Open Carry Speech
Open carry is the practice of carrying firearms openly without concealing their availability in public. In Texas, today, the open carry law has been enacted, and many people have embraced the practice. Even after the enactment of the law, it has gone through several faces of challenges within the public scope. Some believe it should not have been passed while some have embraced the bill. Given the rate of crime in Texas today, the open carry law came at the right time. However, there are gun-free zones that do not allow the open carrying of firearms. These gun-free zones include schools, courtrooms, polling stations a well as individual sections in the airport.
While people have been given the freedom to carry their guns however they please, the state has also put specific measures to ensure that everyone complies with the law’s requirements. For instance, in Texas today, for you to openly carry your gun in public without concealing it, you must be 21 years of age, have attained proper training and passed shooting test and most importantly, you must have a gun ownership license. These are some of the measures put up by the state that everyone who wishes to carry his gun in public must adhere to. Open carrying has its benefits. For example, it protects you and your family. It also enhances the reduction of the crime rate. However, it is essential to note that not everyone in the state has accepted the law. Therefore, those that have embraced it should teach by example so that everyone in the state can finally embrace it.
Providing Protection
Historically, Texas is the 45th state to allow open carry law. It has enabled many people to feel safe. You will agree with me that having a gun makes you feel safe even in the middle of a crime. It can also enable you to provide protection for your family as well as your close friends. For instance, openly carrying your gun will scare away anyone who wishes to harm you or your family. With the current state of crime in Texas today, it is imperative that having your gun with you at all times may provide you with protection if you are attacked, and you need to defend yourself. According to Kleck and Gertz in their journal published in 1998, many people prefer carrying a gun for protection. I understand that it might cause a scare in public, but we are moving towards an era where such kinds of things will become the norm, and people will not have to fear anymore.
Before the open carrying of firearms was allowed in Texas, many people reported several cases of theft and violence in many areas. Today, a significant part of the population has acquired gun license are practising open carry as a way of creating safety for themselves. With a visible gun, whether loaded or not, you are sure to be safe, and you can protect yourself against any attack at any time. Compared to the concealed carrying of guns, the open carry has a lot of benefits as with a visible weapon, people tend to steer away from you, especially bad people. This is not because you can harm them but because everyone has a right to carry his gun the way he pleases just as Vernick posits in his journal on the carrying of firearms published in 2013.
Crime Rates
Before the introduction of the open carry law, you can agree with me that the rate of crime in Texas was on the rise. From house burglary to people being attacked on the streets to street shootings and killings as well as homicide cases were the norm. Today, with the open carry laws, people are required to meet a particular set of requirements for them to have guns. You can attest to how crime has reduced since people were allowed to carry their firearms in public openly. It is not a regular occurrence for criminals to find people walking around with guns. In this case, many criminals tend to be scared of the outcomes should they attack a person who is openly carrying his gun.
Teaching by Example
If you have embraced the open carry laws, then it imperative that you teach by example. Many people still find it hard to accept the open carry law, and we must make them understand the benefits of this law and how they can use it to their advantage. For instance, we can teach them about the reduction of crime, personal safety and that of their families as well as protecting their property. You will agree with me that this will push the law forward in a bid to create a better state for all of us.
In conclusion, i would like to state that open carry laws came at a time when Texas was in need so such type of law. We have all witnessed a series of crime, and sometimes we did not have a way to defend ourselves. Openly carrying your gun will put you at a higher advantage because you can reach your gun at any time and protect yourself against your attacker.
References
Kleck, G., & Gertz, M. (1998). Carrying Guns for Protection: Results from the National Self-Defense Survey. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 35(2), 193-224. doi:10.1177/0022427898035002004
Vernick, J. S. (2013). Carrying Guns in Public: Legal and Public Health Implications. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 41(1_suppl), 84-87. doi:10.1111/jlme.12047