Chris Cox may like them, but the Texas State Rifle Association is down on the ill-considered tactics of members of Open Carry Texas.
While the TSRA supports legislation that would permit Texans to openly carry a handgun for the first time since 1871, Alice Tripp, the group's lobbyist, wrote about her experiences last week at the Republican Convention in Fort Worth.
"During the first two days Republican House members and Senators dropped by to say hello. All commented that the gun-carrying demonstrations are doing more harm than good and not to expect much from the 2015 legislative session. "
The Tarrant County Open Carry Texas group, the same ones that got tossed out of Chili's, Chipotle, Jack-In-The-Box and Sonic, continued to cripple their cause with an armed demonstration outside of the convention center, catching the eye of every Republican legislator. Fort Worth is the county seat of Tarrant County and was the only major Texas City to go for Romney in the 2012 elections.
Tripp commented on another pro-open carry group that showed up at the convention with smiles and holstered carrots. The "Open Carrot" demonstrators used humor to make their case and received favorable reactions from the convention attendees.
Founded in 1919, the Texas State Rifle Association is the largest organization of its type in the Lone Star state.