Open Carry Texas and the NRA

Normally, you would expect a gun rights group to be best friends with the National Rifle Association (NRA). After all, the goal of this association is to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis". In this case however, members of Open Carry Texas (OCT) are not too thrilled with the NRA. In fact, members of OCT have posted picture of themselves cutting up their NRA membership cards? So how did this all come about?

It started when the NRA criticized OCT rallies. In fact, they called them "downright weird". The statement was posted on the website of the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA), the lobbying arm of the NRA. The rallies were for less restrictive carry laws. The OCT is specifically trying to make openly carrying handguns remains illegal. Long guns such as rifles can be carried openly but must not be done so in a way that alarms anyone. In their rallies, OCT members carried handguns around in private places such as restaurants and other public places. The NRA said that the demonstrators had "crossed the line from enthusiasm to downright foolishness". They also decried the demonstrators who harassed a veteran on Memorial Day. 

In a statement posted to its website on its website last Friday, the NRA wrote that "Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners. That's not the Texas way. And that's certainly not the NRA way". In response to the NRA's comments, the OCT threatened to withdraw their full support from the NRA and support "other gun organizations that fight for ALL gun rights". 

A few days later after issuing the statement, the NRA retracted it, saying that they were merely the opinion of a staffer. Chris Cox, the executive director of the NRA-ILA, said in an interview that the statement "was a mistake" and "it shouldn't have happened". On Facebook, OCT thanked the NRA for the clarification and said that they were going to focus on getting open carrying legalized in Texas, even if they did not have the support of the NRA.

While this movement is mostly unpopular, there is a chance that open carry will be legalized. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, especially if the NRA chooses not to support the OCT.