What's The Point Of The Metal Detectors ?

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) recently did something that makes imminent sense. They installed metal detectors at the entrances to the Texas State Capitol Building (where both houses of the Texas legislature meets). This is long overdue, as county courthouses in the state have had the metal detectors for years now. After all, politics and courts can easily inflame the passions of citizens -- not all of whom have good sense.

Governor Perry tried to stop the metal detectors from being installed, but he was overruled by Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus (both of whom must work in the building). They pointed to an incident that happened just last January, when a visitor to the Capitol was able to fire several shots before being disarmed by DPS officers.

But I have to wonder just how much good the new metal detectors will do. That's because the DPS has created three separate lines for people entering the Capitol Building (pictured). The first is for the general public, and that's the line where people must go through the metal detector. The other two lines get to go around the detector. One of those lines is for state legislators and their employees, and the other is for anyone who has a concealed-carry permit.

That's right! Anyone person who has a state permit to carry a concealed handgun does not have to go through the metal detector, and they can enter carrying a concealed handgun (all they have to do is show the permit to the DPS officer at the door).

Now some of you may be thinking that it must be difficult to get a concealed-carry permit. Not true! In the state of Texas, anyone who can legally buy a gun can get a permit to carry a concealed handgun (all you need is a clean criminal record). You just have to pay a few dollars, take a class on gun laws for a few evenings and show minimal shooting profiency. Anyone who is still breathing would have little trouble getting a permit.

Want to shoot up the State Capitol or shoot a legislator that you think has done you wrong (or is not voting the way you want)? Just get a concealed-carry permit and you can walk your gun right through security (and not even have to wait in the long line for the general public). To me, this makes no sense at all.

I fully understand the right to own and carry a gun that many Texans treasure. I have lived with it for many years and have not complained. But there are some places where it is just not appropriate to carry a firearm, such as places that sell alcohol, county courthouses, and any other government buildings (just try to enter a county courthouse or federal government building with a handgun and you'll be in deep trouble). It should be the same for our state capitol building.

I'm wondering why the state government wasted the money to install the metal detectors, when anyone with a concealed-carry permit can enter legally with a firearm (and don't even try to tell me that all of those people are sensible and would never do anything wrong). These new rules are just a gilded invitation to a future tragedy.

It would not be a violation of anyone's right to own and carry a firearm to ban weapons from the Capitol Building. It would just be common sense.