New York legislators are set to exempt ex-cops from the SAFE Act’s unconstitutional provisions. Texans may scoff at Empire State politicians trampling on their residents’ natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms, but Lone Star state pols are no less guilty of enacting a two-tier legal framework for gun owners. To wit this from trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com: “Earlier this week, lawmakers added language into a bill that was designed to levy penalties for keeping guns out of public buildings where they should be allowed. The new language said the nine statewide elected officials and all 150 members of the Legislature who held concealed handgun licenses could carry their guns anywhere in Texas.” And then it got worse . . .
Under state law, CHL holders are prohibited from carrying guns into a handful of public places, including bars, sporting events, schools and federal buildings. Also excluded are privately-owned buildings that have a no-weapons sign posted.
When the bill author, Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City, [above] came back with the bill, some of his colleagues were upset, including [Rep. Kenneth] Sheets.
Guillen took the bill into a conference committee with senators. It was reported back on Saturday, but instead the only major change was that more elected officials — this time Congress — was added to the exemption.
OK, hold it. Why should ANY politicians have ANY different treatment than ANY Texas taxpayer when it comes to exercising their gun rights? Ready?
Guillen said no members of Congress had requested the provision, but that he’s heard from many elected colleagues about numerous threats they’ve received and that the provision is meant to increase their safety.
Bullshit. More to the point, public servants packing heat should adhere to same laws that apply to their constituents. To suggest otherwise is to undermine the rule of law. And guess what? I’m not the only one who’s pissed off at these perfidious pols.
Sheets said he’s heard from plenty of people since The News first reported the provision.
“The news cycle over the past 48-hours has made it very clear that our constituents don’t like the notion of lawmakers giving themselves special privileges and putting ourselves in an elite class above our constituents,” Sheets said.
Once again, gun rights are not a right – left issue. It just looks that way. The struggle against gun control is a fight between individual liberty and government tyranny. Period.