There have been some recent changes in concealed and open carry gun laws around the country, as well as a few more changes pending. Here is a quick update:
Open Carry of Handguns Passed In Texas
Until now, open carry was allowed in Texas with rifles and larger guns but not handguns. After a very long battle, that law has now changed. House Bill 910 is expected to be signed any day so starting in January, 2016, all gun owners with a concealed carry license, may also open carry.
Can You Open Carry In Arkansas?
For two years now there is confusion in Arkansas on the legality of open carry and the issue now seems to be coming to a head. A bill passed in 2013 started the confusion with different state officials giving different answers to the open carry question. Recently, the state attorney general clarified that in her opinion, the current gun law allows handguns to be openly carried. So until the legislature passes a measure with more clarification on the issue, her office has advised that it’s legal.
Upcoming Changes
The legislature in Maine and Ohio have bills pending to turn these states into the next unrestricted or “constitutional carry” states where no permit is needed to conceal a weapon. Whether the bills will be signed by each state’s Governor is a different story.
In Illinois, a possible amendment to the Liquor Control Act may impact concealed-carry. The legislature is looking to revise the current law by requiring no concealed weapons wherever alcohol is sold for consumption. This change in law will impact restaurants, bars, hotels and those retailers that have a liquor license for consumption (such as grocery stores and department stores with cafes). If the law passes, all such businesses would be required to post no-gun signs.
If you have one of my concealed/open carry state law charts, be sure to update it with this new information. If you do not have one, send me an email and I can send it to you in Word format so it can be revised as the laws change.
(Photo with no changes made from http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=703328&searchId=5161ebb0cce4b7987ba8b6935d60a180&npos=100)