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The Board President of Texans for Gun Safety was quoted in an article on May 1, 2007 in the Dallas News. The article, “Perry: Concealed guns should be allowed everywhere” by Christy Hoppe talked about how Governor Perry said,
“Texans who have concealed-weapon permits should be allowed to carry their guns anywhere in the state, including churches, courthouses and bars.”
The current law prohibits concealed weapons in certain places but the Governor in reacting to the rampage at Virginia Tech feels these restrictions should be revisited.
The article went on to say:
"It's time for us to have that debate in Texas from the standpoint of whether or not a law-abiding citizen in the state of Texas can take their appropriately licensed and permitted weapon anywhere in this state, whether it's on a college campus or wherever," Mr. Perry said.
The governor said deranged individuals don't pay any attention to signs that bar guns on certain premises and that citizens ought "to be able to protect themselves from that standpoint."
Asked whether such a wide- open weapons policy would include bars and courthouses, Mr. Perry said: "A person ought to be able to carry their weapon with them anywhere in the 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 nonsense."
The article commented that with only a few weeks left in the legislative session, it was unlikely that these changes to the laws on concealed weapons would be made this year. However, the governor did sign into law a measure which says that law enforcement can not take away legally owned guns during an emergency such as Hurricane Katrina.
Then the article continued with comments from the president of Texans for Gun Safety and a legislator about Governor Perry’s ideas on concealed weapons and where they can be carried:
Linda Siemers, president of Texans for Gun Safety, said that as long as states cannot filter out those with mental illness from having guns, the existing restrictions should not be lifted.
She pointed out that the killer at Virginia Tech legally bought his guns despite his history of mental problems.
"Carrying guns to work and to church is a terrible idea," Ms. Siemers said. "Businesses and nonprofits should make the rules for what happens on their property."
Especially because of the emotions and anger sometimes sparked in the workplace, "we feel it would be very irresponsible" to dictate to a business whether it should allow guns, she said.
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, who considers himself a gun-rights advocate, said the state should continue to limit the places a person can carry a gun.
"The governor is looking at this issue through the wrong lens," Mr.
Martinez Fischer said.
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