Houston, Texas has just made me do a double-take.
Metro board OKs concealed guns on buses, trains. Riders with permits will be allowed to carry concealed handguns on board.
A showdown about the right to carry concealed handguns on Metro trains and buses had a peaceful ending today.
Metro’s board unanimously approved the policy change this afternoon without discussion. It removes a section of a 1995 regulation that stated no exception to the authority’s weapons ban was provided for concealed-handgun license holders. The new rule prohibits “the possession of dangerous weapons” and “the unlawful carrying of a concealed handgun in or on Metro facilities or vehicles.”
According to Metro attorneys, the old policy was valid until the Legislature passed the 2003 law banning governmental bodies from prohibiting the lawful carrying of concealed weapons on government property unless those locations are specifically mentioned in the law. Transit vehicles and facilities are not among those locations exempted from the concealed-carry law.
I knew that Texas didn’t get their full rights on concealed carry installed until a few years ago, but I did not know that even after that, they weren’t allowed to carry their weapons on public transportation.
Well, congrats Houstonites!
I didn’t know that either…good thing I never ride public transportation!
The law also states that you can’t carry in hospitals, but they must post that if they don’t want you carrying (some places like polling places, amusement parks and athletic events are off limits and you don’t have to be given notice via signs). That worked great for a while, most didn’t bother to put up the signs, but they have started now, which really sucks.