Will Cowboy Samurai Walk The Streets Of Texas After New Law?

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

The state of Texas already has an open carry law that applies to firearms but after September 1st, residents of the Lone Star state will be able to carry swords as well. That’s right, you read this correctly, swords. Republican Governor Greg Abbott has signed House Bill 1935 into law, which allows the open carry of weapons with blades longer then 5.5 inches.

This new law will apply to bladed weapons such as rapiers, broadswords, Claymores, spears, machetes, katanas, and Texas’ famous bowie-knife from the Alamo.

But before any of you nerds/geeks (whichever name you prefer) start to don your samurai armour, you should know there are restrictions to this law. You can not carry any bladed weapons over 5.5 inches on the property of schools, hospitals, places of worship (no visits to the local Shinto shrine for you), and any business that makes at least 51% of its profit from serving alcohol. This means bars will be off-limits. And if you are under the age of 18, you must have adult supervision when carrying.

Keep in mind that the owners of businesses, private properties (such as dwellings), and those renting properties can still refuse to allow the carrying of such weapons on the premises. This will mean conventions of the comic and anime kind can still have a no weapons policy enforced.

Co-author of the bill, Republican Rep. John Frullo, said in May “It’s not making criminals out of people who have no intention of creating some type of criminal act.”

This has truth to it. But what I want to know is, what happens when someone brings a sword to a gunfight?