Austin Police Chief On Texas Open Carry Bill: ‘Common Sense Has Officially Died’

[ashling]

http://austin.com/austin-police-chief-on-texas-open-carry-bill-common-sense-has-officially-died/

House Bill 910 will allow holders of registered handguns to openly carry firearms in belt or torso holsters, and police may not stop openly armed individuals to ensure they are licensed. The Texas House voted on Monday 101-42 in favor of the bill, which already cleared the Texas Senate. The very same day, the Austin Police Department held a press conference in remembrance of the victims of domestic violence, marking the start of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

The bill moved forward Monday after Republicans defeated an effort by House Democrats to allow cities like Austin to enforce tighter restrictions on firearms. It now moves into the reconciliation process, and Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has said he will sign the bill into law.

<I>Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo. Courtesy photo.</I>
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo. Courtesy photo.

“If criminals, drug cartels, and extremists had a seat at the policy writing table they couldn’t have come up with [a] better Amendment,” Acevedo wrote on Tuesday morning. “By prohibiting law enforcement from stopping or detaining to check for [concealed handgun licenses], Texas is authorizing within our state lines any and all criminals to carry a firearm. My heart goes out to domestic violence victims and the victims of violent crimes in our State. Through this amendment we are facilitating the victimization of the people we are sworn to serve, protect and lead.”

He also warned that “next time” extremist groups conduct an open-carry protest at the Texas Capitol — groups like the Ku Klux Klan, the Black Panthers, or even supporters of ISIS — police will be duty bound to stand by and watch. “[L]aw enforcement will have absolutely no authority to ensure the people who are armed as they wish……….” the chief trailed off. “[W]hy bother,” he concluded. “[C]ommon sense has officially died and writing any further would be fruitless.”

[Politicalboi]

1. All I can do is laugh

This IS what gun nuts want. May they all decide one day to see who has the biggest gun. I won't blame cops for not responding either. Why should they risk their lives at the hands of fools. Please hurry though. We need Texass to show us how crazy this can be.

[ncjustice80]

5. Because we pay their worthless asses to do so n/t

[Paladin]

7. It's spelled "Texas," here in the Texas group.

Or don't you Californians have any acquaintance with behavior resembling good manners?

[flamin lib]

2. Can you cross post gcra? nt

[ashling]

3. You are welcome to copy and post anywhere you would like

[stephencwebster]

4. Austin Police Chief: Texas Open Carry Law Would Have Protected Larry McQuilliams

Domestic terrorist Larry McQuilliams — an anti-immigration extremist who fired a machine gun at Austin Police headquarters, a federal courthouse, and the Mexican Consulate last November, before an Austin police officer shot him down — would have been safe from police scrutiny right up until the moment be began shooting had Texas lawmakers already passed the open carry law that’s about to land on Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

That’s the opinion of Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, who sat for an interview with Austin.com on Wednesday afternoon. His comments below follow a short essay published Tuesday in which Acevedo expresses dire concern about an amendment to House Bill 910 that would prevent police officers from asking people who are openly carrying handguns whether or not they’re licensed to do so. The Texas House passed that bill on Monday by a vote of 101-42, after defeating an amendment that would have allowed large cities to opt out.

“If [Larry] McQuilliams had a pistol… The only way we would have stopped him [if HB 910 were law] is if he had brandished that weapon in a threatening manner,” Acevedo told Austin.com. “Obviously, he went so far as to shoot up occupied buildings, actually shooting at police officers in front of the main headquarters, but had he been walking around the federal building or the Mexican Consulate with just a gun on his hip, we would have never been able to ask him anything about the gun or about whether or not he had a permit to have the gun.”

More: http://austin.com/austin-police-chief-texas-open-carry-law-would-have-protected-larry-mcquilliams/

[Javaman]

6. Oh mr. police chief, as a Dem here in Texas I can tell you...

that common sense died a long time ago in this state.