By Dean Weingarten
Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)- Both Governor candidates in Texas endorsed the concept of legal open carry of modern pistols.
The open carry of long guns is protected by the Texas Constitution, and the open carry of antique pistols is allowed under current Texas law.
The conventional wisdom is that once elected, candidates avoid campaign promises. Governor elect Abbott did not back away from his promise on open carry. From dailytexanonline.com:
Abbott also said if legislation allowing firearms to be carried openly in public came to him, he would sign it into law.
“If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, it’s good enough for the state of Texas,” Abbott said.
Opponents of open carry were weakened by the Texas legislative elections. Wendy Davis’ seat went to a Tea Party conservative, Konni Burton. The new Texas state senator is an open carry supporter. Dan Patrick, the new Lt. Governor, which is a powerful position in Texas government, says that he will fight for open carry on his campaign web page.
The prohibition of open carry of modern handguns is a historical anomaly in Texas. Governor elect Abbott referred to it by mentioning that open carry is legal in even most states that are less supportive of the second amendment.
The major question is: will the open carry bill be a licensed open carry, or a constitutional open carry, with no permit required, as exists in most other states?
c2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included. Link to Gun Watch
About Dean Weingarten;
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
When I was a youngster I remember when concealed carry was against the law. If you didn’t have your gun visible, the LEO would arrest you. Only certain law enforcement officers were able to legally conceal the gun.
Think about it. If someone’s carrying a firearm, wouldn’t you rather see it, than have it hidden from you?
The map is not correct with regard to Utah. Utah law is a little unique. You may openly carry a loaded handgun if you have a concealed firearms permit. You may also carry a loaded handgun if you do not have a permit BUT it may not be capable of firing with a single pull of the trigger. In other words, with a revolver, the next chamber up must be empty and with a semi-auto the magazine may be loaded but you cannot have a round chambered. Don’t ask me how they came up with that, it’s just the way… Read more »
” I’ve never understood why a license is needed to exercise a constitutional right” You Don’t – But the average sheeple are convinced from day one that you need the Corporations Permission Slip for everything in order to be an American – when all it really does is make you a compliant slave. And the Sheriffs / Cops are all just as brain washed and trained to shoot you if you don’t comply with said Corporation Rules – Yet these are the ones who are supposed to know what is right yet they don’t – they just follow orders from… Read more »
Abbott will be alot more aggressive about getting open carry done than Perry was/is ! I’ve never understood why a license is needed to exercise a constitutional right ! At least people in Texas can carry a firearm in their vehicle w/o a license. Abbott will get open carry passed and it will be nice to have the option of how you want to carry !
I will be contacting Mr. Abbott to express my position, which is this: OPEN CARRY, or concealed carry, for that matter, are Rights protected under the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of American, especially as recently confirmed AND incorporated in MacDonald V. Chicago. Therefore, the unrestricted RIGHT to Keep and Bear Arms must be confirmed by the Great State of Texas, PERIOD.
Good start but how about allowing concealed carry without a permit. This momma may I is a crock and does nothing to protect the public. AZ has such a law & it works well. How about it Gov Elect Abbott?
Concealed carry is of no use to me, I don’t carry a purse. Besides, Open Carry is the right guaranteed by the Constitution, concealed carry can be prohibited. “[A] right to carry arms openly: “This is the right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, and which is calculated to incite men to a manly and noble defence of themselves, if necessary, and of their country, without any tendency to secret advantages and unmanly assassinations.”” District of Columbia v. Heller, 128 S. Ct. 2783 – Supreme Court (2008) at 2809. “Like most rights, the right secured by the Second… Read more »
“The carrying of arms in a quiet, peaceable, and orderly manner, concealed on or about the person, is not a breach of the peace. Nor does such an act of itself, lead to a breach of the peace.” (Wharton’s Criminal and Civil Procedure, 12th Ed., Vol.2: Judy v. Lashley, 5 W. Va. 628, 41 S.E. 197).
“Both Governor candidates in Texas endorsed the concept of legal open carry of modern pistols.”
The Concept? WTF does that mean?
Legal is Corporate Policy/Rules – Not Common Law
If We had any states that actually followed the Constitution instead of Corporate policy, they would understand that WE The People do not need their permission or Legislation to carry in any matter or fashion.
But as long as the Sheeple continue to OBEY and be good little law abiding slaves they will continue to control your rights and make them into privileges.
Bleet On.