TX - Gun Bill May Put Police in Danger

[FWiedner]

Gun Bill May Put Police in Danger

A bill that police say could put officers in danger is sitting on the governor's desk waiting for his signature, News 4 WOAI has learned.

Many drivers in Texas have a permit that allows them to legally carry guns, but hundreds of thousands drivers are about to have the same rights without a permit thanks to House Bill 823.

Police are worried people will carry the guns into their cars with a loaded gun.

“You could be 16 and 17 years old cruising Military Drive on a Friday and Saturday night, packing your Mac-10 and your 40 caliber guns, and it would be completely legal,” Jim Jones with the San Antonio Police Officers Association.

“I wouldn't feel safe,” Maria Oliver said. She is against the gun bill. “A lot of people have road rage and they will shoot you if you get in front of them.”

One of those incidents happened just last month. Nate Nicols was a victim of road rage on the north side. Someone shot his car.

“I heard a gunshot go off and glass hits me everywhere,” Nicols told News 4 WOAI.

Some people say it is their right to bear arms regardless of permit.

“Road rage people, they're going to carry guns whether you pass a law or not,”gun bill supporter Shelia Kelly said.

But, police said the governor should veto this bill.

“We actually have more laws restricting juveniles and minors in possession of alcohol than we do in possessing a firearm,” Jones said. “There is no minor possession of a firearm.”

Officers said if the bill is signed, they will have to treat each traffic stop as if the driver was armed.

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=2B13AC31-7F29-4554-B2A5-D6EF0A0AD3EE

*FW Note:

To the best of my knowledge, cops already treat everyone they stop as if they were armed.  When was the last time that anyone saw a traffic stop where the acting officer did not put a hand on his weapon?

My curiosity in this though, is why is the safety of cops more important than the safety of the public?  Why is it automatically assumed that an armed civilian is a danger to the public, and more specifically, to the police?

Whom exactly is the law intended to protect?

 :?

[muzzleblast525]

People are going to carry guns in Texas, no matter what!  I don't have a problem with responsible people carrying guns, heck, in some counties, they still carry them in guns racks on the back windows of their trucks.  But, this might be more about handguns.  The problem is not the law, but the punishment.  The good people of Texas just don't put people in jail like they should.  This goes for judges, district attorney's deals and juries.  Heck, just about a month ago I arrested a guy for burgarly of habitation, 2nd degree felony where one can get 2-20 years.  Well, heck fire, they dropped it to a "simple theft" and gave the guy 3 days in the county jail and cut him loose.  Talke about a pissed off victim.

So, carry a gun for protection, no problem, but be foolish and get arrested, punish them.

My ramble.....

[jrcanoe]

My curiosity in this though, is why is the safety of cops more important than the safety of the public?  Why is it automatically assumed that an armed civilian is a danger to the public, and more specifically, to the police?

Whom exactly is the law intended to protect?

 :?

I also wonder about this. Police chose to take their jobs knowing the risk.  I didn't therefore my safety is more important. I don't care that police can't see in my car with the tinted windows. I care that the bad guys can't see in. Bad guys can't tell if my beautiful 16 year old daughter is driving or her armed to the teeth ugly old man.  Police should come to terms with the fact that they are paid targets or get out of law enforcement. I won't go as far as saying police shouldn't be armed but the bad guys should get 1 free shot before they are allowed to fire . Better 10000000 cops die than 1 innocent civilian reaching for his wallet.

[jgalar]

Its the same BS "Wild West like shootings in the street" statements that are made when a new state allows concealed carry. A law abiding person will still be law abiding even if they are armed.