Texas has a reputation for its cowboys and guns. Now a new open-carry gun law in the Lone Star State took effect in Friday, allowing licensed handgun holder to carry their guns in holsters that can be seen on their shoulders and hip.
According to the Christian Science Monitor, the new law makes gun regulations so relaxed that police will almost become powerless on apprehending and asking questions on a person with a holstered gun. Individuals can even refuse to show their license, and the police officers can't do much about it.
The Telegraph reported that there are gun supporters who are very happy with the more relaxed regulation. Open Carry Texas president CJ Grisham said, "January 1 is just the jumping point for returning the right to keep and bear arms to Texans after almost 150 years." However, there are others who fear that carrying guns would become a normal thing in the state, and would eventually lead to the next mass shooting.
Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is not particularly happy with President Barack Obama's plans to tighten regulations on guns, according to a report by the Daily Mail UK. The president said that he wants to keep guns away from "a dangerous few." In response to that, Governor Abbot tweeted, "Obama wants to impose more gun control. My response? COME & TAKE IT."
With mass shootings in Paris and San Bernardino, lawmakers have passed the legislation during an unusual time. More Americans are enamored with weaponry and its power. This year's Black Friday experienced the biggest gun purchase in a single day. Bob Owens said in his blog that the guns that were bought during that day could arm an entire army as big as the Marin Corps.
In Texas, there are already more than 800,000 who are licensed to carry guns. Now, the new law takes this up a notch by allowing them to openly carry their weapons in public.
