Texas Handgun Open Carry

I keep finding conflicting articles about the legality of open carrying a handgun (with a CHL) in Texas. Anybody know the true answer to this?

TX DPS Handgun LIcensing

Click on Laws and Regulations...147 page PDF file

CHL is now LTC...license to carry.

Texas penal code

Can't open carry in your car (unless on your person). Those fancy holsters that go under the console are a no-go.

I’d call that one a gray area. The law says it must be in a shoulder or belt holster. Doesn’t say it has to be attached to a person, just in the holster. So one could argue that a pistol in a belt holster sitting in a cup holder meets the requirements. I’ve been waiting to see an arrest or ruling on this but so far haven’t. Be interesting the first time someone tries it.

to many gray areas

A lot better now that OC is legal, no more “printing” charges and reduced penalties for accidentally missing 3006/3007 signs.

Why would anyone want to announce to the world that they are armed?

I think its along the lines of "use it or loose it"

Most likely as a deterrent.

Or convenience, wear a suit and it gets hot take off jacket...no need to conceal.

Not everything is black and white, open your mind.

I’d say at this point..100 percent of open carriers I’ve ran across look like some trashy MF’s

Not once have I stumbled across one who looks like they graduated high school

Or, most likely the first one who gets shot if there is someone intent on causing mayhem.

Like these two?

You need to move.

No
Retention holster, duh.

Constitutional Cary. They rest is garbage.

Eh. Maybe in an active shooter situation. I’d be willing to bet most robbers have no intention of shooting anybody, and would be far more likely to find another target than an area with a person open carrying a gun. Never open carried, and don’t intend on it, but it’s just as likely to go the other direction as the one your opinion says it will.

Last time I open carried , it scared to bad guys off. A passing car scared them off the first time , open carry scared them off the second.

Well lucky you, you never know for a fact if it was effective.

I've opened carried many times, in an Alaskan guide series shoulder holster. Its most often been while on a hunting trip, and I go into town for lunch or stop for gas on the way home. I have it on anyway, it's my right so I don't see it as a big deal. It's up high, a little off center of my chest. The last time was in Bogata. Went in for lunch and the four State Troopers in the cafe didn't seem to care. Another time was in Vernon. I ended up selling two of the holsters for the company to two guys that were interested. I don't buy into the idea of being a target of opportunity to a mass shooter, or any other person with ill intent.

Is it considered open carry if you are going commando and your fly is open?

Not if you are armed with a derringer..........

All this gun talk makes me want to go buy a new one

Funny you mention that. I got pulled over with mine sitting in the passenger seat (in holster). He said "thats not supposed to be out in plain sight" to which i replied "ok i will put it up when we part ways" and that was it. He didn't care one bit.

Get out of the Hood. In rural setting I've seen ranchers with big hog leg revolvers in leather holsters.

Of course they were likely doing so pre open carry laws.

That is called trolling.

Never heard of someone being charged with anything because they were printing. Printing was not illegal before the LTC change.

Marc

With ultralight tackle?

Unless I'm working I do not display a weapon. I also try to be as gray man as possible and not draw attention to myself.

You're right "printing" wasn't illegal, but not carrying concealed was. The outline of the gun being visible was one of those gray areas since if you can see the outline of the weapon it wasn't "concealed". OC made this concern irrelevant and as others have said you don't have to be very careful if you bend over or expose your weapon on accident.

Unless you are in a location that is posted 30.07 and not 30.06. If it’s obvious you have are carrying then you are not concealing it.

I feel much better now with these two on duty.

Guy on the rights duck boots are untied..

I do not argue that open carry makes it easier to carry - oh, you bet!

My only point was that printing and even "unintentional and brief full exposure" were never illegal and therefore never chargeable. Try to find a case of someone being convicted with a printing-related offense. Lifting your shirt on purpose to expose a weapon was brandishing - nasty printing was poor form - but NOT illegal in any way. The "no more worry about printing" thing is a myth.

Remember that even accidental full open exposure was only illegal if the "intent to brandish" could be reasonably demonstrated.

Marc

IMHO......open carry is sooooooooooooooooooo stupid.