Open Carry Texas’ Statement on Constitutional Carry

Open Carry Texas
Open Carry Texas
Open Carry Texas
Open Carry Texas

TEMPLE, Texas -(Ammoland.com)- Open Carry Texas has aggressively fought for constitutional carry legislation since its founding in 2013. Constitutional carry is simply defined as the right to carry a firearm without a license if you can legally purchase and possess one.

It does not change who is prohibited by law from carrying (felons, domestic abusers, etc.). Texans should be able to walk into a gun shop, purchase a handgun after passing a background check, and immediately holster and carry that handgun without having to obtain a government permission slip or pay a second amendment tax.

Licensing schemes only present roadblocks to law abiding citizens since criminals, by definition, don’t obey laws.

Opponents of this legislation invoke scary language like “blood in the streets,” “felons will be able to carry,” “violent crime will increase,” and “law enforcement won’t be able to tell the good guys from the bad guys.” These are all faulty arguments that have no basis in reality.

Texas, once again, is not the driving engine on this issue; we are the caboose. Currently, 12 states have constitutional carry: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,Minnesota, Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, Vermont and Maine.

An additional 21 states do not require a license to open carry. That makes Texas one of only 17 states that require a license to carry at all (five of which outright ban open carry).

After Arizona passed constitutional carry in 2010, violent crime dipped over 20 percent. In Mississippi, the law enforcement community overwhelmingly opposed constitutional carry when it was passed last year, but those same groups have had to admit that it’s been a “non-issue.”

With two-thirds of the United States allowing some form of unlicensed carry and none of the doom and gloom predictions having come true there, all the arguments against it are baseless here.

We urge our legislators to pass constitutional carry this session. Since the 84th Legislative Session, the number of states where the unlicensed free exercise of the right to keep and bear arms is recognized has increased from five to twelve – a 120 percent increase!

With a supposedly conservative and “pro-gun” majority in both chambers, along with a self-described “pro-gun” Lieutenant Governor and Governor, the only people standing in the way of these rights are Republicans.

There is no excuse not to pass it. If the support isn’t there, as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick claims, then bring it to a vote so we can see where the lack of support exists to hold them accountable next election cycle.

The Republican Party of Texas platform lists constitutional carry as its number one priority. We expect Republicans in Austin to enforce the will of the people and implement the platform agenda on gun rights.

Below are two maps to visualize the state of gun rights in our country.

Open Carry Texas State Gun Rights Map
Open Carry Texas State Gun Rights Map

This is a map of all the states that require a license, allow open carry without a license, or allow unlicensed open and concealed carry (constitutional carry).

Open Carry Texas State Gun Rights Map
Open Carry Texas State Gun Rights Map

This is a simplified map of all the states that allow SOME FORM of unlicensed carry, bundling together the constitutional carry states with the unlicensed open carry states. It’s easy to see here how little Texas recognizes the rights of the people to keep and bear arms.

 

About Open Carry Texas:

Our purpose is to 1) educate all Texans about their right to carry 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 constitutional carry legislation for all firearms;
and 4) foster a cooperative relationship with local law enforcement in the furtherance of these goals with an eye towards preventing negative encounters.

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Texas Marty

Why are there no internet articles lately on this subject? The latest stories I read are dated late January.

Jon Nordstrom

I am following what is happening in texasome regarding Constitutional Carry very closely.

I would like to see some of the same attention paid to Indiana House Bill 1159. Which is the Indiana state version of Constitutional Carry

Andrew

Please explain the logic to me. You can own a vehicle and operate it on private property without a license. In order to take that vehicle on public roads, you actually need to prove to the state that you can drive. So you think people should be allowed to take a weapon in public without proving that they can shoot? I’m all for concealed carry that involves licensing and actually proving that you can shoot straight, but this idiocy would allow a mentally handicapped person with an 80 IQ to carry in public. Someone who may not even know the… Read more »

F Riehl, Editor in Chief

Andrew, the difference is very simple, driving is a privilege that can be regulated. The second amendment is a right that can never be regulated aka “Infringed”. You do not have to pass any test to exercise your right to free speech and words are just as dangerous.

CoosaTotahK9

Ammoland, what a dumb government brainwashed statement to make! Shaking Donald Trump’s hand would be a PRIVILEGE! Just because it is not specifically enumerated in our Constitution driving a vehicle is a RIGHT under the Ninth Amendment. Passing a driving test is because you are actively piloting a 3000lb deadly weapon down a roadway, which is not specifically protected by our Constitution. It can be regulated, but, not oppressed or denied without just cause. It is a RIGHT. The Second Amendment IS NOT a Right! It is a specifically enumerated PROTECTION of an individual unalienable God given RIGHT! And even… Read more »

June Jones

The platform of the Republican Party of Texas lists “Constitutional Carry” in paragraph #149 out of 266 paragraphs.

Your assertion that it is the #1 priority is untrue.

Your inability to make factual statements and maps destroys the credibility of your organization. As a Texas gun owner you embarrass me.

Dave Eckart

As a gun owner, I highly doubt your veracity that you are a Texas gun owner. Is the list of planks in their platform in order of priority? I didn’t read that. Your inability make factual statements destroys your credibility as a person. As a gun owner you embarrass me. On page 31 of their platform it lists their legislative priorities. Number one on that list is… Constitutional Carry. Try reading their platform next time. Legislative Priorities: We, the delegates of the 2016 Republican Party of Texas State Convention, call upon the 85th Texas Legislature to: 1. Pass constitutional carry… Read more »

Mette

I suppose my biggest heartburn comes from the Texas Constitution, Article 1, Bill of Rights. Sec. 23. RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the State; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime. The part about “but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crimes” was added by the military provisional governor after the civil war. It was not… Read more »

Cyberats

You have your reds wrong too, in those states it’s “Shall Issue” meaning for 99% of the people living there it’s “Fat Chance”. It should read Unlawful.

Jim S

Correct. Here in Commiefornia its just sheer luck if you live in a “will” issue county (like mine, most of the eastern side of the state) or if you are in almost any west/coastal county which is “shall not” issue county. This state is a total clusterf*ck

HLF

Ventura County has been issuing CCW licenses. We have a good Sheriff that seems to respect his oath of office and the Bill of Rights to the Constitution of the United States of America. God bless him.

Dave Jones

Your map for Iowa is incorrect. You have the color green that denotes, “Licensed concealed carry/Unlicensed open carry”. Iowa does not have a conceal carry license, it’s a “Permit to carry weapons” and it is required to conceal OR open carry. You cannot open carry without a permit.

Rattlerjake

There also is a contradictory statement in this article. It says, “the only people standing in the way of these rights are Republicans.” But then it says, “The Republican Party of Texas platform lists constitutional carry as its number one priority.” Who the hell proof reads your articles?