GunsTexas becomes gun-friendlier
Texas is already considered one of the most gun-friendly states in the nation, and on Saturday it became even more so when the State House passed twelve different gun bill which would make it easier to own and carry guns in the state. Some of the bills – for example, the one which would punish police officers or government officials by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine if they attempt to enforce federal firearms limits in Texas – may be found to be unconstitutional.
The Texas House of representatives on Saturday approved twelve gun bills further to weaken gun laws in a state already considered one of the most gun friendly places in the country.
The bills will allow college students to carry handgun in class and will exempt the state from future federal bans on assault rifles, high capacity ammo clips, and universal background checks.
USA Today reports that both supporters and those who oppose the bill referred to Saturday as “gun day.” The bills must clear procedural votes before going to the state Senate, but they passed the house quickly despite Democrat-led efforts to ban or block the bills.
One of the bills to clear the House was sponsored by Representative Steve Toth (R-Woodlands), a Tea Party member. The bill would nullify federal laws banning assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, or expansion of background checks for firearms owners. Legal experts said the law would almost certainly violate the U.S. Constitution.
“There are 27 amendments in the Constitution but only one says ‘shall not be infringed,’” USA Today quotes Toth to say.“The Second Amendment is the amendment that keeps the people free.”
The bill which generated the fiercest opposition was the one which would allow students over 21 who already hold concealed weapons permits to take their handguns into college classrooms. The bill failed in 2011, but made it through last weekend.
The sponsor of the bill, Representative Allen Fletcher (R-Tomball) reminded lawmakers that “College campuses are not crime-free zones.”
The law contained a provision allowing colleges to opt out of the new rules annually – and the provision softened somewhat the opposition to the bill. Currently colleges can decide to opt in, as Texas A&M has done.
The state Senate approved a separate measure which allows college students to keep guns in their vehicles on campuses, but Republicans in the State Senate said the campus carry bill may have a tough time passing the Senate, and will likely not make it.
Representative Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) and several cosponsors offered a bill to punish police officers or government officials by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine if they attempt to enforce federal firearms limits in Texas.
Another measure passed was the school marshal measure. Representative Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) sponsored a bill which would allow employees of public and charter schools who already own concealed weapons permits to receive firearms training. The guns would be locked away safely during school hours, but easily accessible in case of an emergency.
Three other bills that were passed will reduce the number of hours of training needed to obtain a concealed handgun license and updated the rules for renewing or being fingerprinted for a license.
A separate measure unanimously passed reduced license fee for a concealed handgun for police officers, military veterans, national and state Guard members, and even some Criminal Justice Department employees.
