As of Jan. 1 concealed handgun license holders in Texas can openly carry firearms, provided the weapon is carried in a belt holster or shoulder holster.

Concealed carry or open carry is allowed in public spaces except for areas prohibited by law or where signs are posted banning open and/or concealed carry, according to the law passed by legislators during the 84th Texas legislative session in June. License holders still cannot carry a gun into courtrooms, polling places on election days, correctional facilities or school buildings. Open carry is allowed in public parks and government buildings as well as on public sidewalks, streets and parking lots.

Plano Police Department’s senior legal advisor Curtis Howard said police officers were trained in the new open carry law prior to Jan. 1.

“As of right now, we have had very few citizens calling in who have been concerned about gun safety. They were asking about how the city is going to handle the change and whether or not we are properly trained on people who are openly carrying,” Howard said.

In January, the Plano City Council decided to prohibit open carry in public council, commission and board meetings under the Texas Open Meetings Act that allows guns to be banned in certain public meetings. The city is required to post English and Spanish versions of the no carry signs during open meetings that are posted in the lobby at Plano Municipal Center.

Public schools and businesses are also learning about the new open-carry law and how to ensure the safety of residents, students and customers.

Firearm safety

About 8,239 concealed handgun licenses were issued in Collin County in fiscal year 2014-15, according to Texas Department of Public Safety records. The department issues licenses after conducting a criminal history and background check on applicants. The department is also responsible for monitoring those with a license to carry a handgun, or LTC, in order to ensure that they still remain eligible to carry.

In order to obtain a LTC, U.S. citizens must be at least 21 years old, submit an application to DPS, pass a background check and take a certified class.

With more people purchasing guns, Amanda and Tim Dodd of Patriot Protection in Plano said more people are taking classes to learn how to safely use a gun for protection. The couple owns and operates Patriot Protection, which educates patrons on how to operate firearms in a safe and secure manner.

Amanda Dodd said interest in guns and gun safety rose slightly after recent shooting incidents like the one that occurred in December in San Bernardino, California, where more than a dozen people were killed.

“The new shooter classes, in particular, are for people who are just realizing that they might need a firearm to protect themselves,” Dodd said.

Business concerns

Some businesses are choosing to prohibit open carry by utilizing a provision that allows business owners to notify patrons by a sign or verbally that open carry and concealed carry are not allowed on business premises. Downtown Plano merchants have discussed whether they would decide to allow or prohibit customers openly carrying weapons inside their establishments as provided by the law, said Alex Hargis, Historic Downtown Plano Association executive director.

“Generally speaking, a lot of the dining establishments downtown had some of the biggest concerns about what was changing with the code because they didn’t want to disturb the dynamics of their patrons too much,” he said.

Hargis said the goal is to create a safe experience for downtown visitors.

“We don’t want to overreact. We want to make sure that we keep compliant with the law and we want to keep business as usual,” Hargis said.

Plano ISD

State law prohibits handguns and other weapons on school district grounds while a school-sponsored activity is taking place. An example would be a playground or parking lot where a school band is rehearsing according to an opinion written by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. However, license holders are allowed to carry in parking lots where there is no school-sponsored activity.

“It is a criminal offense to carry a handgun on the premises of a school or an educational institution regardless of whether a sign is posted or a notice is given,” said Joseph Parks, PISD Safety and Security Services executive director.

Parks said the district wants to exercise caution and ensure parents, teachers and children have the necessary information to remain safe.

“The only real change in the law was that it now allows a person who could otherwise carry a concealed handgun to now carry that handgun openly,” Parks said in a video sent to PISD employees in January. The information was also included in a districtwide newsletter.

If a parent feels uncomfortable in any situation or anyone happens to see a person engaged in suspicious activity, Parks said they should call 911.

“At Plano ISD, we want to be reasonable while erring on the side of safety. We want to neither overreact or underreact when encountering a person who is carrying a handgun,” Parks said.