Texas Gun Owners Allowed to Store Weapons in Vehicles at Work

Texas passed a law that allows legal gun owners to keep a firearm in their vehicle while at work. This includes any lawfully owned gun, not just small handguns which are legally carried under the Concealed Handgun License.

I find it frustrating to no end that other states are passing laws which allow legal gun owners to carry their weapons to more and more places while our own state can't even pass a bill to activate the Concealed Handgun License.

Gun Control activists continually beat down laws that allow gun owners to carry their weapons anywhere outside of the home. Yet, we all know dangers lurk on the outside our home much more than they do AT our home. Actual home invasion statistics are difficult to find because there isn't a set reporting category for "home invasion" as many home invasion crimes fit under "robbery" and/or "aggravated assault." It is common knowledge however, that unless you live in a high crime area, the home is usually the safest place to be. It is when you are travelling away from your home that you are most vulnerable.

Punishing the many to get to the few is not a good policy. Yet that is what stricter Gun Control laws and lack of Licenses to Carry do. It prevents the majority from carrying protection in order to HOPEFULLY prevent the few who would use those guns in a violent crime. There is not, of course, any guarantee that Gun Control Laws would even prevent the criminal from obtaining a gun.

Criminals will find a means to bypass the laws. This includes stealing the gun from a legal (or illegal) owner, purchasing it off of the street, buying it from someone who does not have the firearm licensed, or obtaining it through a corrupt licensed dealer. Although statistics show that corrupt dealers are a large source for the guns used in illegal activities, it is still only about 8% of the licensed dealers nationwide. That means 92% of licensed gun dealers follow the laws and are completely legitimate.

It is becoming more common for our society to condemn the whole for the actions of the few and I find this unfortunate. When crimes hit the news we become focused on all the wrong details.

What race was the criminal? Oh, well that makes sense they were of such-n-such race. (A terrible perspective but society is totally guilty of this.)

Was the crime committed by a juvenile? The parents are to blame then. (This can only be to a certain extent. Even the best parents cannot control what their children do once the child has stepped outside of the home. True, not all parents teach proper morals, but we cannot blame everything on them when there are countless numbers of influences that exist in the world.)

Was the criminal a disadvantaged individual? Let us blame poverty for driving them to crime. (Unfortunately, this indeed can drive people to commit crimes. Gun Control Laws however, would not prevent this type of crime. Providing more opportunities to become free of poverty is the way to help lower this statistic.)

Was a gun used in the crime? Well then that means we need a new Gun Control Law because that will prevent another crime like this. (Wrong! Gun Control Laws only control law-abiding citizens. Law-abiding citizens do not break laws, which means they are NOT committing crimes. As far as poverty driven crimes - legal gun owners usually resort to this as a desperate last measure. Just because someone owns a gun does not mean they are more likely to participate in illegal activity.)

Yes, of course there will be exceptions. There will be legal gun owners that have something wrong in the head and go on a rampage. Some may feel that the way to deal with an argument is to pull their gun. These few do not represent the many and should not condemn the majority to remain unprotected outside of their homes.