The arrival of the New Year also marked the beginning of a new law in Texas.
As of Jan. 1, 2016, licensed handgun owners are now allowed to openly carry their pistols inside holsters attached to their hips or shoulders, according to CNN.
Before the implementation of the open carry law, which was signed by Governor Gregg Abbott in June of 2015, Texan gun owners were required by the state to conceal their weapons whenever they're out in public. But with the new law, they can eat at a restaurant, take a stroll in a nearby park, or simply walk down the street while visibly carrying a deadly weapon.
Of course, many advocates of firearms rejoiced at the passing of the new law. Some, however, are worried about its potential effects on the state and the people living it.
One of those who is wary of the new law is Angela Turner, a legal gun owner and member of the Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America group, The Guardian reported. For her, implementing an open-carry law could send a wrong message to people especially children. She believes kids living in Texas might grow up thinking that it's perfectly okay to display a firearm in public. More importantly, the concept of visibly carrying guns poses certain safety concerns.
"It's about whether I'm taking my children to a restaurant, if I'm having to assess whether a gentleman who walks into a restaurant with a gun on his hip is using it for his own personal safety, whether he intends to hold up the restaurant or whether he might lose his temper later on," she said according to the news site.
Aside from ordinary citizens, local business establishments such as restaurants are also worried about the impact of the open-carry law on various aspects of the state. For one, it could deter tourists from visiting Texas knowing that its inhabitants are walking around with handguns on their hips. Also, it could drive away their customers once they see groups of diners with their pistols, according to NPR.
As a result, several restaurants, including Chili's, Starbucks, Chipotle and Jack in the Box, have implemented a no-gun guideline for their establishments. Basically, for the safety and peace of mind of other customers, gun owners are advised to leave their handguns at home when they're eating out.
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