A Texas Senate handguns’ bill is causing a heated debate online. The Texas Senate approved a piece of legislation allowing handguns to be carried in public and amended it to make it illegal for Texas police to question or check for proper licensing of people, who are openly carrying handguns despite the recent murders in Waco.
Members of the Texas Senate approved of handguns being carried in public. The senators also demanded that Texas authorities stop harassing people openly carrying handguns.
In a late session, Friday night, elected officials of the Texas Senate passed a piece of legislation allowing people with licenses to carry handguns openly either in a shoulder or belt holster.
The bill eventually passed on a final 20 to 11 vote after six hours of intense debate and the formation of a bizarre coalition consisting of Conservatives, few Tea Party members and a handful of Democrats.
A heated exchange erupted on the Senate floor over an amendment, which made it illegal for Texas authorities to stop and question people solely because they openly carry their firearms in public.
Democrats – Rodney Ellis and Royce West – who supported the handgun open carry bill, claimed it will help prevent racial profiling.
“I have a long history of opposing open carry legislation and a strong record of supporting sensible reforms to reduce gun violence and keep firearms out of the hands of criminals,” Ellis, who knew he would be under fire for his position, said in a statement after the Senate vote. “But if open carry is going to become law, law enforcement shouldn’t be able to circumvent constitutional rights and detain someone solely because they are open carrying in compliance with the law.”
However, gun control advocates, police, and even few Republicans have fiercely spoken against the bill. They cited last week’s fatal Texas shootout between Waco biker gangs armed to the teeth and police that left nine men dead and 18 injured.
Sen. Joan Huffman, a Republican, who was against the amendment, stated:
“This is just a backdoor to constitutional carry because really any person could just carry a gun without a license because they know the police can’t inquire of them if they have a license.”
When asked if the handgun open carry bill would have led to more deaths in Waco, Texas Governor Greg Abbott replied by saying:
“Well, the shootout occurred when we don’t have open carry. So obviously the current laws didn’t stop anything like that.”
The Republican governor plans to sign the bill after it gets a final vote in the House. A similar bill allowing concealed handguns in college classrooms is also going to be signed into law before the end of summer.
What are your thoughts on Texas’ open carry bill?
What a “Mickey-Mouse” operation ! Copy does not match photos being shown ! Is this an MSNBC site ? Looks like they at least use the same copy editors as you do ! What a waste of time and energy. So long numb-asses of “Spreadit” ! You’ve been too long on your back !
Actually, the picture does match the content of the article. If you look at the ladies having the pedicures, you will notice that they both have firearms in holsters. But that would require you to not be an ignorant fool.
They are observing and using their right of open cary, why doesn’t the photo match the copy?
Sir, the picture you are talking about is from the search engine, and we have no control over it. Thank you for reading.
Man oh man is this a one sided job of reporting. I really like the line, “However, gun control advocates, police ………. have fiercely spoken against the bill.” What. 2 policemen said somehting and you make it sound like the entire police community. Then using the governors quote. Come on. You can already carry open in the state of Texas as wel as many others. I carry open every day. Police see me all the time. They never once have given me so much as a second look.
I believe the reson the governor said that was becasue the current laws don’t do anything to the “criminals” that get caught with guns. How many cases go before a judge, especially if they are under 18 and the criminal gets off with a mere slap on the wrist.
If you want to do something about criminals carrying guns, reducing the murder rate using guns, reducing crime using guns, put the criminals in prison for a very long time. And bring back and use it non=sparingly, the death penalty. Oh yeah opponentsof the death penalty. I know, you’re going to say that statistics show that the death penalty is not a deterant to crime. I am sure it is not the way we handle it in this country. If someone gets the death penalty sentence, almost every single one of them get off or never see the penalty enforced ebcause they die before it can be carried out. Fifteen to twenty years of appeals at an extreme cost to the public. If it is obvious they killed someone, put them to death within 6 months to a year. Any questionable evidence, allow the appeals.
God bless America! Not the criminals inside her.
I live in Texas and so far only see law enforcement openly carrying. May24 / 15
Well said David.
The bill is about the right to open carry handguns. The picture these stupid editors used is of M-4 rifles, or long guns. This is just a one-sided attempt to create an opinion that has nothing to do with the law that was passed.
I have to say that I agree with your position. There are caveats to any given situation, though I do know this; the criminals,who the bikers in the Waco fiasco apparently were, have, and will always have weapons to further their agenda. They have corrupted the right to bear arms and turned that right into a twisted perversion of misconceived justice. We are a nation of “the rule of law”. The law of this land, in running it’s due course, will deal to these criminals the punishment they deserve. Societies will always be full of these kinds of people. My agenda is to live peacefully with my fellow man. if that fellow man chooses to bring harm or lordship over me or my loved ones, or any one else, for that matter, he will be met with all of the deadly force at my disposal. The second amendment was written in order that a gang of thugs, a repressive government, or a Despot could not gain easy control over, and subdue the populace. Every country that has acquiesced to confiscation of their right to popularly and publically bear arms lost most, if not all of their freedoms.
Now, if guns are not allowed, what about pepper spray? Tasers? Pocket knives?
Knives, large and small have killed many millions more than firearms throughout history. Firearms just made it more convenient to do so from a distance. So did arrows and catapults.
I can see it now; some one wants to introduce a bill banning open carry catapults! To sum; to all who oppose my right to openly carry a weapon in order to protect my family, go right ahead, don’t defend yourself or your family. Call 911. Tell the perpetrator to wait to rob you or rape your loved one, the police are on the way! just…wait, Mr. offender, please?
Wrong! Put them to death as as court is over. Take them out back and take them out! Too many of these people get to to prison file appeals and live long lives on our dime and cause over population in our prisons. Show these criminals the same mercy they showed their victums. None! Then watch crime go down. They know what will happen if they are found guilty of murder, rape, and other stupid excuses they find to kill someone. If you kill regardless of your sex or postion they should be handled as mentioned above. Dont give them 20-30 years of life. The victims and their families don’t get that luxury. Sorry I just believe if our laws were stricter we wouldn’t so many problems. In other countries you would be put to death immediatly.
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.
Regarding the objection to not being able to stop someone to see if the have a license for the gun they are carrying: I wonder how Sen. Huffman would feel if he was pulled over just because a police wanted to check to see if he had a driver’s license.
I have been a concealed carry instructor since the law passed in Ark in 95. I am also a retired LEO. Even if I could carry open, I wouldn’t because I don’t want potential bad guys to know I’m armed and take me out first. I support the right to carry open, I just won’t do it. That’s just me.
David Deel has it right on, thank God someone still beleves in America.
At some point, unless you wish to live in a totally controlled environment, You have to trust, but verify, your fellow citizens. I have found an armed society is a very polite society. To those wanting to be control freaks and control your fellow citizens, I think it speaks volumes about your own lack of self control and if you want to live a controlled life then prison offers the amenities you seek.
Gun control also has a racist history just as a note to the liberals amongst the readership; and you wouldn’t want to be waacist would you?
Just one more reason to boycott Texas. What a bunch of freaks.
Another reason to move back to the great state of Texas. How I miss a state not ran by arrogant, limp wristed liberals that want to be your mother (since they are too “female” to ever be your father) and want to run every aspect of your life – oh, they also are certain “they” can direct how much you can earn and if you happen to have the ability to build a business and are successful, they want to take all your money since you must have earned it illegally.
Go Texas!!!!!
criminals dont follow the laws anyway,now law abideing citezens can carry without being harrased by the cops..and i think tennessee should do the same
The only advantage I can see to this passing is that it will cut about .075 seconds off the time it takes me to draw my weapon now. Except for that Clint Eastwood cannon I have…..hmmmm.
The thing I like about it is it will remove the anxiety I sometimes feel when my concealed handgun could accidently become visible.
In California if the a Deputy sees you with a gun they open fire. Never get asked for paperwork. They simply kill you.
A huge amount of crime will be stopped. Try doing a hold-up when people around you are carrying! It’s definitely about time the good guys are allowed to protect themselves. Police are nice, but are 100% into crime solving, 0% in crime prevention. They are in an impossible position given their job of protecting society. They are equally responsible for protecting a criminal’s rights, as they are the victim’s. Further, they are in the unenviable position of enforcing liberal go good laws, seat belts, no texting, etc. You stand a much better chance of surviving if you are armed, since stats show one person every 6 to 7 seconds dies after the call goes out for help. Response time averages well over 10 minutes. If you think you’re not on your own, you have an armed body guard!
Honestly, I’m in favor of open and concealed carry, but I don’t have a problem with an officer asking to see my license either. I earned it and am proud to carry, but I wish the state required more training to get a license as well. I follow the letter of the law and expect others to do the same. I’m also against businesses that throw a sign in the window banning firearms because a couple of patrons complain, but these patrons are the same people who will whine about about the police taking too long to respond to their emergency. I want control over the safety of my family and myself and when the officers show up five minutes after I’ve sent a “perp” to the hospital or grave (hopefully grave) I will account for my actions. The bottom line is this, if we let 1 of our freedoms fall to the wayside our government will go after another. As two time Honorable Discharge holder from our USMC I believe in our Freedoms And Rights and will continue to believe the 2nd Amendment is in place to protect the 1st Amendment.
About time. Seems like only the criminals run around with open carry. It’s time to level the field. I know some dumbass will shoot themselves or someone else because he’s just an idiot, but that idiot would probably wind up doing something just as dasdardly at one time or another. Look at our president, how’s there ever been a more stupid person in office, and he was voted in, so you see, idiotic things happen everyday and by my count, this president has cost the lives of over a million people throughout the world simply because he’s an idiot.
Lopsided, biased article, hmmm?
thank god I don’t live in a state where people are so insecure they have to carry guns.
Are you saying your state doesn’t have insecure pork patrols that carry heat themselves,,, and are always calling in unecessary armed back up like, oh yeah, color wearing thug gang members? Sounds like an awesome place!
thank God you don’t too
What is wrong with American???? A manicure with a gun? are they going to shoot the worker if she uses the wring nail polish, knowniwin the polish is alrealy harmful to theor lungs.
guns kill ok, there aren’t two ways to say this.
look at the stats and get your head from under the sand.
Gun Homicides (average annually):
Less than 50: Japan
Less than 150: Germany, Italy, France, etc.
Less than 200: Canada
More than 10,000: USA
Source: IANSA (International Action Network on Small Arms of the United Nations)
Injuries and Deaths from Guns
Everytime a gun injures or kills in self-defense, one is used:
11 times for a completed or attempted suicide
7 times in a criminal assault or homicide
4 times in an unintentional shooting death or injury
Source: Journal of Trauma, injury, Infection and Critical Care (1998)
Per Capita Annual Gun Death Rate (per 100,000 population):
Highest: Louisiana (19.04, 45.6% households contain guns)
#25: Pennsylvania (10.90)
Lowest: CT, NY, New Jersey (4.99), RI, MA, Hawaii (2.20)
National: (10.32)
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Costs of Gun Violence
Gun violence impacts society in many ways: medical costs, costs of the criminal justice system, security precautions such as metal detectors, and reductions in the quality of life because of fear of gun violence.
U.S. lifetime medical costs for gunshot injuries total an estimated $2.3 billion
U.S. taxpayers pay for almost half ($1.1 billion or 49%) of lifetime medical costs for gunshot injuries
Guns Recovered from Crime
Only 1% of gun dealer account for almost 60% of crime guns recovered by police and later traced
In one year, at least 30,000 guns were “lost” out of gun dealers inventories
Guns with a short “time to crime” are disproportionately represented among crime guns. Guns manufactured and sold 3 years or less, prior to recopvery by police in crime make up 34 % of recovered and traced crime guns, but only 14% of the US gun stock.
Guns sold as paert of a multiple sale at a gun dealer were up to 64% more likely to be used in a crime than guns not part of such sales.
“No background check” sales account for an estimated 40% of gun sales in the U.S.
This is the most ludicrous legislation I have ever heard of. I’m a gun advocate and I would never support such a law. Thank God I don’t live in Texas.
I agree! I also thank God YOU DO NOT LIVE IN TEXAS!!!! We don’t need any morons here:)
Don’t you just love the way the left is making a huge deal out of this? Seven states (count them)in all of the U.S. prohibit open carry. Where’s all the discussion about all of those states with open carry?