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Texans Get Concealed Permit to Bypass Security Lines

Cool.

Everyone from lobbyists to lawyers and journalists is rushing to get permits to carry guns inside the Texas Capitol, where legislators already often tote pistols in boots and purses or stow them away inside their desks.

A unique loophole in a new security procedure means a gun permit is like a special-access pass into the domed building, allowing people who are certified to carry a gun to bypass lines at the metal detectors that were set up after a shooting incident earlier this year.

“Nobody wants to be the one standing in line behind three hundred kids wearing the same colored T-shirt,” said University of Texas political scientist Jim Henson. “If you’re trying to get in and out really quick and there’s going to be choke points, well, people don’t want to have to deal with that.”

There’s now a frenzy for folks to get trained and licensed to carry a firearm, especially before the legislative session begins in January. It’s not required that people have a gun to enter the Capitol through the express lane. Merely holding a valid permit, and presenting it at the entrance, will get them expedited entry.

Posted by Owen at 1800 hrs
Firearms + Politics + Politics - Texas

1. Beat you by 24 minutes.

   Posted by Jed on July 19, 2010 at 1804 hrs
   
   
   

2. Dang it… I have to start reading this blog

   Posted by Owen on July 19, 2010 at 1820 hrs
   
   
   

3. red tape

   http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/faq.htm

   -All state and federal laws apply.
   -10- to 15-hour class taught by a DPS-certified instructor.
   -The weapon can’t be visible.
   -No carrying in schools or on school buses, at polling places, in ... at racetracks and at secured airport areas.  No bars, high school, college or professional sporting events, hospitals or nursing homes, amusement parks, places of worship or at government meetings if signs are posted prohibiting them. Businesses also may post signs prohibiting handguns on their premises based on criminal trespass laws.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 19, 2010 at 1941 hrs
   
   
   

4. Why is this “cool”?  Sounds like a potential security flaw, since the background check for the permit holders likely provides little comfort to those trying to ensure physical security of a gov’t building.

   But thank god gun-toting people don’t have to wait in line behind a school group of pesky kids.

   Yay!

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 19, 2010 at 2004 hrs
   
   
   

5. Those who have had the background check aren’t the ones security needs to be worrying about.

   Posted by Jed on July 19, 2010 at 2012 hrs
   
   
   

6. But thank god gun-toting people don’t have to wait in line behind a school group of pesky kids.

   For the love of god keep the kids away from the slime that is politics.  They still know what it means to be a good person free from unwanted government people.  Don’t screw that up, let them be free.  There’s plenty of time to be a slave to the state and pay the protection money they demand of you.

   This is all George W. Bush’s fault….and Haliburton.  Damn Cheney.

   Posted by Jay4Liberty on July 19, 2010 at 2114 hrs
   
   
   

7. Those who have had the background check aren?t the ones security needs to be worrying about.

   Really? What kinds of things does this background check cover? Psychological profiles? Violent tendencies? Bad tempers?

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 19, 2010 at 2142 hrs
   
   
   

8. Somewhere in Hell Charles Whitman is laughing his ass off

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 19, 2010 at 2144 hrs
   
   
   

9. background check cover: Psychological profiles? Violent tendencies? Bad tempers?

   Yes

   http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_re cords/chl/faq.htm

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 19, 2010 at 2232 hrs
   
   
   

10. George, yes really.  The background check is pretty comprehensive.  It looks for anything that would indicate you are a dangerous person, even drunken driving is considered in most states.  By the way, those of us with a MN Permit To Carry can also carry in that state’s Capital.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 20, 2010 at 0732 hrs
    
    
    

11. Really? What kinds of things does this background check cover? Psychological profiles? Violent tendencies? Bad tempers?

    Yes - it’s hidden nefarious purpose is to keep the liberal Democrats out of the Texas state capitol.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 20, 2010 at 0735 hrs
    
    
    

12. What the story doesn’t mention is that a majority of those seeking concealed handgun licenses have no intention of carrying a weapon of any kind. This is simply a way to get around the newly-initiated security theatre at the Capitol.

    Since Texas only has a 180-day legislative session that meets every other year, that session tends to get kind of hectic, especially during the last few weeks, since, human nature being what it is, legislators tend to put everything off until the last minute.

    What’s most annoying to me is that DPS freaked out over an isolated incident: a crazy person with a gun got into the Capitol and then went back ouside and fired the damned thing. Nobody was hurt and DPS troopers immediately subdued the guy. Yet, faced with an upcoming $18 billion budget shortfall, people just completely lost their minds and instituted a multimillion dollar security boondoggle.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 20, 2010 at 1623 hrs
    
    
    

13. Should have added at the end of the second paragraph:

    Given the crush of tourists during the session, lobbyists (who are the biggest percentage of those seeking permits) didn’t want to have to wait through long lines to do their business.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 20, 2010 at 1627 hrs
    
    
    

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