What you must know about open-carry

Robert Pratt photo Copyright Pratt on Texas

Robert Pratt

Concealed Handgun Licenses in Texas become Carry Licenses on 1 January 2016 meaning that a license holder may carry openly, in accordance with certain rules, or concealed. The news headlines show us company after company such as Democrat-run H-E-B will post the appropriate signs banning, not concealed carry but, open carry. It’s their property and they’ve that right. On the other hand it’s your right to take your business elsewhere.

License holders need to know a few things before carrying openly and the Texas State Rifle Association provides this information:

“If you’re a licensee who decides to expose all or a portion of your handgun, the handgun must be contained in a belt or shoulder holster even if exposed in your vehicle. “Belt or shoulder” is the language in the statute and no other holster configuration is listed. Remember it’s business as usual if your handgun is concealed. Handgun license instructors must mention the option of owning and using a retention holster to all new licensees.

“If you see a PC 30.07 sign, the sign means no licensees are allowed with exposed handguns. Both PC 30.06 and PC 30.07 must be posted to prohibit all licensees, concealed or exposed.”

Where I live, a friend of the program has started a Facebook page called Lubbock 30.07 Watch and I’ve seen similar across the state. These pages are a place for citizens to document businesses which are officially afraid of their most law abiding customers.

Just remember that the 30.07 sign only bans open carry and if you do carry openly, the law requires the weapon to be in a “belt of shoulder” holster – even in your vehicle.

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From the DPS:

December 30, 2015

New Handgun Law Takes Effect Jan. 1

AUSTIN – House Bill 910 – which allows a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to now openly carry a holstered handgun – goes into effect Jan. 1, 2016.

The License to Carry (LTC) portion of the DPS website, http://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/index.htm, has been updated in several places with information relevant to the new law, including an expanded Frequently Asked Questions section, which can be found at http://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/faqs/index.htm.

Information about HB 910, including an overview of the legislation and a link to the text of the bill, can be found at http://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/Legal/newlegislation.htm.

There are also updated instructor resources at http://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/LicenseRegistration/instrguidepres.htm.  (Please note that much of this information can only be accessed by LTC instructors.)

Historical information related to handgun licenses can be found at http://www.dps.texas.gov/rsd/chl/reports/demographics.htm.

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