I'm really starting to love this look. I'll be asking for girly gun belts for Christmas.

(Not me, just a random internet lady)

Makes me want to dip my guns pink. It seemed pointless before, since nobody ever saw them but me.

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That amendment was struck, unfortunately, so police can ask to see someone's license if they're carrying openly.

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They can ask, but is a citizen obligated to provide the license?

Without the amendment, carrying is probable cause to be detained and asked for proof of license by a LEO. That was the basis of the entire debate on the Dutton/Huffines amendment.

Now, will every LEO run around and stop everybody the see open carrying? Hardly. But one will be too much.

Suppose it's a step in the right direction but I still wont be signing up for any license.

Is open carrying really reasonable suspicion to stop a person though? If so the police would be justified in pulling you over while driving just to make sure you have a drivers license

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Without the amendment, carrying is probable cause to be detained and asked for proof of license by a LEO. That was the basis of the entire debate on the Dutton/Huffines amendment.

Now, will every LEO run around and stop everybody the see open carrying? Hardly. But one will be too much.

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No it's not. Read Charles Cotton's commentary on this on the Texas CHL forum. He's an attorney, and he has helped draft most of the CHL laws here in TX. The Dutton and Huffines amendments were never necessary.

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Is open carrying really reasonable suspicion to stop a person though? If so the police would be justified in pulling you over while driving just to make sure you have a drivers license

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Simply open carrying isn't, but most any LEO can come up with "reasonable suspicion" if they really want to stop you.

They can also do "consensual stops" where you are free to leave but it may not actually seem that way. A lot of the OC stops in other states are "consensual" and it's why you often hear people asking if they're free to go. Once they're no longer free to go, the stop is no longer "consensual".

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Suppose it's a step in the right direction but I still wont be signing up for any license.

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Your loss, not ours. The rest of us will enjoy legally being able to carry freely and protect ourselves if the need arises.

I would say no, but that will be at the discretion of the LEO, and what mandates come from elected and politically appointed offices in their jurisdiction.

For example - I would bet that a weekend warrior biker riding his Harley right now would be detained if they were open carrying, regardless of whether they have violated any laws or not.

I do not think you will see legions of people unecessarily detained, but one will be too many. I dont know how many other scenarios there are that people would be fine with violations of rights being part of the game.

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I do not think you will see legions of people unecessarily detained, but one will be too many. I dont know how many other scenarios there are that people would be fine with violations of rights being part of the game.

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One is too many. Thankfully, we have great technology where anyone can cheaply and easily record any interaction with the police while carrying, and plenty of lawyers willing to go after anyone doing something the wrong way.

I'm still trying to figure out in what world your way of insisting on an amendment that still wouldn't have stopped police harassment, still would have required long lengthy court processes to remedy violations and most importantly would have killed HB 910s chance of passing this year and added at least another 2 years to the long, embarrassing period Texans couldn't legally open carry is somehow better than what we got.

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Not sure how I feel about this one. I'm not liberal in the least bit but I'm not sure it's a good idea for everyone to be walking around with a gun on their side. There's a lot of crazy folks out there.

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great. now every redneck with a chl can make this state look like the wild west again

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Ever been to New Mexico? You aren't even allowed to be a resident there unless you are certifiably crazy. You can Open Carry there without any kind of license, starting at age 19. You can only concealed carry with a permit.

Our daughter attended college in Colorado. Both kids had soccer tournaments in ABQ and Roswell. I've been there on vacation probably 100 times since I was a kid. We've been to NM probably 50 times in the last 10 years for my wife's job.

Want to know how many people I've seen carrying openly?

I'm glad this passed. I've had my CHL for several years but unfortunately I hardly ever carry. At 5'9" and 155 lbs, I haven't been able to find an iwb holster that is comfortable.

This will increase my options.

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Not sure how I feel about this one. I'm not liberal in the least bit but I'm not sure it's a good idea for everyone to be walking around with a gun on their side. There's a lot of crazy folks out there.

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Why do so many people think Open Carry means you must OC your weapon?

I, for one will hardly if ever OC my weapon. I'd rather a bad guy not have a clue whether I'm carrying or not.

Open carrying with the idea that you're going to intimidate a bad guy is senseless, careless, silly and stupid not to mention a good way to get yourself killed. Why make yourself a target?

I'm sure there will be some idiots out to make a point and show off their piece for the world to see, but once the novelty wears off most will go back to CC'ing their weapon.

I think most people will continue to CC just look at the other various states that allow OC, it's hardly the wild west.

So does this mean folks visiting from Vermont are still technically screwed in Texas?

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So does this mean folks visiting from Vermont are still technically screwed in Texas?

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Not if they possess a valid non resident permit from any state that issues them. Utah, Arizona, Florida are all pretty easy non resident permits to get.

They're still screwed in general when they visit, but that's due to the high risk factor a native Vermonteer (Vermontarian?) is predisposed to of entering circulatory shock when they're exposed to other Texas things like warm sun, lack of snow, green plants that aren't evergreen trees, good Mexican food....that sort of thing.

Always found it interesting that I can go to Vermont and carry whatever I want, where ever I want, with no issue as a non-resident. My FIL comes to Texas, no dice without jumping through some hoops.

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Always found it interesting that I can go to Vermont and carry whatever I want, where ever I want, with no issue as a non-resident. My FIL comes to Texas, no dice without jumping through some hoops.

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Yeah, gun laws from state to state are a fascinating thing to research.

When Oklahoma passed open carry in 2012 they actually thought of that particular snag: residents of states with Constitutional Carry like Vermont, Arizona, Alaska and Wyoming do not need a permit to carry in Oklahoma, since they don't need one to carry in their home state. Kind of neat.

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Makes me want to dip my guns pink. It seemed pointless before, since nobody ever saw them but me.

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Dip sucks on holster wear... cerakote though... well...

I prefer to not open carry, but I have a .45 Sig Sauer and nice holster/belt and I can carry under my suit jacket and if it shows a time or two (like when I reach down for something) that will be fine.

Wonder if a panhandler would be less likely to approach me at the gas pump if I let it show?

Panhandler walks up. "Hey man can you spare some money?"


Sees this in my holster.

Never mind!

I had not thought of it til someone mentioned it above, now I can pull a couple of my "Sunday go to Meetings" weapons out of the safe. Been too big to hide before, now under a coat or light jacket they will be nice.

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Not sure how I feel about this one. I'm not liberal in the least bit but I'm not sure it's a good idea for everyone to be walking around with a gun on their side. There's a lot of crazy folks out there.

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great. now every redneck with a chl can make this state look like the wild west again

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Ever been to New Mexico? You aren't even allowed to be a resident there unless you are certifiably crazy. You can Open Carry there without any kind of license, starting at age 19. You can only concealed carry with a permit.

Our daughter attended college in Colorado. Both kids had soccer tournaments in ABQ and Roswell. I've been there on vacation probably 100 times since I was a kid. We've been to NM probably 50 times in the last 10 years for my wife's job.

Want to know how many people I've seen carrying openly?

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Same as in Idaho. About two months ago I finally saw someone OC in the city...after living here 26 years. And that was a customer at a gunsmith's shop who was in his late 60s at least. During hunting season you will see a few people do it out in the sticks. It is really a non issue.

"great. now every redneck with a chl can make this state look like the wild west again"

Spoken like a true idiot. Grew up in west Texas where shotguns and deer rifles were hanging on a gun rack in most trucks. No wild Wild West occurred back then. It was no big deal to have guns in view.

Armed rednecks are for sure now going to turn out in large numbers to riot and, cause millions of dollars in damage to Asian businesses, make police officers look like they are oppressors, and become dependent on the welfare state.

Yep.....Rednecks are definately now going to be a problem because of open carry.

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Not sure how I feel about this one. I'm not liberal in the least bit but I'm not sure it's a good idea for everyone to be walking around with a gun on their side. There's a lot of crazy folks out there.

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There are 30+ states that already allow some sort of open carry. Some don't even require a license to do so. I think we will be ok.