Concealed Carry is Allowed in the Texas Capitol
Some opponents of the legalization of concealed carry on Texas college campuses have argued that concealed carry is restricted at the Texas Capitol and that legislators who support concealed carry on campus clearly want a double standard for themselves.
In truth, the only place in the Texas Capitol where concealed carry is restricted is in the viewing galleries of the House and Senate, when the House and Senate are convened (per Texas Penal Code §30.06[e], §46.035[c], and §46.035[i]). During those times, those two small balconies are secured with metal detectors and armed state troopers.
In a February 17, 2009, interview with News 8 Austin, Rep. Charlie Geren, Chairman of the House Administration Committee—the committee charged with overseeing security measures in the House gallery—explained the presence of the metal detectors, which were installed at the beginning of the 2009 legislative session, by stating, "The big challenge for DPS is not protecting against someone with a handgun; it's someone who comes in and wants to blow people up."
Legislators with concealed-handgun licenses are still allowed to carry concealed handguns on the floors of the House and Senate, and the metal detectors securing the galleries are turned off as soon as the bodies adjourn each day.
Concealed carry is always allowed throughout the rest of the Capitol, including in the committee chamber where the Texas House Committee on Public Safety held the March 30, 2009, public hearing on Texas House Bill 1893, a bill aimed at legalizing concealed carry on Texas college campuses.
In fact, Texas legislators aren’t even allowed to restrict concealed carry in their own Capitol offices. Therefore, it’s more than a little unfair to suggest that they’re looking to require anything of public colleges that they don’t already require of themselves.
It is simply not reasonable to compare an open college campus the size of a small city to an easily secured area, like a balcony, where metal detectors can ensure that the area is gun free in more than name only, and where visitors are never out of the sight of armed state troopers.
Rep. Geren ended the February 17 interview by stating, “"I'm thinking [the metal detectors] will probably be there until the end of session, and then we will relook at the policy.”
In truth, the only place in the Texas Capitol where concealed carry is restricted is in the viewing galleries of the House and Senate, when the House and Senate are convened (per Texas Penal Code §30.06[e], §46.035[c], and §46.035[i]). During those times, those two small balconies are secured with metal detectors and armed state troopers.
In a February 17, 2009, interview with News 8 Austin, Rep. Charlie Geren, Chairman of the House Administration Committee—the committee charged with overseeing security measures in the House gallery—explained the presence of the metal detectors, which were installed at the beginning of the 2009 legislative session, by stating, "The big challenge for DPS is not protecting against someone with a handgun; it's someone who comes in and wants to blow people up."
Legislators with concealed-handgun licenses are still allowed to carry concealed handguns on the floors of the House and Senate, and the metal detectors securing the galleries are turned off as soon as the bodies adjourn each day.
Concealed carry is always allowed throughout the rest of the Capitol, including in the committee chamber where the Texas House Committee on Public Safety held the March 30, 2009, public hearing on Texas House Bill 1893, a bill aimed at legalizing concealed carry on Texas college campuses.
In fact, Texas legislators aren’t even allowed to restrict concealed carry in their own Capitol offices. Therefore, it’s more than a little unfair to suggest that they’re looking to require anything of public colleges that they don’t already require of themselves.
It is simply not reasonable to compare an open college campus the size of a small city to an easily secured area, like a balcony, where metal detectors can ensure that the area is gun free in more than name only, and where visitors are never out of the sight of armed state troopers.
Rep. Geren ended the February 17 interview by stating, “"I'm thinking [the metal detectors] will probably be there until the end of session, and then we will relook at the policy.”
posted by Douva | 1:52 PM
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