In the closing hours of the session, the Texas Legislature passed a new law that allows those with state-issued concealed handgun licenses (CHLs) to carry their handguns openly in either a belt or shoulder holster.
HB910 is now on its way to Governor Greg Abbott's desk. Since Abbott has already said he would sign an open carry bill, it's pretty much a done deal.
Now, before everyone starts jumping up and down and saying how they would act if they saw someone carrying a gun or how Texas is a terrible state, read on past the squiggle.
The new law means that for the first time since 1871, a private citizen can openly carry a handgun somewhere other than their home or any business that they own or manage in the state of Texas.
But not just any citizen. Unlike a number of states that allow open carry, Texas allows only those with CHLs to carry. At last count, that meant about 826,000 Texans can open carry. That's about 4.2% of the adult population.
By the way, if you think that's a large percentage, think again. Massachusetts has a higher rate of carry license issuance and Indiana's rate is 2.5 times as high.
Where can these newly enabled citizens carry their sidearms? Anywhere their CHL allowed them to carry. Businesses not wishing to have customers toting their hawglegs into their establishments will need to post the required 30.06 notice.
Where can't they carry their sidearms? Schools, sporting events, amusement parks, bars or any business that derives 51% of their income from sales of alcoholic beverages. Also churches, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, they can't carry their guns on the premises of a correctional facility (cops can't carry their guns into prisons or jails, either).
They also can't carry them at any meeting of a "governmental entity."
But Texas isn't the only state that is moving to relax its gun laws.
The Maine Senate just passed legislation allowing citizens to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. The measure now goes to the House and sponsors say they have enough votes to get it passed there. If the House passes the bill, it goes to Governor LePage, who has already said he will sign it. Maine currently allows open carry without a permit, so it would become the sixth state to allow its citizens to go armed without state approval.
New Hampshire's legislature has also passed a bill allowing concealed carry without a permit and it is awaiting action from Governor Hassan who has said she will veto it. If she is overridden, New Hampshire would join Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Kansas, Vermont and Wyoming, and presumably Maine, in permitting citizens to carry a firearm, openly or concealed, without a permit.
Ten years ago, Vermont was the only state that allowed its citizens to carry a handgun, openly or concealed, without a permit. Five more (six, if Maine's legislation passes) have enacted legislation removing permit requirements and and similar legislation made it to the governor's desk in Montana and West Virginia, but was vetoed.
Of the states that allowed open carry without a permit, only California has passed a law that made it illegal.
So before y'all get too hysterical about Texas, look at the trend. You're going to have to take the chance of seeing someone openly carrying a handgun in a restaurant or grocery store in more places than ever.