Open Carry now the law in Texas

12-thousand of them in el paso. abc-7’s darrent hunt has tonight’s top story. “have you seen anyone openl carrying today?” “no i haven’t … ” “no, we’ve been wal-mart and couple different places and haven’t seen anybody with guns.” “have you seen anyone openl carrying today?” “uh-uh, no. “would you think about doin it?” “absolutely, yes, definitely .. i’m glad we’re doing it.” while no one had spotted anyone carrying a handgun yet, most had an opinion about open carry now being legal. “i think we’ve seen a lot o incidents where only one person that’s armed and they try to take control … so i think if more people are armed, i truly think they are going to think about it twice before they do something crazy.” supporter think it will reduce crime while opponents think it will increase crime. “how do you feel about it?” “well, i think as long as it’ responsible people with guns, it’s ok … but unfortunately you’re still going to find some hot heads that will do it and we might have a few problems down the road, but overall, i’m ok with it.” the new la will not allow for open carry at schools, sporting events or at bars … other places where “open carry” may be banned is churches and where government meetings are held, as long as signs with proper language are posted. “businesses must make a choic whether they will allow guns or not … this barbershop on mesa street says it will allow firearms, meanwhile at this point store located in the same strip mall, firearms will not be allowed.” “do you think some people wil be freaked out to see someone carrying a handgun on their hip?” “maybe … i don’t know anythin about it really … i don’t follow it.” while some admitted they haven’t paid much attention, others, like this woman’s daughter, admitted it concerns them. “to be honest it’s kind o stupid … there’s like mass shootings going on … that’s kind of stupid, why are there mass shootings? well duh, you’re carrying a hand gun.” “does that scare you? “yeah it scares me … ” b this man had a different way of looking at it. “if they are going to b carrying them, i think i’d rather know it … ” el pasoa john gose pointed out concealed carry was already legal in texas … so the only difference is now people will be allowed to carry out in the open. “i think if they’re gonna carry i just assume know that they were carrying, so that’s how i feel about it … i don’t really have a problem if people carry or not.” the states surrounding texas — new mexico, arizona, oklahoma and louisiana — already allow open carry. only five states in the country — highlighted in white on this map — and washington, d-c, still ban it. those states are california, florida, illinois, new york and south carolina. texas lawmakers trust the license gun owners receive so much … a license to carry a handgun serves as an i-d for those approved to enter our state’s capitol building with a capital access pass. that pass allows you to bypass the long lines at public entrances. so, what requirements must be met to get a license to carry a handgun? and how much does the license cost? abc-7’s luke lyddon continues our complete coverage. luke? rick — the requirements and fee schedule is available online at the texas department of public safety’s website. we have a link to it on kvia-dot-com. you must have have been a legal resident of texas for six months before applying. you must be at least 21 years old … not been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor … not be under indictment … up to date on child support payments and taxes … and most important of all, you must pass a federal background check. the application fee for a license to carry is $140 dollars. the initial license is good for four years. it costs 70 dollars to renew the license and once you renew the first time, the licenses are good for five years. the license and renewal are free for active duty military. 25 dollars for military veterans and judicial officers. for senior citizens, the cost is 70 dollars for the license … and 35 dollars to renew it. rick, there are even discounted fees for the indigent. if you can prove you live under the federal poverty threshold, the license costs 70 dollars and the renewal fee is 35 dollars. back to you. luke thank you california and texas are like night and day when it comes to politics and gun laws. a new law just went into effect in the golden state. it will allow judges to seize guns from law-abiding citizens for up to 21 days if the judge determines they are a risk to themselves or other people. relatives of the gun owner or law enforcement officers would be able to request an order from a judge to have the guns taken away. the law has generated strong opposition from gun rights activists. the fox news cable channel reports a judge could technically issue the order without ever hearing from the gun owner in question. critics say it infringes on second amendment gun rights and puts responsible, law- abiding gun owners in jeopardy. president barack obama is looking for ways to sidestep congress to implement new gun control laws. on monday, he’s scheduled to meet with attorney general loretta lynch to talk about possible executive actions. the president said he gets many letters from parents, teachers and children about the, quote “epidemic of gun violence and said he can’t sit around and do nothing. he said, quote: “the gun lobb is loud and well organized in its defense of guns for anyone … the rest of us are going to have to be just as passionate and well organized in our defense of our kids.” republican texas governor greg abbott had a defiant message for the president via twitter. he tweeted, quote: “obama wants to impose more gun control. my response? come & take it.” / to stormtrack weather