Texas Governor Gets it Right
Date: May 2, 2007 12:45 AM
—– Original Message —–
From: “N. W. Clayton” <[email protected]>
To: “N. W. Clayton” <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 10:39 PM
Subject: Texas Governor Gets it Right

It appears that the self-defense angle and the complete ludicrousness
of these “gun-free zones” is starting to gain a little bit of
attention in the press. Several high-ranking officials from the Bush
Administration, including HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, are visiting a
number of states where shooting sprees have occurred in recent years,
and are meeting with local officials in these states in an attempt to
get ideas on how to deal with this type of crime. Yesterday they
were in Texas. Utah is also supposed to be on their list of places
to visit.

While I was expecting this “fact-finding” mission to result in
discussions about the need for more Kumbaya sing-alongs on college
campuses or more federal money for local cops or more federal “gun
control” laws or more federal money for surveillance cameras, etc., I
never expected that the governor of a major state would make a really
sensible proposal. Just goes to show you how impossible it is to
predict things. Below is a link to an article dealing with remarks
made by the governor of Texas following his meeting with the feds.

– Bill Clayton

From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, April 30, 2007:

Link: http://www.star-telegram.com/189/story/86649.html

—- Begin article —–
AUSTIN ? Gov. Rick Perry, mulling ways to stop the kind of murderous
rampages that recently left 33 dead on a college campus in Virginia,
said Monday there?s one sure-fire solution he likes: allow Texans to
take their concealed handguns anywhere.

Period.

Perry said he opposes any concealed gun-toting restrictions at all ?
whether it?s in a hospital, a public school, a beer joint or even the
local courthouse.

?The last time I checked, putting a sign up that says ‘Don?t bring
your weapons in here,’ someone who has ill intent on their mind ?
they could care less,” Perry told reporters. ?I think it makes sense
for Texans to be able to protect themselves from deranged
individuals, whether they’re in church or whether on a college campus
or wherever.”

As reporters began clicking off a list of places where concealed
permit holders face restrictions, Perry cut off the questioning and
made it clear that he meant anywhere at all.

Under current law, secured airport areas, hospitals, courthouses,
bars, churches and schools are among the places where weapons are or
can be banned, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

People entering federal courts in Texas are routinely required to
leave even their cell phones behind.

?Let me cover it right here,” Perry said. ?I think a person ought to
be able to carry their weapons with them anywhere in this state if
they are licensed and they have gone through the training. The idea
that you?re going to exempt them from a particular place is non-sense
to me.”

State Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, called Perry?s proposal ?a
terrible idea.”

?Anybody has a right to tell somebody that they can?t bring their
handgun into their place of business,” Burnam said. ?I think the
governor is just overreaching in a counterproductive way and it’s
kind of typical (of the) governor ? shoot from the hip, literally and
figuratively.”

Perry made the remarks at a news conference after meeting with Health
and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt to discuss ways to
prevent mass shootings and enhance school safety. The discussion
stems from President Bush?s drive to find solutions to such tragedies
in the wake of the carnage at Virginia Tech University.

About 260,000 Texans, who have undergone mandatory background check
and training, are licensed to carry a concealed weapon, records show.
In the last fiscal year, 180 licenses were revoked and 493 were
suspended for unknown reasons, records show.

—– End article ——