It's Time for National Reciprocity
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 29 December 2016 14:26
The term “national reciprocity” refers to a federal law requiring all states to recognize licenses or permits issued by other states to its citizens allowing them to carry self-defense handguns. This is not the law yet, but with the election of Donald Trump as President, the chance of such a bill passing in Congress is greatly improved. If so, it would work just like driving a motor vehicle in a state other than your home state. You still must abide by the other states’ traffic laws and gun-owners would have to abide by the gun laws in the states where their permit or license is recognized.
SB349 by Creighton - Clarification of School Activity Grounds
- Details
- Published on Friday, 23 December 2016 16:05
By Charles L. Cotton
Occasionally it is necessary to pass a bill not to change the law, but to clarify it so that it is not abused. This is the case with Sen. Creighton’s (R, A+) SB349 dealing with possession of certain weapons, including firearms, on school “activity grounds.” The Penal Code sections discussed below apply not only to primary and secondary schools (K through 12th grade), but to colleges and universities as well. However, the college and university prohibitions do not apply to people who hold a license to carry a handgun. Licensees are subject to the so-called campus-carry law set out in Tex. Penal Code §46.035(a-1), (a-2) & (a-3), but those sections are not relevant to SB349 or this article.
Sen. Royce West Sets a Trap for Law-Abiding Gun Owners
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 21 December 2016 17:05
Democrat State Senator Royce West has filed a bill that can only be described as both unnecessary and a trap for law-abiding Texans. SB206 would create new offenses for conduct that is already unlawful under Texas law, but in so doing, it sets a trap by deferring to ambiguous and ever-changing federal case law. In order to fully understand just how bad SB206 is, one must consider it in light of current Texas and federal law, as well as a shocking 2014 U.S. Supreme Court case dealing with firearms.
HB560 by Rep. Springer: The Most Important Self-Defense Bill Since 2007
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 14 December 2016 15:32
Introduction:
When Texas adopted the so-called “Concealed Handgun Law” in 1995, several restricted areas were created where it would be unlawful for a person with a Concealed Handgun License, now known as a License to Carry a Handgun, (“Licensee”) to carry their self-defense handgun. Over the following twenty-one years, Licensees have proven themselves to be the most law-abiding of Texans. Their track record is amazing and it is discussed in detail below.