By Paige Lambert and Moses Leos III
Buda bar owner Julie Renfro didn’t wait for Texas’ new open carry laws to go into effect Jan. 1 to post notices banning firearms inside of the Tavern on Main.
For Renfro, ensuring the safety of those in her Buda bar was the premise behind the move.
“For my own personal sense of well being, I prefer not to have guns on premises,” Renfro said. “This is not the Wild West and we are not going to start slinging guns in this bar.”
Renfro said she posted the notices disallowing all firearms, concealed or open carry, on Dec. 31.
On Jan. 1, Texas’ new law allowing those with a concealed handgun permit to obtain additional permits to carry firearms openly went into effect. Under the new law, those who have the necessary permits can openly carry a firearm in a holster at locations that previously allowed concealed handguns.
But Renfro said she called the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), which issues alcohol permits for bars and restaurants, for clarification on the status of allowing or disallowing firearms.
She ultimately discovered that placing a sign with one inch lettering banning firearms would keep firearms out.
According to Renfro, she prefers only law enforcement to carry firearms, due to the potential risk that’s involved. She said she doesn’t “trust the general public to carry guns.”
“Tempers could flare in a short amount of time when people drink,” Renfro said. “A fistfight would be bad enough, but if there was any other added weapon available, especially a gun, that puts the entire premises at risk.”
Renfro said she will follow a seemingly growing list of businesses that are also not allowing firearms into their establishments.
“I’m one that’s following the list going out to the public that are banning guns. I’m making a note and doing business with those people,” Renfro said. “I’m grateful that there are grocery stores and that they ban open carry. I don’t want to see people open carry on the streets.”
Ray Cordero, manager of Edible Arrangements in Kyle and an Army veteran, believes open carry is “good, especially if you have a business.”
“It’s good to know that you’re safe when you have a business or you’re doing regular stuff,” Cordero said. “If someone attacks you and you have nothing [to protect yourself], it can traumatize you.”
He said he would welcome anyone who openly carried, provided they followed the necessary laws.
Cordero said people should be able to openly carry firearms within the law. He also said he would welcome anyone who opted to walk into his business adhering to the open carry law.
But he also understood there could be situations, such as in a restaurant, where people may not feel as comfortable.
“Some people feel threatened by others having guns,” Cordero said. “If you go to a restaurant, some customers may not feel safe throughout.”
According to Cordero, he believes it will help as people become more familiar with the open carry law.
Tamra Tindol, owner of the Hays City Store in Driftwood, said that she didn’t foresee the new open carry laws creating an issue. According to Tindol, people are “gun respectful here.”
“Fortunately, we are located in a rural area and the population is gun savvy,” Tindol said.
But she said that there might come a time when they may ask people to put their firearms in their vehicles if it makes customers uncomfortable.
“But we aren’t putting up any signs yet,” she said.
