I understand any "Texas' forum is for Texans only" feelings you may have. Feel free to skip right over this if that's an issue for you. I've lived many places, including San Angelo, TX. I really liked Texas and enjoyed my time there. I saw more patriotism and common decency there in a year then I saw in Seattle in, well, 15 years and counting.
OC is a strategic solution to all carry licensing problems. The power of OC to mass educate that normal people, trusted friends and neighbors, carry everyday is awe-inspiring.
The fears you have about gun buster signs and public terror have been brought up and defeated by real life experience in more than 40 other states. (
http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html) Around 30 states have accepted OC as commonplace. WA had no actual OC until several years ago; now you can stroll Pike's Place Market in Seattle with your situational awareness alarm reserved for bad guys instead of LEO. Yes, there is still an occasional soccer mom or LEO who needs to be politely educated. But those officers and agencies now are very few and seldom require a court verdict to apply the law correctly.
Texas deserves better than to be associated with New York, Illinois, and D.C. (and OK, FL, and AR for that matter) on matters of personal liberty. Give the people of Texas the credit they deserve. OC does not raise crime rates. I *believe* it lowers them. People often get friendly and polite IF they notice an OC'd handgun. At any rate, there's nothing like repeatedly witnessing reality to help your neighbors through a bit of cognitive dissonance.
It does take time. But the fact is most people are not criminals. Even if they have a gun or a knife. Your fellow citizens will witness people not being criminals exactly like they do now and, eventually, they'll figure it out. Even the LEOs.
Only OC can do that for you. No matter how many new places you get to CC you will always be fighting against the non-gunning public for each new step because they don't know you. They think maybe this CC at campus bill was started by that shady recluse down the street, not their best friend or car-pool buddy from work.
Take off the mask. As you well know, lawful citizens with guns aren't bad guys. Uncover your pistols and let everyone else know it too.
Yes, new 30.06 signs will go up, for a while. The (non-enforceable version) do from time to time still in WA. But times are tough and losing 5% of your gross profit is a mighty expensive stand on principles for most businesses. They'll either cave in or go out of business to a more supportive competitor, and that's just the way it should be.
Make all 2A supporters happy. Make a united push for constitutional carry and your representatives who want to remain known as 2A supporters will get behind it. They like their jobs too much not to.
Good luck.
