TexasCHLforum.com

bauerdj wrote:I would suggest that open carry discussions be placed in a seperate sub-topic area.

In prior years we've had a subforum for Open-Carry during the legislative sessions. This keeps the discussions focused on specific sessions and/or bills (or lack thereof). I'll do so again for the 2013 session.

Chas.

RHenriksen wrote:I agree with the Tiger. If the topic is about protecting & further restoring our 2A rights, I'd like to be able to discuss it here.

As I pointed out, the Forum has long outgrown the "CHL only" banner. The only reason I don't change the name is because it's been too long and it's too well known. Members can and do discuss all manner of topics related to gun ownership and use, and even some that aren't related to guns at all.

Discussions about open-carry are welcome; I just don't want them to degenerate in to the bomb-throwing threads we've seen in prior years. As I said in my original post, open-carry discussions are fine, as long as they are conducted within the rules.

Chas.

The Annoyed Man wrote:Charles, I'll do my best to honor your request.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

TLE2 wrote:Just in asking, if such legislation is supported by the TSRA, would the Oklahoma law be a good model?

I can't answer because I haven't seen their bill, but to do it in the safest manner in Texas, it needs to be done over two sessions.

Chas.

Question: why two sessions, and not one or five?

One session to make the substantive change (repeal TPC §46.035(a)) and a second session for a non-substantive clean-up bill.

Chas.

Folks, I don't mind discussions of open-carry, I just want them to remain civil and within the Forum rules. In fact, it's probably a good idea that we have open discussions here to offset what is likely to occur elsewhere.

Chas.

TLE2 wrote:Just in asking, if such legislation is supported by the TSRA, would the Oklahoma law be a good model?

I can't answer because I haven't seen their bill, but to do it in the safest manner in Texas, it needs to be done over two sessions.

Chas.

I want to make a request of everyone coming into the 2012 elections and the 2013 Texas Legislative Session. As we get closer to the election and the beginning of pre-filing of bills for the 2013 Texas Legislative Session, the subject of open-carry is going to come up, probably numerous times. We have had a lot of new Members join since the 2011 legislative session and they may not know the history of that issue here on the Texas CHLforum.

My request is simple -- please keep discussions civil and respectful of differing opinions. No other subject has caused the level of acrimony and personal attacks against TexasCHLforum Members as seen when discussing open-carry. As in prior years, we can expect to see "new" (a/k/a previously banned Members) register again under new names to once again lie about Forum Members, TSRA, NRA and everyone else that does not actively and aggressively support the OpenCarry.org/LoneStarCDL version of open-carry. The Moderators will be watchful and these new folks will be banned as quickly as possible. Please do not let these people bate you into violating our rules.

Also for the Forum Members who have joined us since the 2011 Texas Legislative Session, I want to state as clearly and concisely as possible the position TSRA and I have taken on open-carry.

• Neither TSRA, Alice Tripp nor I oppose open-carry. Anything you hear to the contrary is false. If someone unknowingly states otherwise, it's a mistake; if done knowingly, it's a lie.
  
  Neither TSRA, Alice Tripp nor I have ever done one thing to block, oppose, or derail the filing or promoting of an open-carry bill. A very small but vocal group on other forums have falsely claimed otherwise, but they are either mistaken or lying.

I have repeatedly stated that if the NRA or TSRA decide to support an open-carry bill, I'll support it as aggressively as I have every other bill we have passed. I'll even write the thing! Some less-than-honest bomb-throwing types have argued that my concerns about a repeat of what we saw in Texas from 1997 through Sept. 1, 1997 amounts to opposing open-carry. That's absurd, but it's indicative of the intellectual dishonesty to which they will resort. I also noted that a responsible open-carry bill could be drafted and supported, but any attempt should be preceded by an effective educational campaign to educate the public on the great track record CHLs have established since 1996. This would go a long way to prevent the business backlash that many fear, including me.

The most vocal and militant of open-carry supporters believe that open-carry will not pass unless either the NRA or TSRA or both actively campaign and support a bill. This may or may not be correct, but the bottom line is both organizations are accused of opposing open-carry simply because we won't blindly support anything LoneStarCDL wants to file.

Again, please keep open-carry discussions civil and within Forum Rules. Let's try hard not to have a repeat of 2009 and 2011.

Thanks,
Chas.