Concealed-handgun carry legislation was thought to be of concern when the 1995 Texas Legislature approved it.
It has proved effective in at least one regard: Thinking that motorists might be carrying a gun with them has made other motorists a lot more circumspect if they get cut off on the street.
Now the 2015 Legislature is considering an open-carry bill. This one give me pause.
http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/14/open-carry-bill-poised-clear-texas-house/
Why is that? I’m concerned about what some have indicated might become a problem — which is that someone carrying a handgun openly could become a target in the event shooting starts somewhere.
Interesting, yes? I share that concern.
The bill got stalled today in the Texas House of Representatives on a procedural glitch. It’s likely to come up in a day or two and the House is likely to approve it.
I’d bet real American cash that Gov. Greg Abbott would sign it if gets to his desk.
That doesn’t alleviate my concern about open-carry legislation becoming a state law.
I continue to wonder whether carrying guns openly on one’s holster created a safer society back in the old days when it was customary. Will the presence of guns being carried in the open today make us safer than the belief that someone is packing a pistol under his jacket or in her purse?
I still have my doubts.
Open carry has been the case in Arizona for a long time. Seems to not have had an appreciable effect. I believe your concern is misplaced.
I hope you’re right.
Let’s see if I understand your concerns — you believe that criminals who don’t see firearms will worry about them being present more than if criminals see a firearm they will wonder about who ELSE might be armed?
Ever notice that when you see one police car, you start looking around to see others?
I think that Open Carry will be the same way, especially since it will be a.) licensed Open Carry b.) prohibited in many businesses for their employees c.) only practiced by a small minority of the people.
If Open Carry was the standard and accepted method of carrying, then I could see concerns about criminals seeing the firearms and knowing whether or not they are safe. But even in states with unlicensed Open / Concealed Carry — Concealed is far more prevalent, right?
which is that someone carrying a handgun openly could become a target in the event shooting starts somewhere.
So, in order for this to happen – we have to
1. Have a criminal willing to risk his life in a shooting situation
2. Have an Open Carrier present
3. Have a shooter who spots a firearm on a person’s hip or in a shoulder holster out of the crowd
4. Decides instead of shooting at people who don’t appear to be able to shoot back, (s)he is going to engage the one person who could verifiable do so.
Make sense except it goes against the known pattern of most mass shooting and criminal activities. Unless the shooter has specifically planned to target those with firearms — cops or security guards – they typically avoid them (see Columbine, Aurora Colorado theater, etc) — so I think the odds of it happening are incredible low.
Isn’t it more likely the shooter will start shooting and the Open carrier will be just like the concealed carrier — able to respond to the situation before the police get there?
Bob S.
Great argument. Thanks for your comments.