Gun rights activists take to the streets of downtown

Gun-toting demonstrators walked the streets of downtown El Paso Monday afternoon with a message.

They are asking local and state officials to make changes to the state’s open-carry law.

Texans are allowed to carry their handguns, but they have to be concealed.

The protesters were few in numbers, but all in support of being able to openly carry a handgun without a license.

They said the current law restricts the Second Amendment.

Demonstrators made sure their weapons were not loaded before starting their march at the Convention Center.

They made their way through Downtown, not disrupting traffic, stopped at the office of State Representative Marisa Marquez and finally ended the march in front of the El Paso County Courthouse.

Texas hasn’t allowed the open carry of handguns since the end of the Civil War.

Lawmakers said they are considering several open carry bills this year.

Newly elected elected Governor Greg Abbott has said he is committed to legalizing open carry.

“An armed citizen is a courteous citizen and most of all, a safe citizen. Although the police are there to protect us, their powers are limited by the fact that they are not always available,” said Alfonso Matamoros, a gun rights activist.

ABC-7 spoke with Rep. Marquez on the phone who said an open-carry bill has been filed for the 2015 legislative session.

“I don’t feel it has enough momentum to pass,” she said.

Marquez added that for Texas, at this point, it’s not the safest way to go.