Texas Governor Pushes Repeal of Concealed-Weapon Restrictions
State law currently prohibits carrying concealed weapons in churches, bars, college campuses, courthouses, and any private property where signs are posted prohibiting the weapons. Texas is one of 16 states that ban concealed weapons on college campuses.
Perry and some Republican lawmakers believe students and faculty members who are licensed by the state to carry firearms should be able to take their weapons onto campuses for protection.
"It's time for us to have that debate in Texas from the standpoint of whether or not a law-abiding citizen in the state of Texas can take their appropriately licensed and permitted weapon anywhere in this state, whether it's on a college campus or wherever," Perry said at a Monday news conference.
Perry went on to say that deranged individuals don't pay any attention to signs barring guns on certain premises and that "it makes sense for Texans to be able to protect themselves from such deranged individuals."
Sen. Jeff Wentworth, (R-San Antonio) said that he could support allowing guns on campuses. "I believe we ought to revisit that policy," Wentworth said. "It probably needs some changing."
Rep. Frank Corte Jr., (R-San Antonio) who himself has a concealed handgun license, said of gun free zones: "the bad guys [know] that this is where people don't have firearms."
With only a month left in the legislative session and no proposed bill that would remove the current restrictions, state policy on concealed weapons is unlikely to change this session. But Corte and Wentworth said legislation could come as soon as next session.
One Republican, however, thinks the change is a bad idea. State Sen. John Carona, (R-Dallas) is a member of the National Rifle Association member and has a record of voting in favor of gun legislation. He disagrees with letting college students arm themselves on campus.
"There is certainly the possibility that someone could bring that legislation up," Carona said, "but I think if they did it would be opportunistic and ill-advised."
And Linda Siemers, president of Texans for Gun Safety, said that as long as the state cannot filter out people with mental illness from having guns, the existing restrictions should remain in place.
"Carrying guns to work and to church is a terrible idea," Siemers said. "Businesses and nonprofits should make the rules for what happens on their property."
Sources:
Dallas Morning News
Austin America-Statesman
Published by Bruno Somerset
I am a novelist & freelance writer living in Texas. I write mainly on arts and entertainment, politics and religion, with the occasional sports and humor piece thrown in to keep things interesting. View profile
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12 Comments
Post a CommentIf your gun is concealed, how will the bullies know not to mess with you?
Because noone that peacefully carries a gun every day "just snaps" and starts killing people. The people who commit these crimes go in that day planning a blood bath. No law is going to stop them, but I can.
Cheers,
Jon
The phrase "Dubya" by one of your reviewers tipped her very liberal hand. It should be self evident that armed honest people serve as a deterrent to armed and hostile criminals. I've had a CHL for a number of years and the next to the last thing that I would want is to have to shoot someone. The last thing that I would want is to helplessly run, hide and watch while a criminal shoots or slices and dices innocent people.
"...but just how is it that letting people bring more guns onto a college campus is going to prevent shootings?"
It may prevent shootings in that the 'shooter' may think twice if he/she knows others will be armed. However, if this doesn't deter the 'shooter', then maybe a student who is carrying a concealed weapon can help stop the shooter from taking so many lives; like what happened at Virginia Tech. Imagine if just one of those students had a gun, maybe the death toll would not have been so high...
People that shoot other people are cowards and so go where they will be the only ones with a weapon that is why they go to gun free zones and not police stations to do bad things
Try reading these web sites on the subject, it may help you make up you mind weather it should be allowed to carry.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/1999/sep1999/tex-s17.shtml
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43387
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-02-26-church-shooting_x.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3166224.stm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18766089/
Google for more under church shooting usa.
I like the statement "as long as we can keep guns from the metally ill." Obviously this has never happened, and never well. Something needs to be done, and this is a step in the right direction.
The gun free zones are known and I agree that they have the potential for making people in them "easy marks." The statistics show that EXTREMELY few CHL carriers commit the crimes. CHL holders have proven themselves to be law-abiding citizens only interested in protecting themselves and their love ones. The criminals don't care there is a sign posted, the criminals are just that - CRIMINALS. If they are willing to shoot someone for money what makes anyone think a simple sign is going to stop them. The signs and the "gun free zones" only keep honest people honest and the criminals don't give two cents about either as they are not "barriers" to them in getting what they want. What is disobeying a sign compared to murder? It is my opinion and hope that an "Open Carry" law is approved. It is commonly known that crooks go after the easy marks, the most reward for the least amount of work. If they know someone is carring a handgun that in theory makes them less "easy" of a mark. The
The only defect I see in this article is referring to a license as a permit. In Texas it is a license. There is a definite legal distinction.
Deez, in reference to your comment, please note that Perry specified concealed handgun licensees. You already have to be 21 or over, go to classes taught by state licensed instructors, fingerprinted by duly authorized law enforcement officer, as well as pass both a state and federal background check to be issued a CHL (concealed handgun license) in the state of Texas. My instructor was an off duty drug enforcement type. He was very demanding, as well as critical of his students.
I'm not sure I agree with the concept of allowing carry in bars, but the present law only disallows carry in establishments deriving 50% or more of their income from serving alcohol, meaning carry in a restuarant is quite permissible. I, personally, never carry when I am going to have one or more drinks. That is simply a matter of personal responsibility.
Finally a little common sense. The people you don't want having guns already carry them everywhere. Let the good guys carry too.