expand...

Is it inside or outside their stores? The guy in St. Paul was carrying out side his store on the public sidewalk.

Commodore · Jan 18, 2013

why is open carry worse than concealed carry?

ROXRAN · Jan 18, 2013

alexcapone said: ↑

That's legal in Texas as well. Gun shop owners open carry in their stores all the time.
Click to expand...

In TN, as well...

alexcapone · Jan 18, 2013

rocketsjudoka said: ↑

Is it inside or outside their stores? The guy in St. Paul was carrying out side his store on the public sidewalk.
Click to expand...

You can open carry anywhere on your property in Texas. So you could open carry on your yard but not on a public sidewalk.

Svpernaut · Jan 18, 2013

FYI - Even in open carry states gun carriers generally don't open carry because of the extra attention it brings from both scared soccer moms, and criminals. I believe 21 states have some sort of open carry, licensed or unlicensed... the world hasn't ended yet.

ROXRAN · Jan 18, 2013

Svpernaut said: ↑

FYI - Even in open carry states gun carriers generally don't open carry because of the extra attention it brings from both scared soccer moms, and criminals. I believe 21 states have some sort of open carry, licensed or unlicensed... the world hasn't ended yet.
Click to expand...

This. Common sense goes along way.

Commodore · Jan 18, 2013

I feel safer when I see someone openly carrying in a public place

FranchiseBlade · Jan 18, 2013

Commodore said: ↑

I feel safer when I see someone openly carrying in a public place
Click to expand...

I feel safer when I see someone snap the gun out of a person's holster that was carrying openly and now the criminal is carrying openly.

Svpernaut · Jan 18, 2013

FranchiseBlade said: ↑

I feel safer when I see someone snap the gun out of a person's holster that was carrying openly and now the criminal is carrying openly.
Click to expand...

Because that's happened.... never. Feel free to find cases of when that has happened, good luck. Open carry deters crime, but makes most carriers uncomfortable mainly because of gawking of people who detest guns.

Commodore · Jan 18, 2013

FranchiseBlade said: ↑

I feel safer when I see someone snap the gun out of a person's holster that was carrying openly and now the criminal is carrying openly.
Click to expand...

that's quite a hypothetical

Svpernaut · Jan 18, 2013

Commodore said: ↑

that's quite a hypothetical
Click to expand...

Very hypothetical considering you can't find a story of that ever happening. I know, I've looked many times.

FranchiseBlade · Jan 18, 2013

Svpernaut said: ↑

Because that's happened.... never. Feel free to find cases of when that has happened, good luck. Open carry deters crime, but makes most carriers uncomfortable mainly because of gawking of people who detest guns.
Click to expand...

Actually it has happened.

http://markmaynard.com/2012/04/can-...n-tell-me-what-im-supposed-to-think-about-it/

Man has his gun stolen from holster in downtown Ypisilanti, unarmed man retrieves it for him
Click to expand...

Three New Jersey police officers were left wounded when a man arrested on stalking charges managed to wrestle a gun from one of them and opened fire inside the Gloucester Township police station early Friday morning.
Click to expand...

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-police-station-shot-death.html#ixzz2IOCyQYwo
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
That one happened from trained law enforcement officers.

FranchiseBlade · Jan 18, 2013

Svpernaut said: ↑

Very hypothetical considering you can't find a story of that ever happening. I know, I've looked many times.
Click to expand...

Or you can find several stories of it happening after looking for just a few minutes like I did.

Forums

New legislative push for open carry gun law

Rocket River Member

bobmarley Member

WNBA Member

bobmarley Member

JuanValdez Member

rocketsjudoka Member

alexcapone Member

rocketsjudoka Member

Commodore Member

ROXRAN Member

alexcapone Member

Svpernaut Member

ROXRAN Member

Commodore Member

FranchiseBlade Member
Supporting Member

Svpernaut Member

Commodore Member

Svpernaut Member

FranchiseBlade Member
Supporting Member

FranchiseBlade Member
Supporting Member

Share This Page

About ClutchFans

Rockets Content

Support ClutchFans!

New legislative push for open carry gun law

Rocket River Member

bobmarley Member

WNBA Member

bobmarley Member

JuanValdez Member

rocketsjudoka Member

alexcapone Member

rocketsjudoka Member

Commodore Member

ROXRAN Member

alexcapone Member

Svpernaut Member

ROXRAN Member

Commodore Member

FranchiseBlade Member Supporting Member

Svpernaut Member

Commodore Member

Svpernaut Member

FranchiseBlade Member Supporting Member

FranchiseBlade Member Supporting Member

Share This Page

FranchiseBlade Member
Supporting Member

FranchiseBlade Member
Supporting Member

FranchiseBlade Member
Supporting Member