Open carry goes into effect in Texas with few noticing

At the stroke of midnight Friday morning, Texas became the 45th and largest state in the U.S.. to allow the open carry of handguns.

The new law that just went into effect eliminates a ban on the open carrying of handguns that went back to the reconstruction era. Concealed carry instructors like El Paso’s own Samuel Morgan understand why the general public may be concerned, but want to remind everyone, licensed gun owners in Texas are thoroughly vetted.

“Open carry, I really believe that it’s more of a psychological impact on the community than anything else,” Morgan said. “I believe there will be a lot of fear.”

Don’t be surprised if you see some El Pasoans carrying a holstered handgun. There are nearly a million people in Texas licensed to carry a handgun and about 12,000 in El Paso.

In order to be legal, their handgun must be holstered in either a belt or a shoulder holster. If someone simply tucks it into their pants or is carrying a handgun loose, El Pasoans are urged to call police.

“We’ve been to Wal-Mart and a couple different places and haven’t seen anybody with guns,” said West El Paso resident Sal Meza.

When asked if she would consider openly carrying a gun, El Paso’s Viridiana Ibarra said: “Absolutely, yes, definitely. I’m glad we’re doing it.”

While no one had spotted anyone carrying a handgun yet Friday afternoon, most had an opinion about open carry now being legal.

“I think we’ve seen a lot of incidents where only one person that’s armed and they try to take control,” Ibarra said. “So I think if more people are armed, I truly think they are going to think about it twice before they do something crazy.”

Supporters think it will reduce crime while opponents think it will increase crime.

“I think as long as it’s responsible people with guns, it’s OK,” Meza said. “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 law will not allow for open carry at schools, sporting events or at bars. Other places where open carry may be banned is at churches and where government meetings are held, as long as signs with proper language are posted.

Businesses must make a choice whether they will allow guns or not. A sign at a barbershop on Mesa Street says it will allow firearms. Meanwhile, at a paint store located in the same strip mall, firearms will not be allowed.

While some admitted they haven’t paid much attention, others admitted it concerns them.

“To be honest, it’s kind of stupid,” youngster Lauren Hernandez said after her mother said she didn’t know much about it. “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. It scares me.”

But El Pasoan John Gose had a different way of looking at it.

“If they are going to be carrying them, I think I’d rather know it,” said Gose, who 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 going to 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.”

All of the states surrounding Texas, including New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma and Louisiana, already allow open carry. Only five states in the country and Washington, D.C., still ban it. Those states are California, Florida, Illinois, New York and South Carolina.