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Two bills on guns moving forward
Plans would expand concealed-carry, guard owners' identities
02/27/2003
By GEORGE KUEMPEL / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – Bills to protect the identity of licensed concealed-handgun owners and allow them to bring their guns into government buildings and other public places are making their way through the Legislature.
The proposals, backed by state and national pro-gun groups, are sponsored by Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, a Lampasas Republican who has a license to carry a concealed handgun.
Her bill to prohibit local authorities from banning such weapons from city halls and other public places was headed for a vote by the full House after winning approval Tuesday by the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.
The measure is opposed by the Texas Municipal League, which represents more than 1,000 Texas cities.
Ms. Hupp's other bill would do away with a provision in the 1995 law that makes public the identity of those licensed to carry. It is pending in the House Committee on Law Enforcement.
At Tuesday's hearing, Ms. Hupp complained that cities across the state are using a "loophole" in the law to usurp the Legislature's authority to decide where license holders may legally carry weapons.
That authority, she said, rests solely with the Legislature, which has banned the guns from a number of places, including schools, hospitals, correctional facilities, polling places and courts.
Many cities have banned firearms – even those of licensed carriers – from governmental buildings, public parking lots and even buses, Ms. Hupp said. As a result, there is no uniformity, confusing licensed holders, she said.
Ms. Hupp also charged that many cities are begging for lawsuits by "discriminating" against inner-city minority women by not allowing them to bring handguns on buses, even if they are licensed.
"They are telling that nurse that has to go back home in the bad part of town that she can't protect herself in the middle of the night," she said.
Frank Sturzl, executive director of the Texas Municipal League, said the cities he represents have serious concerns about the proposal.
"We are concerned that this bill will force cities to allow handguns in city hall, recreation centers, police stations and even the unsecured areas of airports," he said.
Ms. Hupp said the current law allowing anyone to find out who has a license raises privacy and safety questions. Her proposal would allow only law officers and private investigators to get that information.
"Currently, all a burglar has to do is submit a name and address and find out if somebody at that address has a concealed-handgun permit," she said.
Donnis Baggett, publisher and editor of The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and a vice president of the Texas Daily Newspaper Association, said knowing who may be armed is important to the news media and public alike.
"It's one of many such bills that would close official information that the public has access to," he said.
Ms. Hupp said reporters have no limits in their quest for information. "The media would love to know the type and color of underwear I have in my drawer. If they could get that information, they would love to have it," she said.
E-mail [email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Online at: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dallas/politics/state/stories/022703dntexguns.15f9e.html
Plans would expand concealed-carry, guard owners' identities
02/27/2003
By GEORGE KUEMPEL / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – Bills to protect the identity of licensed concealed-handgun owners and allow them to bring their guns into government buildings and other public places are making their way through the Legislature.
The proposals, backed by state and national pro-gun groups, are sponsored by Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, a Lampasas Republican who has a license to carry a concealed handgun.
Her bill to prohibit local authorities from banning such weapons from city halls and other public places was headed for a vote by the full House after winning approval Tuesday by the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.
The measure is opposed by the Texas Municipal League, which represents more than 1,000 Texas cities.
Ms. Hupp's other bill would do away with a provision in the 1995 law that makes public the identity of those licensed to carry. It is pending in the House Committee on Law Enforcement.
At Tuesday's hearing, Ms. Hupp complained that cities across the state are using a "loophole" in the law to usurp the Legislature's authority to decide where license holders may legally carry weapons.
That authority, she said, rests solely with the Legislature, which has banned the guns from a number of places, including schools, hospitals, correctional facilities, polling places and courts.
Many cities have banned firearms – even those of licensed carriers – from governmental buildings, public parking lots and even buses, Ms. Hupp said. As a result, there is no uniformity, confusing licensed holders, she said.
Ms. Hupp also charged that many cities are begging for lawsuits by "discriminating" against inner-city minority women by not allowing them to bring handguns on buses, even if they are licensed.
"They are telling that nurse that has to go back home in the bad part of town that she can't protect herself in the middle of the night," she said.
Frank Sturzl, executive director of the Texas Municipal League, said the cities he represents have serious concerns about the proposal.
"We are concerned that this bill will force cities to allow handguns in city hall, recreation centers, police stations and even the unsecured areas of airports," he said.
Ms. Hupp said the current law allowing anyone to find out who has a license raises privacy and safety questions. Her proposal would allow only law officers and private investigators to get that information.
"Currently, all a burglar has to do is submit a name and address and find out if somebody at that address has a concealed-handgun permit," she said.
Donnis Baggett, publisher and editor of The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and a vice president of the Texas Daily Newspaper Association, said knowing who may be armed is important to the news media and public alike.
"It's one of many such bills that would close official information that the public has access to," he said.
Ms. Hupp said reporters have no limits in their quest for information. "The media would love to know the type and color of underwear I have in my drawer. If they could get that information, they would love to have it," she said.
E-mail [email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Online at: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dallas/politics/state/stories/022703dntexguns.15f9e.html
