Open carry: A good idea or back to the Old West?

On April 29, 2011, one Texas House Committee passed the open carry gun law, which would essentially remove the word “concealed” from the law.

The bill would allow current concealed handgun licensees to wear their gun openly, in broad daylight, if it is in a holster.  It would not, however, change the law that requires a license to carry a handgun, or the laws that are in place to acquire the license.

Advocates say it isn’t changing anything.  Only a few people would actually carry their gun on the outside of their clothing.  Many also believe that it would help to deter crime, at least a little bit.

Opponents to the bill say that it will strike fear in those not carrying a gun, since many people would scare, just because they have a gun.  There is also the question of who will police people and verify that they do have a license to carry in the first place. 

As a born and raised “country” girl, guns don’t scare me.  I think I would feel MORE comfortable knowing that a person was carrying a gun.  These same people have guns right now, we just don’t know it.   Opponents are seemingly putting off the impression that “If we don’t see it, it must not be there.”  This doesn’t make it any more safe.  I also do believe that it would help deter crime, because people would be scared of the guns walking around in public. 

The bill must now go to the entire House of Representatives for a vote. 

Currently, 42 states are open carry friendly states, while 26 require no permit for open carry.