Many states allow the open carry of modern handguns. Only 6 states ban open carry outright. It comes as a bit of a surprise that Texas is one of the few left that still forbids its citizens from openly carrying handguns.
The proposed House Bill 195 would allow open carry of handguns and is currently being debated in the Texas Senate. This law may overturn a 144 year law banning the practice. If the law is enacted, anyone taking advantage of open carry would not need a concealed carry permit.
According to the Texas Observer, 31 states allow open carry without a permit and 13 require a permit. Texas does allow the open carry of long-guns and antique guns made before 1899.
The Open Carry Debate
A man in Oregon taking advantage of Oregon’s open carry policy last October learned a tough lesson that some in Texas would be wise to consider. William Coleman III had his new Walther P99 riding open on his belt and was talking with his cousin when a man approached asking for a light.
The approaching man noticed Coleman’s open carried pistol and commented, “I like your gun, give it to me.” The man pulled his own and robbed Coleman at gunpoint. He complied and gave the man the gun that had been on his belt.
Displaying his gun through open carry made him a direct target for robbery, and this could be a potential hurdle that Texas residents will need to debate. Open carry means that any passerby, whether good guy or bad, can see the carrier is packing a handgun.
The danger of someone stealing, or attempting to steal, the displayed handgun is of course only one of the issues raised by opponents of open carry. Some argue that this new law will turn Texas into the “Wild West”, although that hasn’t quite been the case in other open carry states.
The Future of Open Carry In Texas
Those who advocate for open carry claim that the concealed carry permit is discriminatory because its too expensive (it’s $140) and not everyone can complete the required written test.
They also argue that open carry makes self-protection easier because the gun is faster to access than a handgun hidden in a purse or concealed under clothing. Some say that open carry of handguns will actually deter crime because anyone who was thinking about trying anything would see the gun and think twice.
While Second Amendment rights are at the core of the issue, the fact that those who open carry would not be required to obtain a license or undergo any type of training is of particular concern. Guns in the hands of those citizens who are familiar with them and educated on how to use the appropriately can go a long way to make any public place much more safe.
