1. This isn’t the Wild Wild West.
Trying to fight the stereotype of the gun-toting cowboy in Texas may be futile, but the numbers don’t lie: the national average of gun ownership in the United States is around 30%; urban areas of Texas come in at around 36%. So yes, approximately 1/3-1/2 of Texans own guns, but that doesn’t necessarily equate to carrying them around every day or using them in acts of violence, justified or otherwise.
As of January 2016, this state has officially signed off on open carry — meaning anyone with the proper permit can display his or her guns in public. In addition, about one million out of 28 million Texans are licensed for concealed handguns. Although this may be the law of the land, free enterprise is still a powerful force: businesses have been fairly quick to ban open carry in their establishments, ranging from restaurants, supermarkets, movie theaters, and office buildings.
If you’re looking for a state with guns to avoid, consider Alaska: 61% gun ownership.