Houston Tex-Mex Chains Reveal New Gun Ban Policies In Response To 'Open Carry' Law

A new law allowing Texans to "open carry" hasn't gone into effect yet, but businesses across the state are not waiting to ban the practice of openly carrying guns in their stores.

Thanks to a law signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott this year, Texas residents will have the legal right to openly display firearms in public places beginning on Jan. 1.

Al Flores, an attorney for Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen in Houston, told The Wall Street Journal that the restaurant chain was taking steps to make its customers feel safe.

“We’re primarily a family environment in terms of our restaurant. And so we decided it’s probably best not to allow open carry,” Flores explained. “We just felt that knowing our customers, allowing someone to walk in openly carrying a weapon, it would make them feel a little uncomfortable.”

Russell Ybarra, the owner of Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen, plans to ban open carry at his other restaurant chain, Jimmy Changas. However, customers at both locations will still be able to carry concealed handguns.

The Houston Chronicle noted that the H-E-B grocery store chain and The Galleria shopping mall have also recently announced open carry bans.

read more