From KTRH 740am in Houston........
Texas lawmakers have taken the first step toward legalizing the open carry of handguns across the state. On Monday, the state Senate voted 20-11 along party lines to give preliminary approval to SB17, which would allow licensed handgun owners to openly carry their weapon. Texas has allowed concealed carry of handguns since 1995, but is one of just six states that still ban open carry of handguns.
Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) is the bill's author. During more than two hours of debate, he defended it as a matter of freedom. "The question we need to ask is not should we permit them to do this, but why are they forbidden to do it," said Estes. But Democrats expressed concerns about the bill's implications. "Nothing is putting more fear into some of my seniors than that crazy gun stuff, and that's what they call it," said Sen. Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston). She described her elderly constituents' fears of encountering armed people in grocery stores or senior centers.
Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston) raised questions about whether open carry could lead to the potential of more violent escalation of dangerous situations. "It's not necessarily the people you would permit to have an open carry that concerns me the most, it's the people they are going to live, work, shop, entertain with."
But Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) argued that the fears raised by Democrats are unfounded. "What we're talking about here are responsible citizens who are trained, who have gone through a background check, and we will expect them to act responsibly."
The Senate is expected to hold a final vote today on sending the bill to the House. Gov. Greg Abbott has already pledged to sign an open carry bill if it reaches his desk.
Read more: http://www.ktrh.com/articles/housto...e-approves-open-carry-13415129/#ixzz3UrJB9GVr