On January 1, 2016 the new “open carry” gun laws go into effect for Texas by House Bill 910. These will allow those who obtain a License to Carry (LTC) or those with a valid Concealed Handgun License (CHL) to be able to carry their weapon in plain view, as long as it is properly secured in a belt or shoulder holster.
On Saturday, Jan. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. local business owner Shannon Bankston and The Delta County Conservative Republican Club are co-hosting a New Texas Gun Laws Seminar at the Delta County Civic Center located at 221 East Bonham Avenue in Cooper. The event is for anyone, not just licensed gun holders.
“I decided to host this, because there is a lot of wrong information being spread from citizens, as well as law enforcement, about the new open carry law,” said Shannon Bankston, a licensed gun holder of three years. “Some people are very uneasy about now seeing someone carrying a gun. The only way to get past the fears of this, is through education, and of course, time.”
The guest speaker will be Terry Holcomb Sr., the Executive Director of Texas Carry.org and instrumental in helping to get these new laws passed. Holcomb is a First Baptist Church pastor and activist from the Houston area, explains Bankston on the Facebook event post. Holcomb is the President of the Republican Club in San Jacinto County.
The free event will include refreshments and lots of useful information regarding the Second Amendment Rights in Texas. Donations will be accepted for travel expenses.
“We will cover four main items: knife laws, campus carry, unlawful exclusion for CHL holder and open carry,” said Texas Carry Executive Director Terry Holcomb Sr. “When you leave the seminar, you will be very well educated. I encourage anyone – not just gun carriers – but citizens and business owners alike to attend this free event. We want the community and law enforcement to both have a better understanding of gun laws. I give the facts and statistics in a straight up manner. I can also answer questions.” Bankston is passionate about the topic and invited Holcomb to Delta County. Holcomb has presented well over 50 programs like this across the State and has booked 25 or 31 days next month with the law change.
“I feel it is my civic duty. I am also passionate about gun education and am channeling it through these seminars,” said Holcomb. He has grown up around guns and has taught his children the importance of gun safety.
The event already has spurred interest with over 50 accepting the open invitation.
Bankston operates Fatboy’s BBQ located on State Highway 24 in Cooper.
“[Terry] Holcomb has worked with law enforcement agencies across Texas, educating them on the new laws – open carry, campus carry, knife preemption, and unlawful exclusion of a CHL holder,” added Bankston. “I think, if we can get CHL holders, citizens, and law enforcement agencies on the same page, there will be a lot less problems.”
For more information on the changed laws go the Delta County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page or to this website: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/chl/legal/newlegislation.htm