Pawpaw wrote:Keith B wrote:jsimmons wrote:ScottDLS wrote:Open carry rifles and shotguns.
Not in San Antonio...
Sure you can. The ordinance is not valid due to state preemption on firearms laws. Will you be hassled and maybe arrested? Probably, but after you fight it and win, you can file an 1983 Civil Rights Suit. Just depends on how much you are willing to fight it.
However, I am 95% sure if they passed OC in Texas that they would have to make a compromise with the cities and remove the preemption on carrying of ANY openly carried firearm. Then the ordinance would be valid, as well as prohibit any handgun open carry.
Nope. Won't work. That would require more than a law... it would require changing the state constitution.
I disagree. Article 1, § 23 of the Texas Constitution states: “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.”
states “[a] municipality may not adopt regulations relating to the transfer, private ownership, keeping, transportation, licensing, or registration of firearms, ammunition, or firearm supplies.”
Section 229.001(a) does not affect the authority a municipality has under another law to:Require residents or public employees to be armed for personal or national defense, law enforcement, or another lawful purpose;
Regulate the discharge of firearms within the limits of the municipality;
Regulate the use of property, the location of a business, or uses at a business under the municipality’s fire code, zoning ordinance, or land-use regulations as long as the code, ordinance, or regulations are not used to circumvent the intent of section 229.001(a);
Regulate the use of firearms in the case of an insurrection, riot, or natural disaster if the municipality finds the regulations necessary to protect public health and safety (this exception does not authorize the seizure or confiscation of firearms or ammunition from any person in lawful possession of firearms or ammunition; see section 229.001(d));
Regulate the carrying of a firearm by a person other than a person licensed to carry a concealed handgun under Texas law at: 1) a public park; 2) a public meeting of a municipality, county, or other governmental body; 3) a political rally, parade or official political meeting; or 4) a non-firearms-related school, college, or professional athletic event. (This exception does not apply if the firearm is in or carried to or from an area designated for use in a lawful hunting, fishing, or other sporting event and the firearm is of the type commonly used in the activity. Section 229.001(c). The Attorney General has interpreted this exception to mean that municipalities are prohibited from regulating the carrying of concealed handguns in city parks by persons licensed to carry a handgun. SeeTex. Op. Att'y Gen. DM-364 (1995), 1995 Tex. AG LEXIS 94, *10-11).
So, this means that it only applies to CHL per the AG's Opinion, and could in turn the law would not prohibit municipalities from precluding Open Carry as such time they would potentially allow it at the state level.
EDIT TO ADD: After reading this, I am not sure that my statement above about the San Antonio ordinance prohibiting the carry of long guns is invalid. it may well be enforceable due to the wording in the Preemption Rule of Texas Local Government Code Annotated § 229.001(a)