The legislature and the governor-elect of the U.S. state of Texas look to roll back next year a 140-year old ban on the open carry of handguns.

Texas only allows concealed handguns and it would be the largest U.S. state to embrace open carry if the Republican-run legislature and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott push for expanded gun rights.

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Abbott said that If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, then it's good enough for the state of Texas, after his election last month.

Voters supported open carry in the 2014 statewide polls. At least six bills have already been filed for the state legislature's session next year, which begins in January. Abbott pledged to sign one into law if sent to his desk.

Most of the U.S. already allows some form of open carry of handguns, according to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a group based in California lobbying gun control legislation.

But the biggest states -- California, Texas, New York, Florida, South Carolina and Illinois, which account for more than a third of the U.S. population, including six of the nation's biggest cities, do not.

Of the states that ban open carry, Texas has the most gun-friendly reputation.

From makers to dealers, Texas holds the most number of federal firearms licenses nationwide. It has few conditions of gun ownership. State legislators and Gov. Rick Perry have actively sought gun makers to move to the state.

Texas allows the public display of rifles and shotguns and open carry lobbyists have organized rallies at the Alamo and state Capitol.  But state still insists handguns be concealed.

The carrying of handguns was first banned in Texas "when the carpet-bagger government was very anxious about former Confederates and recently freed slaves carrying firearms," state Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said.

The state has more than 800,000 concealed handgun licenses, almost as many as the population of San Francisco.