Post by pavel on Jan 18, 2016 11:02:15 GMT -6
AUSTIN — State Attorney General Ken Paxton recently handed Texas gun rights advocates another victory by issuing a legal opinion last month that could limit local governments from prohibiting guns in buildings that contain courtrooms and court offices.
But Paxton’s view — that to avoid a lawsuit, counties and cities may bar the licensed carrying of handguns only from courtrooms and offices themselves — might come as a surprise to state lawmakers who passed legislation in 2003 that sought to expand that specific gun-free zone.
Now, an argument has emerged over the intended meaning of the legislation as hairs are split over the wording of the law.
In 2003, key lawmakers said that their intent was to prohibit guns inside courthouses. And the bill’s sponsor said then that the measure “basically prohibits license holders from carrying in any building in which there is a courtroom,” a view many municipalities have held since the legislation was passed.
Read more: www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20160117-texas-ags-view-about-guns-in-courthouses-comes-under-fire.ece
But Paxton’s view — that to avoid a lawsuit, counties and cities may bar the licensed carrying of handguns only from courtrooms and offices themselves — might come as a surprise to state lawmakers who passed legislation in 2003 that sought to expand that specific gun-free zone.
Now, an argument has emerged over the intended meaning of the legislation as hairs are split over the wording of the law.
In 2003, key lawmakers said that their intent was to prohibit guns inside courthouses. And the bill’s sponsor said then that the measure “basically prohibits license holders from carrying in any building in which there is a courtroom,” a view many municipalities have held since the legislation was passed.
Read more: www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20160117-texas-ags-view-about-guns-in-courthouses-comes-under-fire.ece