AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas lawmakers on Friday approved carrying handguns openly on the streets of the nation's second most-populous state, sending the bill to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who immediately promised to sign it and reverse a ban dating to the post-Civil War era. "... Gun owners would still have to get a license to carry a handgun in a visible holster...." I don't get the distinction between "open carry", and "license required to carry in a visible holster"... ??
If you have children in the household, my advice would be to buy a Glock 9 mm pistol and that Hornady Rapid gun safe so that you could keep on your nightstand or kitchen countertop or whatever. With children around, you would need to keep a long gun in a proper safe and that is not an option in terms of self-defense. If no kids, then the 5.56 is actually a pretty decent home defense option if you mount a light on the rail and could afford a legitimate CQB red dot like an EoTech or AimPoint. I would keep it on a wall mount in my bedroom or best central location, with a round chambered and the safety "on". Do NOT use military ball ammo for self defense in a rifle. At 3K fps you will be into your neighbor's house and the green tips/SS109 will not consistently yaw. Use a modern Law Enforcement / FBI protocol barrier blind loads like Hornady TAP or Nosler Bonded Defense. You can even find the 62gr Mk 318 SOST rounds in the Federal White Box - which are fucking bad ass and is the only widely distributed commercially available 5.56 military ammo worth a shit. For the most part ( outside the SOCOM community ), the commercially available LE loads are superior to the surplus military loads. I personally have an AR in .308 which I keep in a safe, and a Glock 41 with a rail light on my nightstand or kitchen island and a Glock 30S with a Cross-Breed IWB holster for CC. The 41 has Hornady Critical Duty for defensive ammo and the 30S has Barnes TAC-XP. I keep my self defense mags marked with a silver Sharpie, because I reload and for legal reasons I want to have factory law enforcement ammo loaded for any personal defense situation if I can help it. If no children around, and you trust your wife, then I say get the 5.56 with a light and Red Dot and have fun. The pistol is easy to stow away and get around corners. But with both my arms extended in a combat grip the front sight of my Glock is likely about the same distance from me as the barrel end of my 16" AR shouldered.
What I'm about to say does not apply to long guns (rifles / shotguns / black powder) - these you can open carry so long as it done in a way to not cause alarm Also should add.., the gun laws in Texas are quite convoluted and also very complicated with respect to carrying a handgun - but are improving slowly ===== For the longest we've been very restricted with how / when / where we could carry handguns Finally a CHL law was passed - which meant license holders could carry handguns - concealed This most recent approval means CHL license holders can carry openly on their hip..., or under shoulder This article is using open carry..., and license to carry in a visible holster synonymously Though open carry should mean no license required We're not there There is however..., and has been for awhile - a movement underfoot to allow open carry for all (meaning a CHL not required) I don't think it stands a snowball's chance unfortunately But..., I'll take what I can get (2nd amendment be damned I reckon) RN
I think the problem from a law enforcement perspective with civilians and open carry is security of the weapon from others. Officers are trained about securing their side arms from unknowns and how to react if your weapon is taken, but of course there is no training for civilians with CC permits with respect to getting their weapons suddenly stolen that I am aware of. I know that there are holsters with quick release retention buttons that would make a quick snatch very difficult ...