I'm not sure I like this idea at all, but thanks to Wendy Davis' run for Governor of Texas, Texas is much more red, and there are a number of bills under consideration to make Texas an "Open Carry" state.
We already have "Concealed Carry" licenses available to qualified individuals, and the "open carry" would similarly be licensed, but you'd be able to carry a gun out in the open in most places. I'd assume they'd still apply the "51 rule", but I haven't actually seen the bills.
An odd argument, however, is that the second amendment should not be restricted because the first amendment is not. In other words, since we have freedom of speech (with the obvious caveat that you can't yell fie in a crowded theater) you shouldn't have any restrictions on carrying firearms. If that's actually the argument, then there wouldn't even be licenses required to carry concealed OR open, because there's no "license" necessary for free speech.
I already "open carry" occasionally on my own property, which is totally legal, particularly when I'm working cattle, or back away from the house. (snakes, coyotes, wild hogs, etc)
The current state of open carry in Texas can be found here. Long guns (shotguns and rifles) are already legal to be carried openly, as long as you don't carry them in a threatening or menacing manner.
We already have "Concealed Carry" licenses available to qualified individuals, and the "open carry" would similarly be licensed, but you'd be able to carry a gun out in the open in most places. I'd assume they'd still apply the "51 rule", but I haven't actually seen the bills.
An odd argument, however, is that the second amendment should not be restricted because the first amendment is not. In other words, since we have freedom of speech (with the obvious caveat that you can't yell fie in a crowded theater) you shouldn't have any restrictions on carrying firearms. If that's actually the argument, then there wouldn't even be licenses required to carry concealed OR open, because there's no "license" necessary for free speech.
I already "open carry" occasionally on my own property, which is totally legal, particularly when I'm working cattle, or back away from the house. (snakes, coyotes, wild hogs, etc)
The current state of open carry in Texas can be found here. Long guns (shotguns and rifles) are already legal to be carried openly, as long as you don't carry them in a threatening or menacing manner.
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