Open carry begins Jan. 1
By Bobby Horn Jr.
CASS COUNTY—Beginning Jan. 1, people may start seeing something that has not been seen in Texas in 144 years, citizens carrying handguns in the open.
HB 910, which the 84th Legislature passed in 2015, allows those who already have a concealed handgun permit to carry a handgun in a belt or shoulder holster.
Like those who have concealed handgun permits, open carry is not allowed on school property, in courthouses or buildings with courthouses in them, on federal property (including post offices), polling locations and businesses that derive 51 percent of their income from alcohol sales (such as bars).
Under language in the law, privates businesses that do not want open carry on their property will be required to either post a sign (known as the 30.07) which conforms to state requirements or verbal communication can be allowed. These are same requirements as the concealed handgun law signage (with slightly different verbiage).
Paul Cothren, with Don’t Blink65, who teaches concealed handgun classes, said that prospective license holders are required to undergo an extensive background check before they are eligible for a concealed permit. Applicants are also required to attend a four-hour class and qualify with 50 rounds of live ammo.
Cothren said that he has seen an increase in the number of students taking the class, but he does not think it is directly related to open carry. “I think that people are seeing what is going on around them and they want to protect themselves.”
There are no additional requirements or license needed for open carry.
Cass County Sheriff Larry Rowe said that he does not think that the new law will cause an increase in crime. “They’ve had open carry in Wyoming since the 1800s and haven’t had a problem with and I don’t think we will either.”
Rowe did advise that if a person is pulled over by a law enforcement officer, they should offer their concealed handgun permit to the office and inform them if they are in possession of a firearm.
Cothren echoed the sentiments. He said that he tells his students that if they are pulled over they should be hand over their permit and driver’s license at the same time and then leave both hands on the steering wheel until told otherwise.
Texas is not the only part of the Ark-La-Tex that allows open carry of firearms. Louisiana has allowed open carry since 1850. The Arkansas state Attorney General has defended the state’s 2013 open carry law, saying that such as action was allowed unless “you plan to use it illegally.”
Local firearm dealers say that there has been an increase in handgun sales recently, but they don’t attribute it solely to the open carry law.
James Runnells, owner of Queen City Pawn, said that he believes that the recent increase in handgun sales can be attributed to not only open carry but the general state of society.
He added that he does not expect to see a huge surge in people suddenly carrying openly. “It will die down after a while,” he said. “There are those who are going to do it just because they can but for the most part I don’t think people who are already carrying concealed are going to go to open.”
Atlanta Guns & Ammo owner Brian Kendrick said that he has also seen sales increase; but that he attributed that as much to people buying Christmas presents as open carry. One change he did note was that he has been selling larger frame pistols that while harder to conceal are more comfortable for some shooters.
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