Posted on 10/24/2006 5:05:58 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
County attorney says people with licenses allowed to carry the arms
Harris County Commissioners Court today ordered the removal of signs banning legally concealed handguns in county parks, after hearing legal advice that the county could not enforce such a ban. County Attorney Mike Stafford's office told the court that the county has been violating state law by banning people with concealed handgun licenses from carrying their guns into parks. A complaint from a resident who saw one of the signs while using a county park prompted the county attorney's office to look into whether it is legal to ban the guns, Stafford said.
"He was a concealed handgun carrier. He wasn't arrested," Stafford said. "His complaint eventually went up the line to us." After state lawmakers authorized concealed handgun licenses in 1995, the county, other public entities and all property owners had the authority to ban handguns from their properties. That changed for public entities in 2003, when the Legislature amended the concealed handgun law. Governments are now prohibited from banning licensed concealed handgun owners from carrying guns on most public properties. The county can ban concealed handgun licensees from bringing guns to parks when high school, college or professional sporting events are held there.
Until now, the county has banned concealed handguns from its lands and buildings, including the County Administration Building on Preston. Stafford said under the 2003 revision to the concealed handgun legislation, the county lacks the authority to make such a sweeping ban. But guns cannot be brought to a courthouse, justice of the peace court, school or a place where a governmental meeting is being held. So some with a concealed handgun license could bring a gun into some county offices, but not those housed in buildings with courts.
Yes it is and thanks for posting it.
Sweet!
More interesting for the gun-grabbers amongst us. Good people should be armed where they will, with wits and guns.
If the First Amendment was so infringed as they would the Second Amendment, would we have to read their drivel?
ping
BTTT
Yes, caught that. High and mighty, aren't they?
Well it's debatable that the Legislature intended that lower levels of government be able to ban guns in their facilities. The stated that property owners (or others controlling the property) could post the signs. However the legislature made it clear at the first opportunity (they only meet every other year in regular session) that such was not their intent, and that Mayors, County commissioners, and various low level bureaucrats, did not own the property in question, the people of their jurisdiction did.
Heck it only took Harris county 3 years to come into compliance with state law. AFAIK, the county attorney is still saying he will prosecute those with handguns in their vehicles (sans CHL) despite the action of the legislature to define "traveling", when one could always have a concealed handguns in ones vehicle, to mean "going somewhere, anywhere at all, in your vehicle", under most circumstances.
God Bless Texas
Thanks. Pass the word.
If the First Amendment was so infringed as they would the Second Amendment, would we have to read their drivel? Good people should be armed where they will, with wits and guns.
Yep.
What part of: "All bad guys should assume everyone else is armed," do they not understand?
But no, they insist on advertising a target rich environment. I do take some comfort in my next thought which is, "yeah, well, let them enforce it."
Something Harris County has finally gotten around to acknowledging anyway.
I dunno. I always thought it was safer for folks on a walk to leave their gun on the sidewalk when entering the park, and pick it back up when they come out. You know, keep the kids in the park safe, right?
(Continuing the thought from the Costco thread).
If Texas will do what God wants, God WILL bless Texas. Rewarding right and punishing wrong is a good start (not the reverse).
I think we need open carry laws
An armed society is a polite society
Woohoo! Three cheers for the Lone Star State.
The Harris County Attorney is doing his job, making sure the law is interpreted correctly and 2nd Amendment rights are still alive for his constituents.
The neat thing about this story is that originated with a request from a citizen. Instead of simply grumbling, he contacted his officials and they responded. That's the way it's supposed to work.
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