Texas Poised to Roll Back 140-Year-Old Open Carry Gun Ban
Melissa Jacobs reports at Fox News:
The near-certain signing into law of an open-carry gun measure will send Texas back to the days of the Wild West -- at least legislatively.
The bill, passed by the state Legislature and expected to earn Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature within the next week, would reverse a 140-year-old ban on carrying handguns in plain sight. Despite its reputation as a pro-gun state, Texas is one of just five with an outright ban on open carry.
"It’s a thumbs up for law-abiding citizens," said Rep. Debbie Riddle. Riddle, a Republican who represents part of Houston and co-sponsored the bill. "Everywhere there is a denial of Second Amendment rights, crime is through the roof. It’s a deterrent. If someone is going to rob a convenience store and there are other people inside with guns on their hips, they might think twice."
"As a gun-owning Texas mom, this is not the Texas I want for my family or community," said Sandy Chasse of the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, according to Fox News.
On the other hand, "criminals aren’t afraid of prison, they’re afraid of getting shot,” noted C.J. Grisham, president and CEO of Open Carry Texas," Fox News reports.
