After a huge legislative battle last year in what seemed to be a highly successful win for gun activists, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the new “Open Carry” law, which took effect Jan. 1. This made Texas the 15^th state in the nation to allow open carry of handguns. Under the new law, CHL (concealed handgun license) holders have the right to walk around with their handgun strapped to their hip.

Prior to Jan. 1, concerned citizens and anti-gun activists were very vocal about the possibility of being around individuals with their handgun at the ready, while going about their daily business. Being a CHL holder who prefers to not display my handgun publicly, I also wondered how many individuals would openly carry now that it’s legal. Interestingly enough, with all the hype that preceded this law, now six weeks since the law went into effect, I have yet to see anyone “open carry.”

What this enforces, much to the chagrin of anti-gun activists, is that most CHL holders are very responsible people. Many feel as I do, that a concealed handgun allows me to feel safer than if I were to have my handgun open and available for the world to see. Of course, this is merely an opinion, and there are those gun activists who feel the exact opposite. But many prefer to not draw attention to their guns.

Unfortunately, this is where harm comes into play. I’m not saying “harm” to the community, because we have yet to see any of that, but harm to responsible CHL holders. Since the law passed last year, private businesses began exercising their right to ban open carry from their establishments. To do so, any private business in the state of Texas must display a strictly regulated sign. The 30.07 sign banning open carry and the 30.06 sign banning concealed carry must be posted for all to see prior to entering the business.

The rub to responsible CHL carriers, and what is being seen across the state more and more, is that many businesses that previously allowed CHL carriers in their establishments are now posting both signs banning all handguns. Texas gun activists and bloggers are sharing their stories and concerns across the Internet that if this keeps up, the push for open carry could possibly have done more harm than good for responsible CHL carriers.

Rich Macke is publisher of The Port Arthur News. Contact him at rich.macke@panews.com.