Editorial: Texas should not honor Virginia’s online gun permits (TX)
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Bruce Jackson
Sep 28, 2012, 9:45:40 AM9/28/12
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Editorial: Texas should not honor Virginia’s online gun permits
Published: 21 September 2012 10:17 PM
Wherever you come down in the perpetual rights-vs.-control gun debate,
at least we can agree that Texas law is Texas law.
And in Texas, if you want to get a license to carry a concealed
handgun, you can.
If you take a 10-hour course with a qualified instructor that includes
an hour of range time. If you absorb state laws on when and where you
may carry. If you learn about the safe handling of a weapon,
especially around children. If you score a 70 on a 50-question written
test and a 70 on a 50-shot test from three distances.
Do all this, pass a federal background check, and in the eyes of
Texas, you may carry legally in our state. This newspaper generally
supports concealed carry, and one reason is that Texas law makes sure
an applicant understands the rights and responsibilities that come
with it.
What no Texan should want is to have someone around who is armed but
has no clear concept of Texas law or how to handle a gun. And that’s
what could happen more often if Texans sign up for nonresident permits
from Virginia, which allows permitting entirely online.
It’s no exaggeration to say that anyone with $39.95, an Internet
connection and one hour can wind up duly licensed by Virginia to carry
a concealed handgun. This not only increases gun danger for everyone,
it cuts the legs from under Texas law.
Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who wrote the Texas statute while a
state senator, worries most about nonresident Virginia permit holders
not understanding our state’s specific gun laws. Virginia’s online
course requires five chapters of reading and watching a video,
followed by 20 true-false questions. Get 15 right, and you pass.
Online customers can take the test up to four times, and the passing
rate is right about 100 percent.
Most concerning, it cuts out the trained Texas firearms instructors
who make sure applicants understand what it means to carry a gun in
our state. Carrying a handgun isn’t the same as placing a bid at eBay.
A 2005 reciprocity agreement means Texas and Virginia recognize the
other’s concealed handgun laws. Normally, this is good for Texas
license holders, who can carry legally in Virginia (and other states
with similar agreements).
In this case, however, Texas should reconsider. If it takes an act of
the Legislature to change this agreement, that’s what should happen —
and as quickly as the coming session. Texas has the correct gun laws
now and doesn’t need to absorb another state’s bad idea.
--
Have you remembered to sign up for the VA-ALERT yet? If so,
are you enjoying it? If not, what are you waiting for? It's FREE!
just click
http://www.vcdl.org/va-alert.html
Published: 21 September 2012 10:17 PM
Wherever you come down in the perpetual rights-vs.-control gun debate,
at least we can agree that Texas law is Texas law.
And in Texas, if you want to get a license to carry a concealed
handgun, you can.
If you take a 10-hour course with a qualified instructor that includes
an hour of range time. If you absorb state laws on when and where you
may carry. If you learn about the safe handling of a weapon,
especially around children. If you score a 70 on a 50-question written
test and a 70 on a 50-shot test from three distances.
Do all this, pass a federal background check, and in the eyes of
Texas, you may carry legally in our state. This newspaper generally
supports concealed carry, and one reason is that Texas law makes sure
an applicant understands the rights and responsibilities that come
with it.
What no Texan should want is to have someone around who is armed but
has no clear concept of Texas law or how to handle a gun. And that’s
what could happen more often if Texans sign up for nonresident permits
from Virginia, which allows permitting entirely online.
It’s no exaggeration to say that anyone with $39.95, an Internet
connection and one hour can wind up duly licensed by Virginia to carry
a concealed handgun. This not only increases gun danger for everyone,
it cuts the legs from under Texas law.
Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who wrote the Texas statute while a
state senator, worries most about nonresident Virginia permit holders
not understanding our state’s specific gun laws. Virginia’s online
course requires five chapters of reading and watching a video,
followed by 20 true-false questions. Get 15 right, and you pass.
Online customers can take the test up to four times, and the passing
rate is right about 100 percent.
Most concerning, it cuts out the trained Texas firearms instructors
who make sure applicants understand what it means to carry a gun in
our state. Carrying a handgun isn’t the same as placing a bid at eBay.
A 2005 reciprocity agreement means Texas and Virginia recognize the
other’s concealed handgun laws. Normally, this is good for Texas
license holders, who can carry legally in Virginia (and other states
with similar agreements).
In this case, however, Texas should reconsider. If it takes an act of
the Legislature to change this agreement, that’s what should happen —
and as quickly as the coming session. Texas has the correct gun laws
now and doesn’t need to absorb another state’s bad idea.
--
Have you remembered to sign up for the VA-ALERT yet? If so,
are you enjoying it? If not, what are you waiting for? It's FREE!
just click
http://www.vcdl.org/va-alert.html
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