Good article on open carry in Texas and elsewhere. Although Texas is viewed as "gun-owner friendly," it is one of the few states with an absolute ban for all civilians on open carry of handguns.
"So how did Texas — with a robust gun culture — end up on the anti-gun side of the equation?
The answer dates to Reconstruction after the Civil War, when federal officials helped empower Republican lawmakers in Texas. Those leaders had to control an area teeming with Confederate sympathizers, who suddenly found themselves living among freed slaves.
That volatile mix led to some of the most turbulent and violent times in Texas’ history.
In 1871, the Legislature passed a law that banned a person from carrying a pistol “on or about his person, saddle, or in his saddle-bags.” The law had exceptions for travelers and those living on the frontier — which allowed for selective enforcement.
Loopholes stayed put
But when Reconstruction ended and Democrats seized back control of the state, the handgun ban stayed. Fearing the prospect of armed blacks, Democratic lawmakers actually stiffened the law, while keeping the loopholes that now worked in their favor."
For more on the topic of racism and guns see this article.
For a state-by-state summary of law see Wikipedia.
A reasonable expectation for open carry is situational need. There are times open carry offers a better option, but for the sake of civility, this should be done only when actual circumstances warrant it. This said, concealment is the preferred full time carry method. Personally, I don't mind responsible open carry as the deterrent factor helps me feel more secure in my surroundings.
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