I can’t swear that the photo here is authentic, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

Of course, strange stuff like this is regional within the U.S.  This is not something you’d find in New England.  But the culture of places like Texas, and the laws that support it, are far different.

To put it simply, Texas is open.  As of 2021, Texas law no longer requires people to have a license to carry (LTC) in order to carry a handgun in most public places.  Additionally, Texas has no laws restricting open containers (of alcohol).  This means that you can drive around (steering with your knees) with a gun in one hand and an open can of ice-cold beer in the other.

Though this is something that delights Texans to no end, it probably wouldn’t provide the same buzz to the people of Connecticut or Massachusetts.

In addition, Texas is known for a great number of other unseemly anomalies.  The state is the death penalty capital of the nation; it’s has been responsible for the most executions over recent years by far, with 593 since 1977 as of mid-February 2025 compared with 448 in the other 49 states combined.  Texas has also recently opened the door to massive redistricting, in an attempt to ensure that Republicans have a huge and unfair/illegal majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Many Americans think of Texas as “a good place to avoid,” and it’s not hard to understand why.

This Store Sign Is a Model of America, at Least Parts of It