Temple, TX –-(Ammoland.com)- On March 16, 2013, 1SG(R) CJ Grisham was arrested while joining his son on a 10-mile hike to earn a Boy Scout merit badge and legally carrying a modern AR15 sporting rifle and concealed handgun.
After his false arrest, Grisham started the non-profit gun rights organization, Open Carry Texas (OCT).
The case garnered international attention and a movement was born in the Lone Star State.
At the time of last year’s hike, there were nearly two dozen statewide cases awaiting trial for similar acts of lawful carry of a long arm. This year’s hike will focus on the fact that every single open carry arrest in Texas since March 16, 2013, has either been thrown out or acquitted by a jury. In other words, the only individual ever convicted for lawful open carry of a rifle happened in Bell County.
Why did county prosecutors in two dozen other cases recognize an absence of illegal conduct and drop charges in those cases while Bell County prosecutors worked hard to prosecute and convict an innocent man? Does justice exist in Bell County?
At 10am, on Saturday, March 14, 2015, OCT will recreate that historic hike with a massive ten- mile open carry march along the same route Grisham and his son were on two years ago. Last year’s hike was attended by over 60 patriots and gun rights activists. Approximately 100 legally armed patriots are expected to attend this year’s peaceful exercise of this fundamental right. Local law enforcement has been notified about the event that will begin and end at the intersection of Mouser Rd. and Airport Trail in Temple.
OCT is an organization dedicated to the safe and legal carry of firearms openly in the State of Texas in accordance with the United States and Texas Constitution and applicable laws. About Open Carry Texas: Our purpose is to 1) educate all Texans about their right to openly carry rifles and shotguns in a safe manner; 2) to condition Texans to feel safe around law-abiding citizens that choose to carry them; 3) encourage our elected officials to pass less restrictive open carry legislation for all firearms, especially pistols; and (4) foster a cooperative relationship with local law enforcement in the furtherance of these goals with an eye towards preventing negative encounters.
For more information, contact CJ Grisham at [email protected] 254-383-8238. www.opencarrytexas.org
Open Carry Texas has caused far more problems getting open carry passed in Texas than they solved. We are praying we do get it passed this session if only OCT would stop annoying legislators. Please.
Probably because filing an appeal is so expensive, and at the time, this issue had so little state recognition that it is questionable if anyone even thought they could win. Despite all the negative press the OCT guys have gotten, they have done an excellent job of getting this issue not only into the public sphere, but the legislature as well.
The amazing thing is that no one appealed the conviction.
But, whatever Bell county was thinking, it is a real mess now.
Open carry is going to be legal, handguns, shotguns, the whole gamut.
All because of some uptight cop.