Constitutional Carry is the big issue at work in the Texas legislature, but campus carry is gaining a lot of support in the state senate. The current bill is enjoying support of 19 of 20 Republican senators at the time of filing. The bill would allow students, faculty, and staff to extend their carry rights to inside buildings. Previous bills have fallen short due to fierce opposition from police chiefs, law enforcement, and teachers, in addition to parents and students.
Last year, federal courts struck down Washington D.C.’s complete ban on concealed carry. The district was then obligated to put in a set of laws to allow concealed carry, but the district is still a “may issue” area, where you have to demonstrate need. D.C.’s high crime area residents do not qualify in most cases, as only 8 of 69 applications have been approved.
The Democrats in Congress aren’t going to stop until Americans are out of ways to defend themselves. This week, Rep. Mike Honda introduced a bill to prohibit citizens from owning certain types of body armor. Owning Type III body armor would be punishable by 10 years in prison, though there is a grandfather clause for previous owners. Fortunately, Republicans are in control of both houses, so this may never see the light of day, but for the life of us we can’t understand this bill. No one ever died from owning body armor.
After a victory in Washington State with I594, gun control groups are set on Oregon for another incomprehensible, confusing, unenforceable law. The law passed in Washington has been interpreted a thousand different ways. Dealers are refusing to do transfers because they are not certain how to follow the law. Law enforcement does not want to trap its citizens into breaking a law. Bloomberg and associates are anti-gun, anti-freedom, and anti-common sense. Hopefully, Oregon can put a stop to the insanity before it goes too far.
Finally this week, we have a defensive gun use…though not a shooting. The council was swearing in two new police officers when a man outside the chambers opened fire with a gun on police officers. Two officers were hit, but they are now in stable condition. The attacking male was shot and killed by police officers. The attacker was using a “long gun,” not a handgun in the incident. The defensive use we are happy to report is from city councilman John Elder, who drew his concealed weapon and covered his unarmed colleagues during the incident. Not only was this prudent use of his firearm, but brave. Actions speak louder than words, and that action is great support for responsible gun ownership and use.