H.E.B. WILL NOT ALLOW ‘OPEN CARRY’

  

When the open carry law goes into effect next year, Texas supermarket giant H-E-B will not allow visible handguns in its stores.

The law, which was passed in June and is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, allows those with licenses to carry handguns visibly. Business owners can ban open carry in stores by posting a sign near the entrance.

H-E-B spokeswoman Dya Campos said in an email that the grocery chain "maintains the same policy we have for years."

Campos said, because the San Antonio-based company sells alcohol, long guns and unlicensed guns are banned on its properties under the rules of the Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission.

H-E-B did not make a public announcement of its response to the open carry law.

San Antonio-based Whataburger is an exception: In July, the burger chain announced that it will not allow customers to openly carry firearms in its restaurants.

On Thursday, warning signs popped up at H-E-B stores in San Antonio, Houston and The Woodlands, among others. They said visitors could not enter with an openly carried handgun.