Apr 14, 2011

Lawmakers could carry handguns to most locations under bill.

The Senate Criminal Justice Committee voted Wednesday to let legislators, statewide elected officials and U.S. attorneys carry concealed handguns to locations that are off limits to most concealed handgun licensees. A bill approved by the panel would let those government officials pack concealed weapons at sporting events, and in churches, hospitals and bars - even in businesses that have a policy prohibiting persons from carrying handguns onto their premises.


Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, author of the bill, said he was trying to simplify things for government officials who have a concealed handgun license and want to carry a weapon when they are traveling around, sometimes to multiple locations for speeches or other events. Right now, Patrick said, those officials have to leave their handguns in the car or risk violating the law if they carry a weapon into a place that does not allow them.

The measure, which now goes to the full Senate, would also cover former legislators and selected officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety who have a CHL but are not peace officers. If the bill passes this session, lawmakers and statewide officeholders would join federal judges, state judges, district attorneys, assistant district attorneys and county attorneys who are already exempt from most restrictions on where concealed handguns may be carried. More than 460,000 Texans have concealed handgun licenses.

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