Open Carry Texas member arrested before Senate committee hearing

AUSTIN, Texas - One member of Open Carry Texas got arrested for criminal trespass before the Senate committee hearing on open carry and campus carry bills ever started.

Open Carry Texas member Travis Kuenstler took a toy cap gun to the Capitol; but Department of Public Safety troopers told him he could not bring it inside.

"The DPS troopers told him he couldn't have that in here. He questioned what the legality of that is and when he asked for the law, the DPS trooper arrested him just for asking him what law he's breaking," said Founder of Open Carry Texas CJ Grisham.

DPS troopers said they are not allowing toy guns because they do not have the resources to check every gun and see if it's real.

The controversy at the Capitol didn't stay upstairs. Open carry advocates said they were told they could not bring any guns in the Senate committee hearing, including concealed handguns even for those with a concealed handgun license.

"They are not allowing them inside the hearing today. They say they're not allowing anything inside that even remotely resembles a gun, whether that be a toy or what have you," said Come and Take it Texas President Murdoch Pizgatti.

Minutes later troopers said they were allowing people to carry concealed, but remained adamant about banning toy guns.

"We're now afraid of cap guns? What kind of society we become?" said Grisham.

The third clash of the day involved Open Carry Texas and open carry opponent group Moms Demand Action.

"Moms Demand Action is going around assaulting people," said Grisham.

Grisham said he was recording an interview with a member of MDA on his cell phone when someone interfered.

"He tried to grab my camera and when I jerked my camera back he grabbed my arm and tried to physically move me," said Grisham.

Grisham filed a formal complaint with troopers, but no arrests were ever made.

"They arrest you for a plastic toy gun, but not for assaulting anybody," said Grisham.

Members of MDA said they have taken steps to protect themselves from opponents, but they did not want to comment on the controversy outside the hearing.