Texas open carry, The fury provoked earlier this week when the National Rifle Association appeared to condemn Texas open carry law supporters has tapered off with the group's assertion that the statement was a mistake.
"I was irritated when I first heard it, but they've got my support again," said Emmanuel Brown, a Kountze resident and member of an open carry activist group, Come and Take it South East Texas.
Open carry rallies in restaurants and other businesses - part of a push for less restrictive gun laws, including the open carry of handguns - have prompted public criticism, which the NRA appeared to join last week, the Associated Press reported.
The statement, which appeared on the website of the group's lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action, said that such demonstrations - at which supporters bring military-style assault rifles into public places - were counterproductive, scary and "downright weird."
"Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners. That's not the Texas way. And that's certainly not the NRA way," the unsigned statement said. It remained on the NRA's website early Wednesday.
Chris Cox, the executive director of the group's lobbying arm, said in an interview Tuesday on an NRA-hosted radio show that the statement was "a mistake" and that it was written by a staffer who was expressing his personal opinion.
Open Carry Texas, one of the groups behind the recent demonstrations, had said that if the NRA didn't retract the statement, Open Carry would withdraw its full support for the NRA, according to the Associated Press.
Cox said the NRA "unequivocally" supports open carry laws.
"The truth is, an alert went out that referred to this type of behavior as 'weird' or somehow not normal, and that was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened," he said.
One local gun enthusiast and NRA member doesn't necessarily agree with the group on this point, saying he doesn't see a benefit to openly carrying his weapon.
"For one thing, it makes you a target," said Morris Jones, who teaches concealed handgun, personal protection and marksmanship classes. "I'll probably continue to conceal my weapon."
Jones, 67, said the NRA is usually "spot on or as close as anyone else out there" on Second Amendment issues, but there are "some things the NRA puts out that I'm skeptical on."
But, Jones said, if a staffer felt confident enough to post such a statement online, it probably indicates the conversation is going on inside the NRA.
"It gives you an idea of what people inside the NRA might be saying but not publicizing," he said.
Still, Brown, 31, said the NRA's clarification is important to open carry supporters because they do need the support of the national organization.
"In politics, money talks - plain and simple," Brown said. "We can do all the voting we want, but politics and money go hand in hand."
Brown said open carry rallies have garnered positive response locally.
"We pass out pamphlets, get people talking to us, learning their rights," he said. "We get nothing but good response, nothing but praise."
A Beaumont man who did not receive a good response from his carrying of his gun last year will be back in court this week as he fights the charge against him.
Derek Poe, 25, had an AR-15 rifle slung behind his back while he was on the way to work at his store in the mall, Golden Triangle Tactical.
At least one person called 911 on Dec. 28 after seeing him with the gun.
Shoppers reported being "terrified" by the sight of Poe carrying the gun in the mall, according to Enterprise archives.
Police officers confronted him and confiscated the weapon, citing him several days later for disturbing the peace.
Poe subsequently moved his business out of the mall, which prohibits anyone but on-duty police officers from carrying weapons in the building.
Texas has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the country, but openly carrying handguns remains illegal. Long guns like rifles can be carried openly but must be done so in a way that does not cause alarm. But gun holders can be charged with disorderly conduct if anyone around them feels threatened, according to the Associated Press.
Open carry rallies in restaurants and other businesses - part of a push for less restrictive gun laws, including the open carry of handguns - have prompted public criticism, which the NRA appeared to join last week, the Associated Press reported.
The statement, which appeared on the website of the group's lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action, said that such demonstrations - at which supporters bring military-style assault rifles into public places - were counterproductive, scary and "downright weird."
"Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners. That's not the Texas way. And that's certainly not the NRA way," the unsigned statement said. It remained on the NRA's website early Wednesday.
Chris Cox, the executive director of the group's lobbying arm, said in an interview Tuesday on an NRA-hosted radio show that the statement was "a mistake" and that it was written by a staffer who was expressing his personal opinion.
Open Carry Texas, one of the groups behind the recent demonstrations, had said that if the NRA didn't retract the statement, Open Carry would withdraw its full support for the NRA, according to the Associated Press.
Cox said the NRA "unequivocally" supports open carry laws.
"The truth is, an alert went out that referred to this type of behavior as 'weird' or somehow not normal, and that was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened," he said.
One local gun enthusiast and NRA member doesn't necessarily agree with the group on this point, saying he doesn't see a benefit to openly carrying his weapon.
"For one thing, it makes you a target," said Morris Jones, who teaches concealed handgun, personal protection and marksmanship classes. "I'll probably continue to conceal my weapon."
Jones, 67, said the NRA is usually "spot on or as close as anyone else out there" on Second Amendment issues, but there are "some things the NRA puts out that I'm skeptical on."
But, Jones said, if a staffer felt confident enough to post such a statement online, it probably indicates the conversation is going on inside the NRA.
"It gives you an idea of what people inside the NRA might be saying but not publicizing," he said.
Still, Brown, 31, said the NRA's clarification is important to open carry supporters because they do need the support of the national organization.
"In politics, money talks - plain and simple," Brown said. "We can do all the voting we want, but politics and money go hand in hand."
Brown said open carry rallies have garnered positive response locally.
"We pass out pamphlets, get people talking to us, learning their rights," he said. "We get nothing but good response, nothing but praise."
A Beaumont man who did not receive a good response from his carrying of his gun last year will be back in court this week as he fights the charge against him.
Derek Poe, 25, had an AR-15 rifle slung behind his back while he was on the way to work at his store in the mall, Golden Triangle Tactical.
At least one person called 911 on Dec. 28 after seeing him with the gun.
Shoppers reported being "terrified" by the sight of Poe carrying the gun in the mall, according to Enterprise archives.
Police officers confronted him and confiscated the weapon, citing him several days later for disturbing the peace.
Poe subsequently moved his business out of the mall, which prohibits anyone but on-duty police officers from carrying weapons in the building.
Texas has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the country, but openly carrying handguns remains illegal. Long guns like rifles can be carried openly but must be done so in a way that does not cause alarm. But gun holders can be charged with disorderly conduct if anyone around them feels threatened, according to the Associated Press.
Blogger Comment
Facebook Comment