I got a tip from a former legislator last week that, once churches were opened up to guns, the state Capitol would be next. He’d been assured the matter was “taken care of.” I could find no trace of such legislation in the House or Senate last week. I also checked with the secretary of state to be sure that office hadn’t already cooked up some way for a favored class of customer to sneak past the metal detectors with heavy metal. Came up empty
Now comes a further tip that the idea is very much alive. A Republican legislator from Northwest Arkansas reportedly has a bill drafted to allow guns in the Capitol — perhaps even open carry — but only by legislators. The secretary of state would oversee the permitting process.
What are legislators are afraid of? If they should be able to carry weapons in the Capitol, why not everyone else? Concealed weapons are allowed for all in the Texas capitol. Holders of concealed carry permits even get the added benefit of an express lane through the security check points to sidestep field trip groups.
I’m checking with the legislator.
What was that Randy Newman song, “Kingfish”?