She is a beacon to liberals, a down-home Texas mom with a Harvard law degree who stood up to conservatives for women's rights. As the Democrats' best hope for governor, she's fighting to turn the Lone Star State blue. Oh, and she gol'-damn loves her some openly brandished hand cannons.

At a time when most progressives are mulling greater constraints on the public wielding of firearms, Davis is boot-scootin' across the aisle, according to Politico:

Rising Democratic star and gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis has joined her top Republican rival in supporting a proposed "open carry" law. It would allow people with concealed handgun licenses to wear a pistol on their hip, in full view, while in public.

Davis has said she supports expanding gun rights in Texas. But in a statement to The Associated Press, she said that includes open-carry — a position that puts her at odds with her own party but could keep her from alienating gun rights advocates in a deeply conservative a state where the Second Amendment is sacrosanct.

Politico's take: Davis now agrees with her opponent, Republican Lt. Gov. Greg Abbott, on open carry, which will help her "to eliminate it as a wedge issue in the campaign." You know what's even better at splitting people than wedge issues? Really huge fucking handguns.

[Photo credit: AP]