Everything changed for Texas at the start of 2016. Since the first of the year, Texans have been taking advantage of their new ability to carry handguns openly in public.
Texas law had previously only allowed open carry of long guns, but handguns were added by a law signed by the Governor back in June.
The new law is a notch in the victory column for gun rights advocates. They feel that the openly displayed firearms act as a deterrent to violent threats.
A far cry from the proposed tightening restrictions seen in other states, open carry allows licensed gun owners to carry on the hip or shoulder pretty much anywhere.
Gun owners who were previously required to conceal firearms are now hoping that open carry shows that having a firearm for protection is nothing to be afraid of.
That doesn’t mean that everyone, including gun owners and gun rights advocates, has welcomed open carry happily.
Some feel that the open display of a firearm in public might send mixed messages.
While the person carrying may have good intentions of self-defense, some might have trouble knowing if the gun is for good or ill. As Americans, many are wary of anyone displaying a gun in a crowded public place.
Business owners are now weighing the pros and cons of open carry on premises. The firearms are a safety measure that could stop violence before it even starts, and in that case open carry helps local businesses.
But if they’re hearing complaints from customers that are uncomfortable with open carry, business owners will need to weigh customer’s loyalty against openly carried firearms. Popular establishments like Starbucks, Chili’s, Jack in the Box, and Chipotle have already posted restrictions against open carry.
Of course, Texas isn’t the first state to allow open carry. Forty-five other states allow the open carry of firearms in some way or another, and none have degenerated into the lawless chaos that people against open carry predicted.
It’s really up to citizens to be informed about the law and to make an informed decision before complaining or calling law enforcement.
An extra responsibility also falls to those who open carry. There’s never been a better time to carry responsibly, train frequently, and to follow every safety precaution.
