PA Bill Number: SB1198
Title: In plants and plant products, providing for plant and pollinator protection; conferring powers and duties on the Department of Agriculture and ...
Description: In plants and plant products, providing for plant and pollinator protection; conferring powers and duties on the Department of Agriculture and .. ...
Last Action: Referred to AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Last Action Date: May 17, 2024
Texas: Few problems noted with 'open carry' so far :: 03/24/2016
Members of a guest panel at a Greenville Chamber of Commerce breakfast said Wednesday that after almost three complete months, the Texas “Open Carry” law has caused few, if any, problems.
Buddy Oxford with the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office, Brandon West with the Greenville Police Department, Steve Ramsey with the Sinclair-Ramsey Insurance Agency and former State Senator Bob Deuell all said they supported the open carry law which went into effect Jan. 1.
And they also said there hasn’t been any noticeable increase in the number of people taking advantage of the law.
“Even at Bass Pro Shop, I’ve never seen anyone open carry,” Deuell said.
Ramsey, who is also a gun collector, said he has not seen anyone enter his business openly carrying a firearm.
“But I’d tell them come on in, you’re welcome,” he said.
“Open Carry – What’s Your Position?” was the topic of the Breakfast With The Issues event at the Fletcher Warren Civic Center, which was designed to address the ramifications of the recently enacted Texas law.
Properly licensed individuals can now carry a handgun, openly or concealed. The handgun must be carried in a shoulder or belt holster. Long firearms do not require a license. Those who already have a handgun license, may carry openly. There is no additional fee or training required, but gun owners still need to produce identification and a handgun license if asked for by a law enforcement officer.
The new law does not apply if a business or other private property displays the authorized signs, either banning open carry or concealed carry. A business wanting to completely ban firearms is required to post both.
Open carry will not be effective on college campuses. Concealed carry will be allowed on campuses starting Aug. 1, provided the carrier is properly licensed.
All members of the panel said they all preferred concealed carry.
West said those who carry openly may be less safe than those who do not.
“They run the risk of being a target and being the person the bad guys attack,” he said.
Ramsey agreed, noting allowing concealed carry can serve as a deterrent, as an attacker does not know who is armed.
“If somebody has trouble on their mind, there is no better place to carry out their mission than a place where concealed carry is prohibited.”
Deuell said those who receive their license to carry firearms are law abiding citizens.
“The arrest record of people with a license to carry is less than the arrest record of police officers,” Deuell said.
The panel also agreed that allowing open carry also makes things easier for those who do conceal carry, as they no longer have to fear being charged if their firearms are inadvertently exposed.
Deuell said the main reason many people carry a firearm, either concealed or in the open, is for self-defense.
“I want to be able to protect myself,” he said. “I want my wife to be able to protect herself.”
The forum was moderated by Noah Nelson with Texas A&M University-Commerce.
