TX:Governor Elect Abbot says he will sign Constitutional Carry if it Comes to his Desk

Gun Watch ^ | 14 November, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Governor elect Greg Abbot said that he supported open carry when he was running for governor.   Some said that he did not mean it.  Shortly after he was elected, he took the time to re-iterate his support for an open carry reform, saying that he would sign such a reform if it came to him from the legislature.   He said:  If it is good enough for Massachusetts, it is good enough for Texas.

“If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, it's good enough for the state of Texas,” Abbott said.

Now he has solidified and expanded his remarks, making it clear that he will sign *any* open carry reform sent to him.   These remarks strengthen the case for constitutional carry a great deal.   Its opponents can no longer claim that it would not be supported by the Governor elect.   Five states now have constitutional carry, and bills have passed in others, only to be stymied by a hostile governor's veto, such as in Utah by Governor Herbert in 2013, even though it passed by over a 2-1 margin. 

Greg Abbott has said that will not happen in Texas. From ktrh.com:

Another issue facing the incoming Governor is the one involving open carry in Texas. Abbott supports it, and there will be a choice for lawmakers to make between open carry and Constitutional carry.

“There will be robust debate between the two. I will sign whichever bill comes to my desk,” Abbott stated.

Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina has also said that she would support constitutional carry, in February of this year.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.  Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

Now we will see if Texas second amendment activists will push for Constitutional carry.

[Squantos]

Licensed open carry or unlicensed carry ?

[marktwain]

The two bills filed so far are one for licensed open carry, and one for Constitutional carry similar to what Arizona has.

In that system, no license is required to carry open or concealed, but a concealed carry licence is available for the purposes of reciprocity and the purchase of firearms without an extra background check.

[unixfox]

Open carry with no license from what I understand.

[Jewbacca]

Traditionally, “Constitutional Carry” meant anyone can carry openly, but only licensed people can carry concealed, in that it was considered a sneaky and ungentlemanly thing to do.

Such was the law in most of the USA until 1930s or so.

Obviously, private businesses should be able to set their own rules, but that’s a good way to lose business in Texas.

[marktwain]

If Texas goes constitutional carry in 2015, I predict 15 states will have it by 2020.

[JRandomFreeper]

I want Constitutional carry. And when it gets here, I will open carry, because concealed is too much of a PITA for a little guy like me. In this weather, not so bad, but forget summertime.

/johnny

[BobL]

What’s “Constitutional Carry”? Does that mean that we can now carry around a copy of the Constitution? Somehow I doubt that we can do that without risking prosecution for a “hate crime”.

[marktwain]

It means that you do not need a permit to exercise your second amendment rights to bear arms.

[marktwain]

You could just carry a sharp knife. In Texas, there is no prohibition, as long as the knife has a blade less than 5.5 inches...

I understand that you have some sharp ones, and know how to use them...

Just kidding, keep up the good work. Your predictions about Greg Abbott are proving to be right on, despite some no-sayers at the open carry groups.

[BobL]

“It means that you do not need a permit to exercise your second amendment rights to bear arms.”

LOL, thanks. I wasn’t really sure, but put that out there just to show how far left the Democrats are, or would be if they could figure out a way to get away with it.

[Squantos]

Thank you...

[Squantos]

Agree .....

[Squantos]

TRUE !!!

[Squantos]

OK....Thanks

[JRandomFreeper]

I'm trying to find out which lawmakers to push to get Constitutional Carry on his desk. Straus and Co may have to be browbeaten a little, but he can comply, or wind up like Dewhurst.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

When it's cold, I have to wear pants. ;)

/johnny

[marktwain]

“I’m trying to find out which lawmakers to push to get Constitutional Carry on his desk. Straus and Co may have to be browbeaten a little, but he can comply, or wind up like Dewhurst.”

There are an army of open carry activists in Texas to help you do it, now.

[Secret Agent Man]

you don’t need a revokeable govt privilege card if you have constitutional carry.

[MaxMax]

It would be great to walk into Walmart and see 1/2 the customers practicing open carry.
That would be a hoot. Imagine all those carry styles along with their informal day wear.