Open Carry in Texas
By: Ramsay Campbell
As of January 1, 2016, Texas introduced a new law that allows licensed gun owners to open carry in the state of Texas. This is a shock to the democratic north that has been diligently working toward new gun laws that limit the use of weapons in America. Some establishments that have previously prohibited licensed gun carry are now allowing open gun carry, such as the University of Texas. The new law even allows people to bring their handguns to the airport, “encased for shipment purposes and checked as baggage to be lawfully transported on an aircraft pursuant to airline and TSA regulations.” ("Texas Gun Law." Texas Law Shield. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Jan. 2016.) This new shocking regulation has become a very controversial topic that has had the nation divided. In my own opinion, the new law is something that can be very positive if we embrace it in a safe way. The open carry policy in Texas allows citizens to exercise their second amendment rights and also ensures the safety of citizens.
The second amendment states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” ("Second Amendment." LII / Legal Information Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2016) The open carry policy in Texas allows citizens to exercise their second amendment right to the fullest extent. In the past, Texans have been given the opportunity to carry guns with a license but the weapon had to be concealed behind clothing or in a bag/purse of some kind. The ability to carry a gun in the open gives possible attackers the knowledge that their ‘target’ is armed. It also gives the gun carrier easy access in case of an emergency or situation.
Many advocates of the open carry policy see this as a tremendous victory that will ensure the safety of not only the carrier but also the citizens around them. This is certainly backed up by statistical evidence. According to the Gun Owners of America Association, guns are used 2.5 million times a year in self defense and states such as Florida and Vermont saw significant drops in their crime rate once their gun policies were put in place. This is not only about our rights as citizens, but also about the safety of every single American.
Texas moves into 2016 with the assurance that every Texas citizen is allowed to take advantage of his or her second amendment right in a safe way. This is a tremendous victory for Texas, that we hope can extend to every American very soon.
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