Law enforcement agencies throughout Texas have prepared for the start of the state’s new handgun open carry law that begins Friday.
Bryan police officer Kelley McKethan says enforcement will be on a case by case basis.
Lt. Chris Perkins of the College Station police department says they’re expecting calls from concerned citizens.
Perkins says the main thing they’re asking is to not overreact.
At first, that’s going to catch people off guard…including some law enforcement officers.
McKethan says patience will be required on all sides as they investigate and enforce the new law.
Those carrying handguns must have them holstered, and pay attention to additional signage where they are not allowed inside buildings.
Click below for comments from Kelley McKethan and Chris Perkins, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver:
Additional information courtesy of the Texas Department of Public Safety:
House Bill 910 – which allows a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to now openly carry a holstered handgun – goes into effect Jan. 1, 2016.
The License to Carry (LTC) portion of the DPS website, http://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/index.htm, has been updated in several places with information relevant to the new law, including an expanded Frequently Asked Questions section, which can be found at http://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/faqs/index.htm.
Information about HB 910, including an overview of the legislation and a link to the text of the bill, can be found at http://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/Legal/newlegislation.htm.
There are also updated instructor resources at http://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/LicenseRegistration/instrguidepres.htm. (Please note that much of this information can only be accessed by LTC instructors.)
Historical information related to handgun licenses can be found at http://www.dps.texas.gov/rsd/chl/reports/demographics.htm.