There's an emerging, clear consensus that the presence of many openly carried rifles at the Black Lives Matter demonstration-turned-bloodbath in Dallas did none of the things proponents of open carry claim it does.

What is evident, and what should be taken as a precedent, is that the legal open carrying of firearms at a crowded public event can and will add to the danger and confusion during an active shooter situation. Officers responding to the deadly gunman's first bullets were faced with the unbelievable task of trying to identify the actual shooter in a crowd populated by men openly carrying rifles. Some of those openly carrying were even pursued as suspects, hindering officers from identifying and neutralizing the actual threat.

In the wake of the Dallas tragedy, it is important to note that it is not the first time this year that an openly displayed firearm by a civilian has impeded police response to an active shooter situation in Texas. Indeed, when a gunman opened fire in a quiet west Houston neighborhood over Memorial Day weekend, police who responded were temporarily confused when a neighbor tried to intervene with his own firearm. The neighbor was critically injured by the gunman - and police had to sort out which armed man was a danger to the public.

Added to our state's heartbreak at the killing of five of Dallas' finest should be rueful outrage at some Texas lawmakers. You see, as the (now effective) law on the open carry of handguns was making its way through the Texas Legislature just over a year ago, a Senate panel convened to accept testimony from various stakeholders on how open carry would play itself out if enacted.

At the hearing, the police chiefs of major urban centers in Texas spoke. Many of them shared their concerns that the practice of open carry - even if licensed - would simply make law enforcement's job harder in terms of maintaining the peace and assessing dangerous situations.

I can remember the words of then-Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, during his extended testimony before the Senate panel: "I hope I'm wrong about (the apparent dangers) of open carry."

One would have hoped that all Texas lawmakers would take the consensus, experience, professionalism and leadership of these police chiefs at face value, and toss the proposal to permit the open carry of handguns. For the safety of all Texans, our legislators could have finally prohibited the open carry of rifles as well. Instead, lawmakers handed the gun lobby a win by approving open carry of handguns - against the urging of law enforcement.

After the tragedy in Dallas, what more proof do we need that open carry has zero benefit for public safety, and places an injurious and unfair burden on law enforcement?

Dallas Police Chief David Brown said it best when he singled out lawmakers' lack of action on bringing meaningful safety reform to the nation's gun laws: "We just need to get [stronger gun laws] done. Quit asking cops to chime in and do it for you."

The Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America stands with Chief Brown, and joins him in calling for our representatives to "do their jobs." Our children, communities and law enforcement deserve better.

It's our hope that Chief Brown's strong words in the aftermath of tragedy will be the wake-up call legislators need to finally enact better gun safety laws, such as one that would prohibit open carry (at least in urban centers). And if lawmakers finally act with courage and consider such proposals during the 85th Legislature, we can most likely be assured law enforcement will chime in.

The question this time is, will legislators finally listen to those who know best how to keep our communities safe?

Chasse is a volunteer with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action.