Stop the Posting of Unenforceable No Guns Signs

Austin, TX -(AmmoLand.com)- Most TSRA members are aware of the 2015 passage of SB 273 by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) and Rep. Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City) but you may not recall the background which set-up the need for the new law.

In 2003, Sen. Ken Armbrister (D-Victoria) with Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp passed a bill TSRA called “CHL Preemption”, meaning SB 501 reinforced in Texas law that only the State Legislature had the authority to regulate where a licensee could or could not go with his licensed handgun when it came to tax-payer owned property, unless that property was prohibited in statute.

SB 501 passed and most of the confusing, unenforceable signs came down. They were removed from city-owned parking facilities, for the non-secure portion of airports, from a city-owned marina, from tax appraisal offices, etc.

In the fall of 2003, I called about a PC 30.06 sign on a local convention center and was told by the facilities manager she was scraping the signs off as fast as she could. Yes, there were “hold-outs”. The mayor of Mission told a local reporter they justfelt better with the PC 30.06 sign on their library.

Later when I inquired about PC 30.06 signs in school parking lots in Plano, I was told by their legal counsel that the sign wasn’t for “me” and I could ignore it. I haven’t seen a criminal yet stopped by a sign!

As with private businesses, as the number of licensees grew local governments were urged to comply by their constituent.

A decade later and without incident, PC 30.06 began re-appearing on municipal properties.

In 2013 Rep. Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City) filed a bill to create a complaint process with the Texas Attorney General’s office whereby citizens, trying to get clarification or the removal of improperly posted PC 30.06 signs, could get help.

The office of the attorney general would investigate and if the sign was posted on property NOT in current statute, and if the governmental entity refused to comply, they could be fined. The fine is substantial.

The 2013 bill failed due to an over-reaching amendment on the last day of session. I was not pleased.

In 2015, Rep. Guillen took on this same project but this time Senator Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) filed identical language, SB 273, in the Senate.

With help from Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Campbell’s hard-working staff, SB 273 passed.

Not one single new “location” was added to the list of where a licensee could or could NOT carry, only a complaint process and a hefty fine!

Long before licensed open carry was discussed, and before the Virginia Tech massacre highlighted the need for personal protection on college campuses, TSRA successfully backed SB 501 and stopped the encroachment of gun owner’s rights by local government.

Licensees deserve consistency and to believe what they read in the materials they’re tested on during their DPS-written course.

About the Texas State Rifle Association:

Founded in 1919, the Texas State Rifle Association is the largest firearms and shooting sports organization in Texas with nearly 40,000 members. TSRA is also the largest, award-winning state affiliate of the National Rifle Association and is sanctioned by the Civilian Marksmanship Program. As a part of its public education efforts, the association produces a full-color bimonthly publication, TSRA Sportsman, which updates members on current news, hunter education programs, shooting sports competitions, and important issues effecting their Second Amendment rights. The TSRA also hosts an annual meeting every February that features exciting fund-raising auctions, informative speakers, exhibitors, and other events.

For membership or other information about the Texas State Rifle Association, visit www.TSRA.com or call 512.615.4200.