Friday, January 1, 2016

Gun-Friendly Texas Is Getting Even Friendlier

NYT

Texas is so gun-friendly that it is easier to get into the Capitol in Austin with a firearm than without one — licensed, gun-carrying lawmakers and members of the public have their own no-wait security lane, and the unarmed masses have to stand in line and slog through the metal detectors.

But on Friday, gun rights throughout the state expanded still more, as a new law took effect that allows certain Texans to wear their handguns in holsters on their hips — or in shoulder holsters, Dirty Harry-style — openly displaying the fact that they are armed as they work, shop, dine and go about their day.

The so-called open-carry law has set off a long-simmering debate over the limits of the Texas gun culture and has given gun rights advocates a hard-fought victory after they pushed for the expansion for years. Members of the pro-gun group Open Carry Texas were to gather at noon Friday on the south steps of the Capitol for a gun-on-their-hips celebration before walking down Congress Avenue. Other groups plan to display their weaponry at events in Houston, Dallas and other cities.

11 comments:

  1. Certain Texans, meaning those who have a permit to carry. New law, nothing of the sort. Its just a simple modification of the concealed carry law as the word concealed is stricken from the law. Thats it, nothing else changes.

    Dirty Harry style, now thats really funny right there, lols!

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  2. "Texas is so gun-friendly that it is easier to get into the Capitol in Austin with a firearm than without one — licensed, gun-carrying lawmakers and members of the public have their own no-wait security lane, and the unarmed masses have to stand in line and slog through the metal detectors."

    "The so-called open-carry law has set off a long-simmering debate over the limits of the Texas gun culture and has given gun rights advocates a hard-fought victory after they pushed for the expansion for years."

    I always find these articles really funny. Especially with everybody getting the vapors over this new law. They are basically adopting the same law as Minnesota has on the books successfully since 2003.
    There are a few differences, there is no express line to enter the Capitol or its surrounding buildings since there are no metal detectors at all.
    Plus, we only have one official sign format for businesses that want to ban carry where Texas now has two.
    The majority of permit holders will likely continue to conceal, though the new law will remove the possibility of criminal charges from inadvertent exposure of the firearm. Florida is heading in that direction also.
    The bleating of the media in regards to increased violence due to this new law is a standard refrain from the gun control lobby which never seems to come true.

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    1. I doubt if the open carry movement is Minnesota is like that in Texas. In Texas you've got that element of brash in-you-face gun nuts that I don't picture being so prominent in MN. But the joke's on them. The more they carry openly just to make their silly point, the worse the appear to the rest of the onlookers.

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    2. Thats really funny Mike, I have been enjoying the ability to open carry here since Friday morning. Walmart, several different sporting good stores, Kroger, laundrymat and the wife and I walking our dogs thru the neighborhood. All I have to ask is where all the on lookers are. Not a single gasp or a howdydo. No one has even noticed as we go about our usual daily doings and I have to say that I am somewhat disappointed that none of the fear mongers predictions have come to pass. What do say about that Mike? And before you ask, I am in FtWorth, Arlington and Dallas coducting business. And yes, the wife has been open carrying right along beside me.

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    3. I don't think you're a trustworthy judge. You've got blinders on. I made today's post with you in mind.

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    4. I am a better judge at this than you Mike, I live in Texas. Where do you live? Yeah, I thought so. I have been open carrying here everyday since the first of Jan. Still nothing. Nothing. Try that it in Italy.

      So far every police dept interviewed has reported ZERO incidents. With almost one MILLION permits issued and zero incidents reported, you are in no position to judge anything.

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  3. Good for Texas (better late than never) for finally joining the majority of states, by lifting the ridiculous prohibition on openly carrying defensive firearms. That a person could go to jail because her jacket rode up, exposing her holster, was an abomination.

    Always happy to see a state become less rabidly anti-gun.

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    1. You guys love to talk about that accidental showing of the concealed gun, but that's not what this is about at all. First of all, people being charged with that are as rare as hens' teeth. The real reason is so the fanatical gun nuts can do their in-your-face thing with their fetish items, thinking it'll mainstream the activity. But, it won't. Openly carrying, especially in an urban environment, will be seen for just what it is, silly, foolish behavior on the part of insecure and sometimes dangerous men.

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    2. You guys love to talk about that accidental showing of the concealed gun, but that's not what this is about at all.

      It very certainly is what this is about, or at least a very significant part of it.

      First of all, people being charged with that are as rare as hens' teeth.

      Gross injustice is intolerable if it happens once, as everyone who isn't a disgusting pig knows.

      But, it won't. Openly carrying, especially in an urban environment, will be seen for just what it is, silly, foolish behavior on the part of insecure and sometimes dangerous men.

      Yeah--I know how much you and your fellow vermin love to cling to that notion. In fact, I remember you ridiculous children giddily believing that open carry activists in Texas had doomed this much needed reform. Funny stuff, that.

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