Two Members Of Open Carry Texas Arrested

There is anger and frustration tonight as Department of Public Safety
officers arrest two members of Open Carry Texas at the capitol.

OCT member Amanda Andeen says, "Two of our party members were carrying
two pre 1899 black powder replica revolvers, they were holstered the
whole time, they were never drawn or displayed rudely by any means."

Andeen's boyfriend is one of the men arrested.

The group had been attending a Let's Roll America protest at the
capitol.

DPS spokesperson Tom Vinger said, "The men were openly carrying
suspected deadly weapons and were given the opportunity to leave the
area, but refused."

But a spokesperson for open carry Texas told us the pistols the men
carried were black powder replicas of pre-1899 revolvers and therefore
exempt as a firearm.

Open Carry Texas has more than 30-local chapters across the state.

According to the organization's Facebook page the group is dedicated to
the "safe and legal carry of firearms openly in the State of Texas in
accordance with the United States and Texas Constitution and applicable
laws."

"We're not going to stop, we're going to continue until our point is
made and things change," says Andeen.

When we spoke with Andeen Saturday night, both men arrested were still
in custody and booked for criminal trespassing.

Andeen says what happened today is about a much bigger issue.

An issue she says Open Carry is hoping to change. She says "Tv, video
games, movies have demonized weapons, firearms, and so we're just trying
to make it a point that not everyone with a gun is a bad guy."