Posted on 07/26/2008 4:54:09 AM PDT by marktwain
Imagine walking down the street and next to someone with a gun strapped to their hip. It's an image a group of Texans are hoping to turn into reality and they're gaining support by the thousands every day.
KVUE's Jessica Vess reports 07/24/2008
“This is a basic right,” said former state Legislator, Suzanna Hupp.
In Texas you can fire a gun, you can buy a gun, and you can walk around with a gun, but only if you have a concealed carry permit and the gun is out of sight.
“I feel safer. My home should it be breached, I can take care of it. Should somebody try to take my car, they'll be taken care of too. That's the way it should be,” said gun owner Charles Minter.
However, that’s not how it always works.
“Criminals by their very definition ignore the laws,” said Hupp.
In 1991 a gunman drove his truck into a Luby's restaurant in Killeen, TX. He got out and opened fire.
“That was before we were allowed to carry in the state of Texas,” said Hupp.
Hupp was there with her parents.
“He killed 23 people, including my parents. So I've been fairly angry since that time,” said Hupp.
In 1991 Texas didn't allow people to carry a gun.
“The only thing the regulations did was prevent people like me from being able to protect myself and my family. That's the only thing gun laws and gun control do. They prevent good people from protecting themselves and their families,” said Hupp.
Hupp helped pass the current concealed carry law in the mid 90's.
“It wasn't blood and chaos in the streets when we enacted the concealed carry,” said Hupp.
Now she wants more.
“We should allow people to carry. That means in their pocket, in their purse, on their forehead, on their hip. I don't care how they carry. If they can legally own a gun I think they should be able to carry it in public,” said Hupp.
She's not alone. An open carry petition online is gaining popularity by the thousands every day. More than 21,000 people have already signed the petition online.
“I couldn't have foreseen all the support that I've gained,” said petition creator, Ian McCarthy.
McCarthy posted the online petition in October last year.
“In Texas we're proud of all of our rights especially when it comes to gun rights,” said McCarthy.
McCarthy's petition will likely go to state lawmakers in the next session along with a proposal to enact an open carry policy in Texas.
“We're hoping for unlicensed, open carry,” said McCarthy.
The group is asking for a open carry law like what's already seen in at least ten states in the U.S. Those ten states allow open carry without a license. Another 12 states allow open carry but with a license.
Texas is just one of six states on record that completely bans open carry. However, to some the idea of seeing people with guns, doesn't sit well. Even some gun owners are worried an open carry policy could lead to more crime.
“It might just turn into the wild, wild west,” said Minter.
Those Wild West images where it seemed like everyone had a gun.
Guns in Texas though are pretty much kept to the range.
“I come here to shoot. I don't carry around on the street,” said gun owner, Steven Cui.
Cui is one of many gun owners that think owning a firearm is a privilege, not a right.
“If it's open then everybody's going to be walking around with a gun now. I think it's only for the cops and people that are licensed,” said gun owner, Kyle Ramirez.
Others worry open carry will get out of hand.
“You don't want to use a gun just because somebody called you or your mother a bad name. You only want to use a gun when you're in fear for your life,” said gun owner, and owner of the Astro Shooting Range in Florence, TX, L.E. Williams.
“People don't know what they're doing,” added firearms trainer Mike Nellis.
Nellis is a former state officer and now is a firearms trainer for the Texas Department of Public Safety. He supports gun rights; he even had a gun strapped to his belt the entire time we talked, but you couldn't tell by looking at him that he was armed. Nellis says that's the advantage of concealed carry.
“I think if it's going to require having a license and have requirements and there's no difference between that and a concealed carry law you might as well go to a concealed carry license,” said Nellis.
However, for Hupp and the thousands of others who have signed the online open carry petition, the issue boils down to one thing: our Bill of Rights.
“I believe that they will pass it. This time around I think that it will pass,” said Hupp.
State lawmakers are not yet saying how they will vote on the issue.
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They must dig hard to come up with people willing to make statements such as this!
Same old argument almost verbatim every time a gun control law is relaxed and it NEVER happens. 22 states today have some form of "open carry" and there is no "wild , wild west" shootouts. What idiot would think Texas having an open carry provision would make it that way???? Texas was supposed to have blood in the streets when "everybody" could carry concealed. It still ain't happenin'!
Show off your custom holster ping.
This looks like a BBQ gun post to me.
This is a dumb statement- the law in Texas provides for use of deadly force in preventing loss life whether it be yours or another's, to stop crimes in progress or prevent loss of property/ end tresspass (with certain provisions) among others: http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/PE/content/htm/pe.002.00.000009.00.htm
Carrying concealed or open should make no difference to the law. However, it should be a personal choice. Some say they do not want a bad guy to know they are armed so as to make them the initial target of wrongdoings. Some say visible open carry would discourage a bad guy from initiating wrongdoings knowing a good gun is nearby so the argument goes on and both are valid.
Still, the choice should be that of the legal firearm owning citizen.
I agree and go one step further. Being armed and certified proficient should be a prerequisite to boarding any commercial transportation.
We also have open carry and zero problems with it. If its not a problem in MI there is no reasonable argument against it for TX!
With Pres. Osama already selected, liebrals think somebody gives a [bleep] of goin back to the good ol days...yuk
What part of "Constitutional Right" do these idiots not understand...?
Also, I have no problem with proper training, in fact, I'd like to see everyone get firearms training each time they renew their driver's license.... My point is even the left wing loonies would get an understanding of this RIGHT and may even be converted....
Flame away.....
Just imagine a criminal person setting next to yo with a hidden gun waiting to rob you.
I pick the Texan with a gun not a reporter.
WTF!!!!! Open carry or not, I want to see MI enact a law that requires a 70% passing grade on newspaper reporters before they can exercise the "right" of free speech!!!
Obviously, we all have our crosses to bear - you have Debbie Stabenow and her philandering husband, hehehehehe!
Another one that doesn't know how to read. It's a RIGHT idiot, so move aside while the rest of us practice our rights under the Constitution.
While law enforcement is certainly an honorable and (should be) trustworthy profession, I sure have seen my share of gun-totin' idiots enforcing the law. I've seen them mishandle weapons, shooting holes in ceilings, one sheriff accidentally discharged his weapon TWICE in his office during one term, another sent a round through the wall at his office at the International Airport where he was Chief of that force. Weapons discharged in police cruisers (through the roof, blowing the light bar bracket off) give me a break people.
Yet, non, I repeat NON of my non-LEO friends have discharged any gun anywhere other than on a range, hunting and other appropriate venues. Let's get off this crap that only LEOs are "qualified" to arm themselves.
Why stop there....how about a 70% or better grade on a Religious test?
WTF!!!!! Open carry or not, I want to see MI enact a law that requires a 70% passing grade on newspaper reporters before they can exercise the "right" of free speech!!!
Why stop there....how about a 70% or better grade on a Religious test before one can attend a church, mosque or synagogue?
>That is only for the CCW. You don’t need any test to purchase or open carry. Just the background check.<
You must be reasonably young. I remember buying a Chief Special and walking out the door with it in the box. Nobody, I mean nobody in government knew that I had bought a handgun and I cannot think of any good reason for them to know that information today. The clerk didn’t know my name, where I lived or anything about me except that I was hopefully going to be a steady customer.
THAT is how it should be!
I’m not that young and I also bought guns when there was no instant background check.
There is now and it takes 30 sec.
I love guns in the hands of good people. It makes bad people nervous. And the neat thing about open carry is that it doesn’t preclude concealed carry. The crook might see the openly carried guns, but then he has to wonder how many concealed ones are there as well. What a conundrum for the feeble mind of a criminal.
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