While most of the pro-gun agenda is either stalled or going nowhere, one piece of legislation is fast-tracking through the legislature.
A Senate committee voted Wednesday to let legislators, statewide elected officials and U.S. attorneys carry concealed handguns to locations that are off limits to most holders of handgun licenses.
A bill approved by the Criminal Justice Committee would let those government officials pack concealed weapons at sporting events, and in churches, hospitals and bars — even in businesses that have a policy prohibiting people from carrying handguns onto their premises.
Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, author of the bill, said he was trying to simplify things for government officials who have a concealed handgun license and want to carry a weapon when they are traveling, sometimes to multiple locations for speeches or other events. Officials have to leave their handguns in the car or risk violating the law if they carry a weapon into a place that does not allow them, Patrick said.
The measure, which now goes to the full Senate, would also cover former legislators and selected officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety who have a license but are not peace officers.
This is about as outrageous as it gets.
A Senate committee voted Wednesday to let legislators, statewide elected officials and U.S. attorneys carry concealed handguns to locations that are off limits to most holders of handgun licenses.
A bill approved by the Criminal Justice Committee would let those government officials pack concealed weapons at sporting events, and in churches, hospitals and bars — even in businesses that have a policy prohibiting people from carrying handguns onto their premises.
Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, author of the bill, said he was trying to simplify things for government officials who have a concealed handgun license and want to carry a weapon when they are traveling, sometimes to multiple locations for speeches or other events. Officials have to leave their handguns in the car or risk violating the law if they carry a weapon into a place that does not allow them, Patrick said.
The measure, which now goes to the full Senate, would also cover former legislators and selected officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety who have a license but are not peace officers.
This is about as outrageous as it gets.