Why is OC not allowed in Texas?

[Oldgringo]

Even if we had OC, I for one would never bother. I like concealed carry.

. Like TAM, et al, on this forum, I'm not a native Texan but Texas is now my home until the last round up, I reckon. While we may not have OC in Texas, we do have some mighty fine major highways.

[Beiruty]

For someone who was born half the world away, when we were kids we thought Texas is the land of cowboys and Wild Wild West, like in the western movies and outlaws. When can assume OC and CC is legal like in Vermont, Nevada, etc...

[boomerang]

I would ask that anyone with a coherent basis for why OC is not allowed in this great state to respond.

Historically, it was to prevent Freedmen from bearing arms. Now, it's mostly antigun bigotry and intolerance, but there's still some racism in the mix.

Fundamentally, those are also the reasons we can't carry in bars, pro sports stadia, schools, etc.

[The Annoyed Man]

I'm far more bothered Texans can't carry Bowie knives than OC...that one always gets me.

Even if we had OC, I for one would never bother. I like concealed carry.

Meh, I don't really care about Bowie knives, but I agree about OC. If it were legal, I would probably still conceal. I just wouldn't worry about accidental exposure of my weapon, or taking my coat of before getting in the car... ...stuff like that.

[74novaman]

I'm far more bothered Texans can't carry Bowie knives than OC...that one always gets me.

Even if we had OC, I for one would never bother. I like concealed carry.

Meh, I don't really care about Bowie knives, but I agree about OC. If it were legal, I would probably still conceal. I just wouldn't worry about accidental exposure of my weapon, or taking my coat of before getting in the car... ...stuff like that.

I agree, it would be nice.

The thing that gets me is, if I read the law correctly, keeping a Ka-Bar (7 inch blade) in the center console of my car could be considered UCW.... Do I want to carry a Bowie around? no. Would it be nice not having to worry about my Kabar being an illegal weapon? yes....

[Charles L. Cotton]

Your cite makes absolutely no sense to me.

Please read it more slowly so that you understand it.

- Jim

I don't have to read it slowly to understand that TEXANS CANNOT CARRY OPENLY. My question is why?

Correct. What else about Texas gun laws do you find restrictive?

Chas.

[KFP]

I've learned that people are most comfortable with what they are most familiar with and typically don't like change (including that change). While that sounds rather simplistic and obvious, it is often lost on people from various perspectives because of a fear of the unknown.

I frequent another state's respective forum that does not restrict OC in their state. I often find myself amused by their ability trumpet that they have OC and Texas does not (or a reference to printing being illegal here ). Then I read their OC section and learn about who got stopped by the police today and got it all on their voice recorder (apparently necessary to carry as well). They are exercising their rights and blazing the way for the acceptance of OC, which I commend, but having OC does not make one state "better" than another IMO. I am not bashing OC, in fact I believe that it should be legal. I am simply pointing out that OC doesn't mean as much in the grand scheme of things.

On the other state's forum, I often find myself playing the role of the polite visitor, but often would like to ask things like:

How do your deadly force laws compare?
Are you required to retreat?
How many times a week are you required to disarm?
Does your government trust you to carry in government buildings?
Can you carry where alcohol is consumed?
Do you have restrictions on the number of guns that can be carried?
Can you carry in your car without a CHL?
How does law enforcement in your area view carrying?
Do you have statewide preemption?
Etc., etc., etc.

My point is that the important thing with all of this, is the ability to defend yourself, your family, and potentially others. I can count on one hand the number of times that I go somewhere over the course of a year that I am legally restricted from carrying. I have the opportunity to provide that defense. I also have a set of laws that provide me with a very adequate defense if I am forced to use deadly force.

cwohardy - I think that once you move past the OC restriction, you'll be pleased to learn about your ability to carry a firearm for personal defense in Texas. If you're dead set on OC in Texas, then sling your rifle or shotgun over your shoulder and go about your day - they would provide a more adequate defense anyway.

[PSLOwner]

If you're dead set on OC in Texas, then sling your rifle or shotgun over your shoulder and go about your day - they would provide a more adequate defense anyway.

Good point!

Another plus is people won't park near your car in the grocery store parking lot.

[03Lightningrocks]

So KFP.... what forum would this be. Since you are playing the polite visitor I would like to play the abnoxious house guest that refuses to leave.

[KFP]

So KFP.... what forum would this be. Since you are playing the polite visitor I would like to play the abnoxious house guest that refuses to leave.

My former home state - round on the outside and high in the middle.

BTW - Not all of those are necessarily references to said state, just gripes in general with other states.

[dicion]

On the other state's forum, I often find myself playing the role of the polite visitor, but often would like to ask things like:

(stuff)

Excellent Example. Here's another one, that may baffle Texans, but is the norm in Pennsylvania.

Open Carry is legal in most of PA without a license. (Excluding Philly) They also have permits that allow you to Concealed Carry.
However, you cannot carry a loaded firearm (Handgun OR Long gun), Concealed OR Unconcealed In your car _at all_ without a carry permit.
You also cannot openly carry Long guns in public _at all_ without a carry permit.
They also have a very weak duty to retreat if not in their home or place of business. Weak in that if you're justified in using deadly force, you really don't need to, but it's still on the books.
You CAN, however, carry concealed in bars.

Perfect example on how, sure, they have these other abilities we don't... but.. at the same time, they don't have some of the ones we DO have.

[gigag04]

Can't believe this is 3 pages. Clearly, Texas is a superior state in all regards. Booyah.

[TraCoun]

The question of why Texas doesn't allow OC is reasonable. A very simplistic and obvious (and probably almost useless) answer is because at some point in time people who had the power made it that way. That is just like CC being illegal for so many years, because people were opposed to it got their way. We finally got our way with CC. If enough of us want OC and work toward it, we can get it. Just understand it will be a struggle, because there are lots of folks out there who will freak out at the very idea ... just like they did with CC.
Like several others have noted, I would not likely OC myself, but I will support it.
TraCoun

[Dragonfighter]

I have a rather pragmatic outlook. Requiring a CHL to carry concealed and denying OC (with a fe exceptions) is an infringement of our 2A rights. That said we are miles ahead of "may issue" states and many "shall issue" states. Prior to the CHL laws we had "defenses to prosecution" that meant you stood a chance of successfully beating a charge under one of these defenses, but (and this is a big but) not being detained was discretionary on the officers involved and you could easily be out a lot of time, money and carry weapons. Under CHL the LEO will not be able to arrest you except for narrow and compelling causes.

There are some places you can't carry by law and I disagree with those, but they are fewer than a lot of states and it seems they are being reduced every session. We are definitely heading in the correct direction. The number of places that have valid 30.06 signs is limited to the point that it rarely impedes my lifestyle and I can walk into city hall, police station, tax office or state capitol armed and legal.

I would like to see no restrictions on where we can carry, liability expressly defined for private property that restricts access to CCW and as someone has suggested one legal sign for all applications. But this is a battle of inches and if we keep up the gains, I foresee constitutional carry before too long.

[CaptWoodrow10]

Idunno what the OP's fuss is all about. Open Carry is legal in TX, I open carry in front of people all the time.





State income tax....pshhhhhhhhh

I willing to bet that your uniform and badge helps keep you from getting arrested for "unlawful carry by a license holder".