Thoughts on CHL vs. Open Carry laws?

[haslethandgunner]

I have heard some opinions both ways, and I'm kind of on the fence.

Open Carry Pro: NO MORE HIDING And covering your weapon....Makes getting dressed easier.

CHL Pro: Adds professionalism and prevents 'show offs' from making a deal out of their side arm.

Open Carry Con: Bad guys get false sense that they know who's carrying and who's not.

CHL Con: See Open Carry Pro.

What are ya'll's thoughts?

 

[lalonguecarabine]

I think open carry would just make things easier. It would be good if legalizing open carry didn't infringe upon those who still want to carry concealed.

I think we're still a ways from open carry being legalized anyway, but that's a quick thought from me on the subject.

 

[txinvestigator]

There have been MANY threads about this topic. I can't imagine this one will be any diifferent than those.

There will be lies told about flashing or printing, Texas being one of only a handful of states that completely ban open carry, unproven claims that no open carry causes no problems (despite all of the threads I have read about people in open carry states having issues with LE) then in the same breath they claim criminals won't open carry because they don't want to draw attention (that's pretty incongruent thinking).

Some will offer rational arguments that the licensing and requirment to conceal is unconstitutional. Some will vehemently oppose open carry, they usually say it ruins the element of surprise or will cause showing off, etc.

Then there will likely be an off topic rant about legislators making laws that people who have done nothing wrong can't follow, and the legislators are angainst the citizens. That rant will likely contain a completely off topic rant about cops.

 

[lalonguecarabine]

There have been MANY threads about this topic. I can't imagine this one will be any diifferent than those.

There will be lies told about flashing or printing, Texas being one of only a handful of states that completely ban open carry, unproven claims that no open carry causes no problems (despite all of the threads I have read about people in open carry states having issues with LE) then in the same breath they claim criminals won't open carry because they don't want to draw attention (that's pretty incongruent thinking).

Some will offer rational arguments that the licensing and requirment to conceal is unconstitutional. Some will vehemently oppose open carry, they usually say it ruins the element of surprise or will cause showing off, etc.

Then there will likely be an off topic rant about legislators making laws that people who have done nothing wrong can't follow, and the legislators are angainst the citizens. That rant will likely contain a completely off topic rant about cops.

TOTALLY agreed!

 

[M. Sage]

There have been MANY threads about this topic. I can't imagine this one will be any diifferent than those.

There will be lies told about flashing or printing, Texas being one of only a handful of states that completely ban open carry, unproven claims that no open carry causes no problems (despite all of the threads I have read about people in open carry states having issues with LE) then in the same breath they claim criminals won't open carry because they don't want to draw attention (that's pretty incongruent thinking).

Some will offer rational arguments that the licensing and requirment to conceal is unconstitutional. Some will vehemently oppose open carry, they usually say it ruins the element of surprise or will cause showing off, etc.

Then there will likely be an off topic rant about legislators making laws that people who have done nothing wrong can't follow, and the legislators are angainst the citizens. That rant will likely contain a completely off topic rant about cops.

Unless you suggest we all go out and test the "traveling" provision regularly, then I'd say that this isn't a lie.

 

[Texan2]

Unless you suggest we all go out and test the "traveling" provision regularly, then I'd say that this isn't a lie.

You can open carry a long gun.

 

[majormadmax]

Considering recent events in Arizona, it will be interesting to see if this will affect their very pro-gun laws...

Otherwise, txinvestigator has pretty much nailed how this thread will end up!

 

[Texas1911]

You can open carry a long gun.

On paper that may be correct, but I think we all know that the open carry of a long gun would result in your being arrested in most metro areas.

 

[Texan2]

which is what I sometimes fail to understand. You can OC a long gun but no one does or wants to....yet the screaming for OC of handguns is non-stop. Do people think that with the stroke of a pen, people will quit calling police when they see someone OCing? I believe that the public mindset needs to be adjusted before an OC bill has a prayer.

 

[Texas1911]

which is what I sometimes fail to understand. You can OC a long gun but no one does or wants to....yet the screaming for OC of handguns is non-stop. Do people think that with the stroke of a pen, people will quit calling police when they see someone OCing? I believe that the public mindset needs to be adjusted before an OC bill has a prayer.

You can carry a rifle, but people still pay $250+ to obtain a CHL. It's the whole idea that you don't take a pneumatic jack hammer along with you if you are hanging pictures in your house.

Regardless of it's usage or applicability, I want the liberty of carrying a firearm, open or otherwise. I'm completely for open carry, but I would still maintain a mostly concealed pistol because it is advantageous.

 

[MR Redneck]

On paper that may be correct, but I think we all know that the open carry of a long gun would result in your being arrested in most metro areas.

True dat, and then some!

 

[MR Redneck]

You can carry a rifle, but people still pay $250+ to obtain a CHL. It's the whole idea that you don't take a pneumatic jack hammer along with you if you are hanging pictures in your house.

Regardless of it's usage or applicability, I want the liberty of carrying a firearm, open or otherwise. I'm completely for open carry, but I would still maintain a mostly concealed pistol because it is advantageous.

True dat and then some more...

 

[Texan2]

i concur with your assesment. my original post was mainly reinforcing what TXI stated.

 

[txinvestigator]

Unless you suggest we all go out and test the "traveling" provision regularly, then I'd say that this isn't a lie.

Of course it is a lie. Calififornia is one of the states they hail as having open carry, but the fail to mention that is for UNLOADED handguns. Since they include that lie, I have to conclude that many of the other states don't have general open carry for everone.

To address Texas; Texas generally proscribes the carry of handguns. Of the 8 circusmtances when Joe Citizen CAN carry, only THREE require the handgun be concealed. That is only 38% of the circumstances when a handgun can be carried on or about your person that that handgun must be concealed. That means in 63% of the circumstances open carry IS allowed. In fact, in one of thise circumstances, the handgun MUST be in plain view.

So I could say, with the same level of intellectual honesty as the California claim, that in Texas when you can carry a handgun we require open carry 13% of the time.

 

[M. Sage]

You can open carry a long gun.

Yeah, but I hate running through the woods in the to avoid having an uncomfortable conversation at gunpoint.

Of course it is a lie. Calififornia is one of the states they hail as having open carry, but the fail to mention that is for UNLOADED handguns. Since they include that lie, I have to conclude that many of the other states don't have general open carry for everone.

To address Texas; Texas generally proscribes the carry of handguns. Of the 8 circusmtances when Joe Citizen CAN carry, only THREE require the handgun be concealed. That is only 38% of the circumstances when a handgun can be carried on or about your person that that handgun must be concealed. That means in 63% of the circumstances open carry IS allowed. In fact, in one of thise circumstances, the handgun MUST be in plain view.

So I could say, with the same level of intellectual honesty as the California claim, that in Texas when you can carry a handgun we require open carry 13% of the time.

California open carry is only unloaded in incorporated areas. In unincorporated areas of below a certain population density, loaded is perfectly legal.

When, other than traveling, on property under your control, hunting or at a range can you open carry in Texas?

 

[Texan2]

When, other than traveling, on property under your control, hunting or at a range can you open carry in Texas?

LOL....that is alot of the time you would be carrying.

 

[txinvestigator]

Yeah, but I hate running through the woods in the to avoid having an uncomfortable conversation at gunpoint.



California open carry is only unloaded in incorporated areas. In unincorporated areas of below a certain population density, loaded is perfectly legal.

Well then, my statement is certainly as true as the one about California.

When, other than traveling, on property under your control, hunting or at a range can you open carry in Texas?

WOW, you just named three times that OC is perfectly legal in Texas. That does not sound like the lie that Texas bands OC, does it? To answer your question, a person acting as an armed PRIVATE security officer MUST carry in plain view, and a person supervising the operation of a TABC licensed establishment can carry any way he pleases.

See my point? It is disingenious to say Texas bans open carry, then list a state that requires your gun be unloaded unless you are are out in the sticks as an example of an OC state. I call that a lie. it is talking out of both sides of your face (I don't mean you specifically, but generically)

 

[M. Sage]

LOL....that is alot of the time you would be carrying.

I hardly do those things, though. I want OC for EDC.

 

[txinvestigator]

I hardly do those things, though. I want OC for EDC.

THAT is a fair statement.

 

[matefrio]

I'm for Open Carry and Concealed Carry without a license for two reasons.

Remove all arbitrary fees and testing.

Expand the freedom to move about with a firearm without having to prove, defend or be regulated by what circumstances and conditions one carries are lawful in publicly accessible areas.