Round Rock Open Carry meeting

It was standing room only at an Open Carry forum held at Round Rock's City Hall. Round Rock Police, Georgetown Police, and Williamson County officials took questions from the crowd and from social media about the new law.

Starting January 1 2016, gun owners with a Concealed Handgun License can openly carry their gun if it is in a shoulder or waist holster.

Private businesses can prohibit gun owners from carrying onto their premises. According to the new law, must display signs with "statutory language", or hand out a card with the approved language, or relay it verbally to the customer that guns are not allowed.

Licensed gun owners who carry in their car must do so in a shoulder or waist or holster. It is not legal to display the gun otherwise. Gun owners who have one in their car but do not have a license to carry must keep their weapon concealed.

Members of the public, Brin Totten, who is also a licensed gun owner, appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the new law. He says, "the education is key for everybody whether you are a weapons carrier or you are not," adding, "we need to understand as a public what the laws are so there's not any misunderstanding or there's fear about something new happening."

Round Rock Police say that they have been training dispatchers and officers on how to handle calls related to the new law.

They are also rolling out a series of PSA'S to better educate the public on Open Carry.

Questions and answers from the forum, as well as a replay of the panel can be found on the city of Round Rock's website.