Because it is illegal to display it in a manner that would create alarm. So again, why does he have the shotgun in the ready position? Is he hunting? Getting ready to defend himself?

Have u seen the crowds at starbucks

Please show me the law that defines what is displaying a weapon that would cause alarm... What you may think is alarming I might this is just fine.

There is no law that defines what manner of displaying a weapon would create alarm.

Didn't think so

If a citizen calls in with concerns because somebody is carry a weapon, it is because they are alarmed. It isn't the law, it is the individuals right to be concerned. You walk down my street, I will bet that one of the neighbors will call LEO on you. Actually probably more that 2 or 3 of them will call LEO.

It is their right and most likely LEO will be out there to ask you why. You can be whissing with the LEO or you can play nice, one way might get a free ride to Taylor County jail, the other will let you go ahead until the next citizen calls in.

Not trying to be a smart*ss, but what is "whissing" with the LEO, and why does the citizens right to be concerned outweigh anothers right to open carry a long gun? Not trying to be a richard, just want an honest answer from someone elses point of view?

Apparently no one has the answer to your question. you're question adds a different perspective on the thread.

Yeah, I gave up on an answer .....figured I must have asked a question I wasn't suppose to or something. Let me add that I am not a supporter of open carry by any means.

Disorderly Conduct

(8) displays a firearm or other deadly weapon in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm;

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.42.htm

I walked about 3 miles the other day carrying an AR, finally got a ride, from the first car that came by.... and she was cute cute cute.... was in suburban, found out gas gauge has quit, and doors don't lock well....... figured either carry it or give it away

Why do those of you that bash the open carriers care if a law is passed against the open carry of long guns?

You're not going too do it anyway due to your fear of the right being taken away.

A right that you are afraid to practice is no right at all.

Free speech is a right. But if you never used it because you feared that if you did the government would take it away, well, then the right essentially doesn't exist.

Doesnt appear anyone is alarmed in the photo, is there something else he could be charged with? What we have here is a clear case hoplophobia.

I agree, doesn't appear that anyone there is alarmed....and if they are, it's probably because of the price of coffee in those places.

Because a new law restricting open carry of long arms could have unintended consequences. Could affect how you carry one in your vehicle, could affect hunting on public lands and lakes, etc. Just because I don't agree with a bunch of yahoos that go to the Blue Mesa with their guns to "protest" (although I think intimidate does apply here) a group of 4 anti-gun women, doesn't mean that I am against open carry. However, even though open carry of long arms is legal, it is not customary in the urban areas. If you practice this right, you should expect interaction with the local PD.

I have lived in an open carry state where in rural settings, it was not an issue what so ever to carry openly. Once you went into the big city though, it was still legal, but not customary. The PD would be called, you would be asked to leave the property of the restaurant, mall, gas station, whatever... even though you could legally carry, you couldn't realistically carry in the urban centers. Same thing will happen here in Texas. With CHL, out of sight, out of mind. Open carry in Walmart and enough customers will complain and you will no longer be welcome to carry in Walmart. Your right to carry will not trump the property owner rights.

If I was there, I would be alarmed. I don't know said yahoo, and there is no reason why that shotgun should not be slung in that environment. Bolt is foward and closed, so I have to assume that shotgun is loaded. I wouldn't appreciate being muzzle swept while trying to buy a coffee and a muffin.

Agreed, if I came out of the bathroom, and saw this man standing in the front of the restaraunt with his shotgun "at the ready", I would be very alarmed. He looks like he's:

A. Bird hunting (in a restaraunt).
B. Getting ready to defend himself (in a restaraunt).
C. Getting ready to rob the restaraunt.

I'm still trying to figure out why he is in a coffee shop with his shotgun at the ready?

A. Judging from the lack of alarmed patrons at the coffee shop, I gather this was a staged event.
B. He probably posed like that for the picture and wasn't carrying it around like that all the time.
C. He was most likely not the only one in the shop openly carrying a long gun.


With that said, under ordinary everyday circumstances, I too would be alarmed with a yahoo like this. I do not support open carry of any firearms, and am not suggesting that this is the best course of action to get a message across. I also however do not get worked up over one picture of an idiot in a coffe shop with a gun without knowing the rest of the story. It is not against the law to openly carry a long gun, and I do not support infringing on another's rights just because I disagree with them. LEO's that take an agressive stance with people that are breaking no laws are probably the same ones that will be coming to take your guns when/if the dumbocrats get their way and disarm American citizens. They will use the same old tired story that they are "just doing their job"...but like cool hand Luke said, "calling it your job, don't make it right boss". Just my

This is a terrible staged "Kodak" moment of a nerd. Nobody is alarmed because he has probably been there all morning holding it and then somebody wanted a picture of it and he posed.

The photo clearly shows imo an alarming posture.

Im glad we can do things like this but we have to be smarter as gun owners about it

If by nerd, you mean deployed American soldier at a Starbucks in Kuwait... You'd be correct.

The man holding the shotgun in the picture we reference "is in the US Military, and for context, wanted to advise that this photo was taken in a Starbucks in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait in 2005."

http://practicaltacticalpodcast.com/starbucks/

That explains it, a REMF.

Those of Open Carry Texas are carrying their rifles as a peaceful protest due to our states anti gun laws that violate our 2nd Amendment. The 2nd amendment does not state that the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed except for reasonable regulations. It is very clear what it says. You do have the right to carry whichever firearm you choose and how you wish to carry it and any state that infringes that right is in violation of the Bill of Rights. The supremacy clause guarantees that the 2nd amendment must be followed by all states and any law that restricts that right is null and void. (At some point someone will try to mention the 1833 Supreme Court) The Supreme Court's ruling of 1833 about the Bill of Rights was outside of its jurisdiction. The Supreme Court is suppose to provide interpretation of law and determine if any law violates the Constitution. They flat choose to ignore the supremacy clause when they made their ruling.

Citizens flat out lay down and let their states roll over them when it comes to their rights. Only a small few stand up for their rights and most of them try to do it in a peaceful way. Bully cops, ignorant cops, and some citizens try to oppress citizens from actually exercising their rights. Many surprisingly are gun owners.

You should not be worried about open carry laws becoming more restrictive because of these individuals participating in their right to bear arms. You should worry about the citizens who are willing to do nothing about an infringing government. You should be worried about the citizen who encourages other citizens to not partipate in their rights because they are afraid of what the government will do as a result of law abiding citizens participating in their god given rights. These rights are natural rights which no government should be allowed to take from you.

Regardless of ones opinion of open carry or concealed carry, all citizens have the right to do so how they wish. All private businesses who do not recieve government funding have the right to restrict firearms in their business and the right to ask someone to leave their property. Same thing for any private property. Any LEO that arrest someone for open carrying a firearm is wrong in his/her actions because they violated the right of that citizen. If the citizen has truly done something that violated the law, then that is different.

It is foolish to carry your weapon in the low ready position. Hands on the rifle and unslung or unholstered could definitely cause alarm for good reason. A holstered or slung weapon should not be a cause for alarm.

Also, nowhere does the constitution guarantee you the right to be free from fear or that you will be safe. The 2nd Amendment is the key. It gives you the ability to be safer and the oppurtunity to fear less.