Representative Eric Johnson, a North Texas lawmaker, has proposed a bill that would allow Dallas to opt-out of open carry. Johnson believes that local level politicians and courts should be the decision makers on open carry.
He also says that bigger cities, such as Dallas, are more vulnerable and at an elevated risk when open carry is permitted.
Johnson said, “Open carry is a bad idea in my personal opinion from a public safety standpoint but I’m not a police chief… and I’m not on the Dallas City Council, but I do believe that’s where that decision should lie.” Johnson also said the next step is to have a discussion about this agenda in front of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee now that this bill has been proposed.
Currently, thirty-one states allow the open carrying of a handgun without any license or permit, although in some cases the gun must be unloaded. Fifteen states require some form of license or permit in order to openly carry a handgun.
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