Post your TX Open Carry experiences here!

[Stryker]

With respect to GFSZ, moving to unlicensed carry would only be a problem for those who opted to not obtain a LTC or to let theirs expire. The state would certainly continue to offer the revenue generating permission slips and we would demand it for the sake of reciprocity outside of Texas.

I see the benefit of unlicensed/constitutional carry would be to void all the signs announcing 30.06/30.07 victim rich environments.

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[WalkingWolf]

With regard to unlicensed carry, as far as I can tell, not having a state-issued license means a Hell of avoiding school zones due to the federal Gun-Free School Zone Act.

18 U.S. Code § 921(a):
(25) The term “school zone” means—
(A) in, or on the grounds of, a public, parochial or private school; or
(B) within a distance of 1,000 feet from the grounds of a public, parochial or private school.

18 U.S. Code § 922(q):
(2)
(A) It shall be unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone.
(B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply to the possession of a firearm—
(ii) if the individual possessing the firearm is licensed to do so by the State in which the school zone is located or a political subdivision of the State, and the law of the State or political subdivision requires that, before an individual obtains such a license, the law enforcement authorities of the State or political subdivision verify that the individual is qualified under law to receive the license;

The GFSZ act only covers firearms, it does not cover antique firearms. Plus so far the government has not been making an attempt to go after people who carry passing through zones. That may change after SCOTUS changes, but for now it has not been a big deal in any state. If the court changes, and the feds enforce the law by itself, then people can change the handgun they carry to be legal.

FTR very few CC permits are specific licenses to carry in a GFSZ. Keep in mind the letter of the law "licensed to do so".

 

[TXOC16]

sorry, to be a realist, you are not going to sway your legislature one iota...the lonestar's citizens wanted open carry...the kind legislature obliged...

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you have no idea just how utterly contradictory the above is.

in the real world, the concept tis political folly...

As was quite clearly illustrated during the immediate-previous Texas legislative session, when OC in any form was repeatedly declared DOA by "friend" and foe alike, there are always those who are willing to do the actual hard work to ensure task-accomplishment. God bless 'em, everyone.

 

[Grapeshot]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you have no idea just how utterly contradictory the above is.
--snipped--

It was mild sarcasm.

 

[MAC702]

With regard to unlicensed carry, as far as I can tell, not having a state-issued license means a Hell of avoiding school zones due to the federal Gun-Free School Zone Act....

Not really. I'm sure Texas will be like most states that don't give a rat's ass about it.

It is a complete non-issue in unlicensed OC states like UT, NV, and AZ.

 

[KBCraig]

Yeah, sorry to disappoint, but I've already received word that "Little" Chuckie Cotton, the self-proclaimed all-knowing and all-seeing Second Amendment defender and advancer of everything related to Second Amendment rights in Texas has already made his supreme proclamation that that to pursue an unlicensed-carry bill this session (OC or otherwise) would be a fool's errand and a colossal waste of "political capital," which, frankly, is a term I despise. Of course, Chuckie is fully qualified with regard to fool's errands as he also stated multiple times with near certainty during the immediate-previous legislative session that both OC (of any form) and campus carry were virtually dead, the eventual passage of which, of course, he then took credit for having helped steer through after their eventual passage (so much for the "all-knowing, all-seeing" stuff).

He's well known for being the last one to jump on the train and claim he's driving it, and to blame "all you people" for not getting to the destination sooner.

I remember when he left the USENET group tx.guns in a huff 1995 or '96, because he couldn't control the narrative there. He successfully launched his own echo chamber -- and it was wildly successful in gathering people who will not dissent or rock the boat.

 

[qednick]

He's well known for being the last one to jump on the train and claim he's driving it, and to blame "all you people" for not getting to the destination sooner.

I remember when he left the USENET group tx.guns in a huff 1995 or '96, because he couldn't control the narrative there. He successfully launched his own echo chamber -- and it was wildly successful in gathering people who will not dissent or rock the boat.

Yup! I don't give him or his "forum" time of day anymore.

 

[TXOC16]

It was mild sarcasm.

The sarcasm wasn't lost on me, but it didn't change the meaning of the quoted statement any.

 

[stealthyeliminator]

When I met with my rep he was not planning on trying to lead a charge for unlicensed carry, but he indicated that he was genuinely making an effort to be open-minded about it.

The bill needs to be solid and refined, though. Unlicensed carry is going to "touch" a lot of "peripheral" issues and if those issues aren't considered and worked out by the bill authors, it'll leave too many holes for criticism or amendments which could either prevent passage or allow butchering.

So far I'm unaware of who or what teams are actually working on this process of refining a good unlicensed carry bill. I hope to find out and talk to them, though.

Another concern is that currently, well, our statutes are a mess. As I have happened into situations where I look at other state's statutes, it seems to be a common trend to have really messy and convoluted statutes, but, I think it'd behoove us to focus on cleanup. As laws have changed, and been modified, and gutted, or added to, we have ended up with pieces, and remnants, that contradict, or make issues ambiguous, and that can only hurt us I think. I would hate for us to put a lot of effort into passing an unlicensed carry bill, and then some orphaned little remnant of a statute somewhere give a bad judge leeway to try and undermine the new law.

 

[MAC702]

...Another concern is that currently, well, our statutes are a mess. As I have happened into situations where I look at other state's statutes, it seems to be a common trend to have really messy and convoluted statutes, but, I think it'd behoove us to focus on cleanup. As laws have changed, and been modified, and gutted, or added to, we have ended up with pieces, and remnants, that contradict, or make issues ambiguous, and that can only hurt us I think...

Great point. AZ's laws are so convoluted because of their long history of anti-freedom that even though they now enjoy the misnomer of "Constitutional Carry," the reality is that it is still technically illegal, but with such a slew of complicated exemptions that most people are now exempt.

 

[qednick]

When you think about it, anyone who can legally possess a handgun can already legally carry one in their vehicle without a license (providing it's concealed)...so is it really that much of a big step to go to unlicensed carry on one's person? I'm just thinking the momentum may be there since OC was such a "non-event" in TX.

Anyhoo, to keep on topic, had some young fella come up to me in Church's Chicken yesterday and ask about my OC. Said it was "awesome".

I've probably mentioned it before but I've definitely noticed I get more positive encounters when I wear a t-shirt and jeans. I think when I wear a button-down shirt most people just assume I'm some kind of LEO.

 

[SpeedDaemon]

Two months with no posts here? OC must be getting boring!

It was recently time to replace "Old Faithful" (my 2001 Toyota Solara), and I went to Bavarian Auto Sports in Carrollton at the suggestion of a buddy. I was OC-ing the first time I went in, and the first words out of the owner's mouth were, "Is that a 19 or a 23?" (It was a 23). He turned out to be a big 2A supporter, and loves talking cars and guns. Can't go wrong with that, right?

I ended up leaving with a really nice used 2015 Audi S5.

 

[Grapeshot]

Two months with no posts here? OC must be getting boring!

It was recently time to replace "Old Faithful" (my 2001 Toyota Solara), and I went to Bavarian Auto Sports in Carrollton at the suggestion of a buddy. I was OC-ing the first time I went in, and the first words out of the owner's mouth were, "Is that a 19 or a 23?" (It was a 23). He turned out to be a big 2A supporter, and loves talking cars and guns. Can't go wrong with that, right?

I ended up leaving with a really nice used 2015 Audi S5.

Good choice in both regards.

 

[Taypo]

Two months with no posts here? OC must be getting boring!

It was recently time to replace "Old Faithful" (my 2001 Toyota Solara), and I went to Bavarian Auto Sports in Carrollton at the suggestion of a buddy. I was OC-ing the first time I went in, and the first words out of the owner's mouth were, "Is that a 19 or a 23?" (It was a 23). He turned out to be a big 2A supporter, and loves talking cars and guns. Can't go wrong with that, right?

I ended up leaving with a really nice used 2015 Audi S5.

Had a similar situation with the Kia Dealership in Rockwall - very OC friendly.

 

[stealthyeliminator]

Recently OCed a few places around town with no issues. Hardware store, sporting goods, convenience store, etc.

Two months with no posts here? OC must be getting boring!

Must be about as much of a non-issue as we all predicted

 

[studenygreg]

Maybe you need to carry something bigger and scarier.

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[cloudcroft]

Maybe you need to carry something bigger and scarier.

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You may be right: Some OC guns are more "cute" than scary. For personal example, my "cute" (as a lady told me) Sig-Sauer P238 .380ACP (with scorpion-engraved maple grips and "rainbow" grip screws) vs. my larger "utilitarian" EAA Witness 9mm P-S FDE.

The Sig is harder to notice as its color ("Nitron" finish) blends in with what I wear and its black holster. On the other hand, the Witness is in-your-face noticeable as it's not only much larger, but the "Desert Tan" color of its frame stands out from its (also) black holster big-time.

[Both holsters are Cytac/Tactical Scorpion "roto" types with the retention button, like a Blackhawk "Serpa" or IMI Defense "Roto-Rig"]

"Cute" vs. "scary" -- but both lethal nonetheless. ;-)

 

[Wstar425]

a Sig 226 Tacops or a FNX45 Tactical ought to do nicely to remove the cute factor!

Just read in the local paper that our small town force of 7 needs to replace their 15 year old "cute" Glocks and DPMS AR-15s because they are "worn out". Mention was made of the "Sig Sauers P226s". I'm pretty sure that was a typo by the idiot newspaper editor, but who knows.

I see and talk to a few of the local PD on my dog walks and they all wish they could carry a Sig. I've heard from several that I shouldn't carry a 226 "cocked and locked", so apparently they had not heard of the SAO yet. Much learning to be done apparently, all around. Talked to the mayor, who lives around the corner from me, and evidently I am an ICE Agent according to the local Hispanic population. They pretty much head in the other direction wherever I go. I'm harmless, really. We are approaching 40 percent Hispanic population. Elementary over 50 percent and high school about 35 percent. I have no problems with anyone.

 

[cloudcroft]

Just a quick report: After some months of OCing here in this "West Texas town of El Paso" (shades of Marty Robins!), I finally ran into City Police officers. Two of them at a local Lowes Home Improvement store, on duty and in uniform. Not sure why they were called to the store -- but apparently it wasn't for me as they were there when I walked in.

Anyway, IIRC they both looked at me at least 3 times during my shopping there and my OC gun & 2 shiny stainless-steel spare mags are kind of hard to miss, but they either didn't notice (!) or, didn't think it necessary to ask me for my LTC. This being TX, you need a LTC to OC and cops don't KNOW you have one unless they see it...if they aren't pulling you over in your car and then when running your plates where your LTC DOES come up. But just there in the store seeing someone OCing, they don't know if he/she has a LTC or without asking to see it. They didn't ask.

When I got out to my car, they drove by me -- and again, probably clearly could see my gun & sunlight-reflecting magazines -- but drove on by and out the parking lot.

I really WAS expecting to be asked for my permit if I ever encountered the EPPD, as OCing here in TX is new (no one's really used to it, even cops) AND I don't think they EVER have seen anyone OCing (I may have been their first -- and *I* have never seen anyone else OCing here) -- but no, nothing happened...a non-event.

Now, off to a packed Walmart (being Saturday)...

 

[cloudcroft]

Among several other places OCing yesterday, was @ a local Walmart and the cashier-driod took issue with me carrying OC -- don't know if he was just anti-gun in general or just anti-OC -- but he came out and told me right up front (didn't even say Hello first!) and said, "That's a bad way to carry as someone will take it from you."

Aside from being a bit annoyed at a store employee criticizing something a customer is legally doing -- AND hearing that very same lame clueless liberal (or CCer) reason why a person should NOT OC -- I tried to get as much info to him I could during the short ringing-up process to educate him. Not sure if the people in line behind me were listening, but my "presentation" (sans Powerpoint this time) was probably interesting. ;-)

Hope I did educate the guy to some extent...at least he can't claim 100% ignorance now about "exposed carry guns" even if he still probably is anti-OC (or maybe still anti-gun).

This is my first "kind of negative" response I've had since being back in TX and OCing (about 4 months now since getting my LTC).

Regardless (and of course), I will endeavor to persevere. ;-)