Local news reports
Among the more interesting data points – and there were a slew of them – to come out of Thursday’s Senate committee hearing on two high-profile gun bills was a recent survey conducted by the Texas Police Chiefs Association.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, in his testimony, pointed to data that the vast majority Texas police chiefs surveyed opposed open carry of a handgun. He added that if open carry were to pass, a greater majority supported licensed open carry over unlicensed.
That information, at least the first part, didn’t apparently move the Senate committee. The panel voted 7-2 – with only Democrats voting against – to send to the full Senate the bills on so-called campus carry and licensed open carry of handguns.
But given that law enforcement continues to be central to the debate, we wanted to learn more about the survey. And James McLaughlin, executive director of the police chiefs association, on Friday passed along more detail on the six-question survey.
The group recently sent the survey to 800-plus police chiefs – covering municipalities, college campuses, independent school districts and others. Though Acevedo said around 285 responded, a hard copy of the survey results shows a response from 192 chiefs.
Here are the major data points from the survey, which can be seen after the jump:
– Nearly 75 percent opposed open carry in Texas.
– 90 percent said that if open carry passes, a license should be required.
– 94 percent said an openly carried handgun should have to be holstered.
– 71 percent said that holsters should have retention ratings, which help secure the gun.
So 75% of the les than 25% that responded opposed open carry. Not exactly a excise ice issue. That's most likely why the organization as a whole doesn't have an official position on the issue.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering why nearly one hundred responses got left out of the results.
You beat me to it, SSG. More than three out of four of those surveyed didn't think the questions were even worth answering, but we're supposed to take the answers that did trickle in seriously.
DeleteAnd keep in mind we're not speaking of real cops, but of police chiefs. Mostly stuffed-suit political hacks, in other words.
Sure, the percentages were fudged and ther opinion doesn't count anyway since they're "stuffed-suit political hacks."
Delete. . . ther opinion doesn't count anyway since they're "stuffed-suit political hacks."
DeleteI couldn't have said it better myself, Mikeb. Nicely done.
Boy was I fumble fingered on my first go-round on this....
ReplyDeleteSo 75% of the less than 25% that responded opposed open carry. Not exactly a show of solidarity on this issue. That's most likely why the organization as a whole doesn't have an official position on the issue.
I'm wondering why nearly one hundred responses got left out of the results.
That didn't stop Kurt from agreeing wholeheartedly. Still, I ask, do you think they had to manipulate the results? Or are they chiefs political hacks?
DeleteThat didn't stop Kurt from agreeing wholeheartedly.
DeleteI still do agree wholeheartedly. What is there to dispute?
Thanks Mike, that was the kind of information I was looking for a couple of weeks ago when I talked with SJ, but I never found this survey. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteAs I have said before, I'm hesitant to place a significant amount of stock into a survey like this with a small sample turnout and especially considering its police chiefs that were surveyed, just because I understand the how Chiefs are selected. It would be a little bit more credible if they had included sherrifs, deputies, Chiefs and Line officers so as to be able to get a better view of the law enforcement community as a whole. It illustrates a bit part of the reason though why these surveys are most often conducted using Chiefs, as Chiefs are more likely to be reflective of the position of the powers that be rather than elected sherriffs who are more likely to be representative of the postion of the people.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that permit holders in Texas will no longer be required to conceal once the Governor signs the bill sent to his desk as he has promised to do. This will make the law that Texas permit holders comparable to Minnesota.
ReplyDelete"The Senate gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that would allow Texans to openly carry handguns in a shoulder or belt holster. The measure was approved on a 20-10 vote with all Republicans voting yes and all Democrats – except one who was absent – voting no.
Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, was the only senator to speak against the legislation on Tuesday, a day after the proposal was hotly debated before it was given tentative approval. Whitmire said the bill would be a “great mistake.”
The measure by Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, would join Texas with most other states in authorizing open carry of handguns – as long as the person has a state handgun license. Currently, about 826,000 Texans have a concealed handgun license, nearly 3 percent of the state’s population.
Similar legislation is pending in the state House. If that bill is passed and the two bills are reconciled, the legislation will advance to the desk of Governor Greg Abbott, who has already publicly stated that he will sign the bill.
It appears that the legislation is written in such a way that open carry will become effective in 2016."
"Once some form of open carry becomes law in Texas, it is expected that there will be an effort to bring Texas in line with other states that allow permitless open carry, or perhaps the “constitutional carry” of both concealed and openly-carried firearms."
http://bearingarms.com/texas-senate-approves-open-carry-bill/