Posted on 01/24/2013 11:30:43 PM PST by Zakeet
As the federal government moves forward on its plans to tighten gun restrictions, Texas lawmakers are proposing legislation to expand gun rights in the state.
The latest proposal is HB 700 filed Thursday by state Rep. George Lavender, R-Texarkana, that would allow individuals with concealed handgun licenses to carry weapons in plain view on a belt or shoulder holster.
“For some it is a matter of personal safety, for others it is simply a convenience/personal preference issue,” said Lavender, who carried similar legislation that failed last session. He added others view it as a constitutional issue.
[Snip]
Other recent proposed policy changes supported by Republican lawmakers in Texas include allowing concealed handguns on college campuses, arming and training school officials – including teachers – to serve as “law enforcement” in the case of a school shooting.
Others have proposed legislation that would prohibit federal agents from enforcing a federal ban proposed by President Barack Obama on semiautomatic rifles and high-capacity magazines, if the so-called “assault weapons” ban were to pass Congress.
“Texas is one of only a handful of states that does not allow some form of open carry despite being one of the most pro-second amendment states in the country,” Lavender said.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.chron.com ...
Open Carry... Period
Don’t feel the need to buy the RIGHT or Register.
I already do on my property anyway.
TT
I have written the sponsor and thanked him for introducing HB700. Then, I wrote to both my State Rep and Senator urging them to support the bill. Then, I wrote all my friends urging them to write Lavender a letter of support and their individual legislators a letter of support. I will follow up these letters with phone calls as the bill progresses through our 140 day legislative session. I urge all Texans to do the same. Greg Abbott, our Atty General will strongly support this issue but our Lt. Gov. will be weak kneed.
Back in the Old West everyone carried a gun out in the open and certainly didn’t need permission - and neither did granny who always had a shotgun by her rocker.
The people let the government intrude and like they say, that is a slippery slope.
Good suggestion, which I will follow as soon as I get back to God’s country from this TDY to the bowels of darkness (DC).
On your property in Texas it is legal but not in the shopping mall, grocery store, at the gas station, etc. And, no, you also don't need to buy the right or register any firearm carried on YOUR property or your owned place of business. This bill gives you the legal authority (if you have been granted a CHL by Texas) to openly carry off your property. This is not Constitutional carry but it is a step Texas needs.
One important thing that an open carry bill will help with is it will make it much harder for cops to harass a citizen carrying concealed for "printing". This would be a good thing in and of itself.
I approve of this bill and will be communicating with my rep to get it through.
Perry will sign it.
Zakeet, thanks for posting this! An article on it is in this morning's Texarkana Gazette as the top headline. Glad I did a FR search before heading to their website for their article to post here...
I met George when he was first running for office at one of our open-air TEA Party rallies in Atlanta, (Texas, of course) and told him if he would introduce a bill on open carry, I would support him all the way to a successful election.
He did -- and I did -- and after he was elected, he introduced his first bill -- that got pushed aside by the huge budget fight last session.
Unfortunately, the gerrymanderidiots re-defined our district, and stuck Cass County in district 9 -- which Wayne Christian then lost to that RINO from Marshall, Paddie.
Anyway, I've still got to call George and thank him for "keepin' on keepin' on"...
As I have said here before, (and as I told George) I prefer concealed carry -- for tactical and social reasons. But, I also prefer to remove my jacket or suit coat and hang it in the back of my vehicle when I drive -- and I don't appreciate being considered a lawbreaker during the few seconds it takes me to step out, open the back door and don my coat when I arrive at my destination -- or when it is too Texas hot to wear it.
And, like others, I open carry here on my own chunk of the Piney Woods -- as a couple of big rattlers have discovered...
Again, thanks for the post. Gotta go thank George -- and tell Chris Paddie that the people of Cass County insist that he support George's bill #700.
This standard is still to weak, and gives too much discretion to the officer. If you have jumped through the annoying hoops to get a permit, it should mean you can carry period. Open, concealed, on your head, whatever. Officer discretion is dangerous for those of use who value our liberty.
I completely agree. I worry constantly that my shirt/jacket will blow open in the wind and accidentally expose my gun. I don't concern myself unduly with "printing" since the bill was slightly amended 4 years ago to include that language but open carry will be the fix for that problem.
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