Here's my Facebook post about my trip. I'll post pics if I can figure out how to do so.
TEXAS: where everything is bigger!! (including **GUN RIGHTS** walks)
Yesterday morning I returned from my 3,400 mile first-time trip to/from and around Texas, where my primary purpose was to attend an Open Carry Texas walk/rally in Olmos Park, TX, and to observe Open Carry Texas in action. Olmos Park was the site of a recent abuse of power situation by the Chief and officers against the head of OCT (
CJ Grisham) as well as others.
I'd followed Open Carry Texas for years, reading both the congratulations and criticisms of their actions and felt that this event was totally justified - so I decided to go.
You think you've seen a lot of huge pickup trucks? Uh... NO. Huge, towering highway interchanges with THREE levels? Uh... NO. The Lone Star plastered all over? Five or so different climate and culture zones in the same state? Amazing!
My first contact was with
Amy Hedtke, who I thought was a gun-rights person, but who's actually a First Amendment activist (do an internet search) and self-described anarchist. She invited me to a SREC Texas gathering where I had the opportunity to meet
Terry Holcomb Sr., head of Texas Carry, his wife
Gina, and other gun-rights supporting GOP members. I received a warm Texas welcome when they found out I was from Cincinnati.
Thanks Amy!
The next day was the walk/rally, scheduled to start at noon, but when I arrived at 10 AM there were at least 100 people already there! I walked around, took pictures, and talked to people. The militia groups had impressive vehicles and uniforms, the crowd was multi-cultural and mixed sex, firearms were on slings and in holsters. People were very friendly, and they were shocked when they found out where I was from - but then I met someone who not only knew who I was (!) and who had traveled nearly as far as I - from Arizona!
I met Richard Briscoe, the Legislative Director for OCT, and with whom I later had lunch. I also met
David Amad, VP of OCT, who I'd briefly spoken to prior to the walk. Both gentlemen are total class acts, and deeply committed to expanding firearms rights and privileges.
The Olmos Park police made themselves scarce during the walk, with the San Antonio police directing/stopping traffic so that participants could cross the main street into the upscale residential portion of Olmos Park. Just by chance, I got to meet the Chief of San Antonio, who was in a marked SUV.
In all, I was impressed by OCT's leaders and the 500+ participants. I enjoyed myself in Texas, and learned a number of things about TX politics and the TX gun rights environment.
As a side note, it was apparent in my conversations with various people that that approaches differ between individuals and groups as to how to advance gun rights and privileges - even in a much more favorable environment than Ohio.
It's a damn shame that Texas is so far away!
Below I'll provide a link to an individual's numerous pictures of the event. Joining Open Carry Texas' FB group will allow you to see more pics as well as videos.
Thanks Texas!
P.S. - As I understand it, CJ Grisham didn't participate in the event because of the (bogus) charges pending against him
P.P.S. - I indicated that my photos were taken in Olmos Park, though they were actually taken in San Antonio, which completely surrounds OP, and where the rally point was because of concerns that the OP Police would act out again.
400+ pictures by another participant:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/opencarrytexas/permalink/954196001409985/