With Texas’ new open carry law going into effect Jan. 1, local law enforcement officials want the public to understand what exactly the law entails.
It will allow people to carry a handgun openly, provided it is in a belt holster or shoulder holster and the individual has a concealed handgun license (CHL). Scurry County Sheriff Trey Wilson said the laws largely remained the same, and he does not foresee any issues with the new law.
“It’s not going to be a free-for-all,” Wilson said. “You still need a CHL and you still have to qualify.”
The law going into effect only applies to handguns. There are no restrictions on long guns such as rifles and shotguns.
The law does prohibit individuals from bringing any weapon, concealed or otherwise, into churches, schools, school-sponsored events, courtrooms, offices used by the courts, public meetings and establishments which derive more than 50 percent of their income from alcohol sales. Cogdell Memorial Hospital does not allow weapons of any sort to be carried in its facilities.
Snyder City Manager Merle Taylor said the city is awaiting some clarification from an anticipated attorney general ruling, but that Snyder City Hall would allow openly carried weapons in all areas except the council chambers when it is being used for meetings and municipal court.
“We are reviewing it and trying to get to the bottom of it,” he said.
Scurry County Judge Ricky Fritz said the courtroom will be the only place in the Scurry County Courthouse where open carry is not allowed.
As for other county facilities not listed specifically in the law — like parks, annexes and yards — Fritz said they will be open carry-friendly unless the county designates them otherwise.
Business-owners have the right to refuse to allow any individual carrying a weapon from entering their business.
Snyder Chief of Police Terry Luecke said a private property owner, whether it be a residence or business, can ask someone carrying a gun to leave their property in person or by use of a sign. Luecke said if businesses choose to use a sign, the sign’s warning must be written in both English and Spanish.
Texas will join 44 other states that already allow open carry.
Luecke said there are many misconceptions about the open carry law. The most common is how much it will actually impact daily life. Luecke said people can still be charged with an offense if they point or use the weapon in a way that is harmful or alarming to others.
“I don’t think it will affect the majority,” Luecke said. “You see a lot of states which have open carry and you don’t see that many people in those states actually carrying their guns in the open. I’ve talked to a lot of people who carry concealed weapons, and they told me they probably won’t do open carry just because they don’t necessarily want people knowing they have a gun on them.”
Wilson said he and Luecke will both talk with dispatchers, deputies and officers about how to be proactive when it comes to handling the new law, which Wilson said will be “a learning curve.”
However, both Luecke and Wilson said there will likely not be many long-term effects, though they expect people to exercise their right soon after the law takes effect.
“We’ll see people doing it right after Jan. 1 just because it will be new and a novelty,” Wilson said. “I think we will deal with calls from people who aren’t really sure how it works, but after a while, it should die down.”