Freedom to Carry in Texas

I have had many discussions recently on our beloved Facebook where the uninformed are just up in arms about open carry, freedom to carry or constitutional carry (all the same thing) in Texas.  Jonathan Strickland authored HB 195 to go before the 84th Legislature in Texas.  This bill was filed on the first day it was possible and will hopefully be put to a vote very early in the legislative session.  If the bill passes with 2/3 majority in both houses and is signed into law by Governor Elect Greg Abbott it could go into effect immediately  If it does not garner a 2/3 majority in both houses but passes and is signed into law, then on the 91st day after the close of the 84th legislative session we could have this freedom to carry openly or concealed.  This would be a cause for celebration!  That means that the 708,048(calendar year 2013) active license holders will not be taxed when their current license expires and there are countless others who will not be taxed as they decide to carry how they would like.

Now, many of you may say "oh my stars, what will we do when Bubba is behind me at Starbucks and he has a pistol on his hip?!?!?"  I say you should order your coffee.  Bubba is not the one you should be worried about.  You should be worried about the criminal who is not openly displaying his firearm and is going to follow you to your car and try to harm you.  Make no mistake, there will be criminals after a freedom to carry law is passed that are prohibited by law from possessing a firearm today and will be prohibited in the future as well. READ THE TEXT OF THE BILL. LISTEN - they don't follow the law today and they won't tomorrow either.  Criminals are just that, criminals.  Law abiding citizens should not be punished because of the acts of criminals.  Law abiding citizens should be judged on their own individual actions.

She looks like a threat, right?

"But Steve, what about not having any training requirements?"  Now that people will not be required to spend hundreds of dollars on a license and fingerprints and other fees they will have some money to take training.  If mandating training to carry firearm is the answer then we should mandate training to prepare us for parenting, driving, cooking, swimming, using machine tools, buying a house and oh yeah, being married.  That is not the governments job!  The government has no right to delegate itself as a  nanny over us like that. Eleven states already have laws on the books where no training is required and everyone is just fine. Check these - AL, DE, GA, ID, IN, MD, MS, NH, PA, SD, WA.  The training question is a good one though.  Most responsible people get training for many of the things they like to do that is outside of their areas of expertise, but it is not mandated.  This law could open a new market for CHL instructors to expand their businesses to include additional training which people may be able to afford since they aren't being taxed by license requirements.

"Wait a minute you said they wont have to get a license!"  That's right there will be no requirement for a license.  The license comes into play if you want to carry in another state that has a reciprocity agreement in place with Texas.

So look, there is a lot more to discuss in this debate and I would love to have an adult conversation with any of you who can clearly articulate your position without getting mean and nasty and name calling.  I will not hesitate to delete your mean spirited comments and block you from further commentary.  I would also like to hear from any of you who think I have missed some key elements or have additional information you would like to share with my readers.

Until next time!  
Steve