CHL to LTC license changes

[wal]

Has the law changed with regard to a concealed hand gun license to an open carry license from January 1st in Texas?

What is the difference between the two types of licenses and why change it?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Texas is an open-carry state as of Jan.1. The new license is called "License to Carry," which requires a background check and a proficiency test. A license holder is allowed to carry a holstered handgun in any location that doesn't specifically prohibit this, as identified by a posted notice that must comply with the state law. This replaces the old law, which required license holders to effectively conceal the handgun when carried. The law was changed to give LTC-holders the option to carry openly if they choose to do so, and to remove the requirement that the handgun must not print on the clothing when carried. There will be a few people who carry open now, although there are good reasons to not do so, just as there may be good reasons to openly display the weapon. I think most people will continue to carry concealed, since that confers an advantage in a potential conflict, while some will carry open as a deterrent to potential conflict. Again, I see both cases.

[wal]

This is an interesting situation considering your current President may move unilaterally to increase gun control which may be the first step to override state law.

I can see what happened here which was to restrict access to hand guns and rifles to only members of gun clubs and some from the farming community taking place in the US. The only folk that carry hand guns in public over here are Military, Police, Security and criminals, the law abiding citizen is forbidden to have a LTC license.

Is the 2nd Amendment the only barrier to total removal of the right to carry arms?

[hugenscrawny]

It was a stupid situation that you could find yourself in trouble for the gun printing on your shirt. It will put me at more ease when I'm back.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Is the 2nd Amendment the only barrier to total removal of the right to carry arms?

No. The 120 million people who own the guns are the barrier.

[wal]

No. The 120 million people who own the guns are the barrier.

Well, somewhere down the track you are going to have a fight on your hands. You just cannot have armed citizens, it makes it too hard to enforce unpopular laws.

[Mark Rippetoe]

As long as there is a United States of America, there will be armed citizens. Most especially, as long as there is a Texas, there will be armed citizens.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Most especially, as long as there is a Texas, there will be armed citizens.

As Santa Ana eventually learned. To his chagrin.

[hugenscrawny]

Well, somewhere down the track you are going to have a fight on your hands. You just cannot have armed citizens, it makes it too hard to enforce unpopular laws.

If laws are unpopular they probably shouldn't be laws. Kind of the purpose of the 2nd amendment.

[Mark Rippetoe]

As things are now, they cannot disarm us. Physically impossible.