Temple, TX -(AmmoLand.com)- On May 12, 2016, Open Carry Texas filed official complaints against the cities of Kemp, Universal City, and Killeen, as well as the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, through the Texas Attorney General for violations of state law in placing signage to prevent law abiding citizens from exercising their right to keep and bear arms in public buildings.
Effective September 1, 2015, the Senate Bill 273 amended Government Code Section 411.209 making it a civil offense for a state agency or political subdivision to wrongfully exclude licensed handgun carriers from entering public buildings with limited exceptions.
Those exceptions, as listed in Penal Code Section 46.03, are:
- (1) on the physical premises of a school or educational institution, any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or educational institution, whether the school or educational institution is public or private, unless pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of the institution;
- (2) on the premises of a polling place on the day of an election or while early voting is in progress;
- (3) on the premises of any government court or offices utilized by the court, unless pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of the court;
- (4) on the premises of a racetrack;
- (5) in or into a secured area of an airport; or
- (6) within 1,000 feet of premises the location of which is designated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a place of execution under Article 43.19, Code of Criminal Procedure, on a day that a sentence of death is set to be imposed on the designated premises and the person received notice that:
- (A) going within 1,000 feet of the premises with a weapon listed under this subsection was prohibited; or
- (B) possessing a weapon listed under this subsection within 1,000 feet of the premises was prohibited.
The City of Kemp has placed illegal signage barring licensees from carrying into the City Hall. After providing notice to the city on May 5, city official responded that they will refuse to remove the signs. Universal City has placed illegal signage barring license holders from lawful carry at the police department and city hall. OCT gave Universal City notice on April 20, which went unanswered. Killeen police department has placed illegal signage on the public entrance to its headquarters. OCT gave Killeen notice of the violation on April 19 and city officials responded that they will not obey the law until forced to do so by the Texas Attorney General. OCT provided notice to the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office on March 26. The county refused to respond to numerous inquiries for a response.
Open Carry Texas will continue to aggressively fight for the right of law abiding Texans to keep and bear arms and will hold government officials accountable for their actions. It is the height of hubris for these government officials to believe they do not have to follow the law while arresting citizens who do not.
OCT is an organization dedicated to the safe and legal carry of firearms in the State of Texas in accordance with the United States and Texas Constitution and applicable laws. About Open Carry Texas: Our purpose is to 1) educate all Texans about their right to carry in a safe manner; 2) to condition Texans to feel safe around law-abiding citizens that choose to carry them; 3) encourage our elected officials to pass constitutional carry legislation for all firearms; and 4) foster a cooperative relationship with local law enforcement in the furtherance of these goals with an eye towards preventing negative encounters.
For more information, contact CJ Grisham at [email protected] 254-383-8238.
About Open Carry Texas:
Our purpose is to 1) educate all Texans about their right to carry in a safe Page | 2 manner; 2) to condition Texans to feel safe around law-abiding citizens that choose to carry them; 3) encourage our elected officials to pass constitutional carry legislation for all firearms; and (4) foster a cooperative relationship with local law enforcement in the furtherance of these goals with an eye towards preventing negative encounters.
For more information, contact CJ Grisham at [email protected] 254-383-8238.
Sooo what is the outcome in the Killeen case?
Anyone know?
Denton County courthouse has both signs on outside windows with security officers and walkthrough metal detectors just inside the doors. I asked last time I was there and the guard stated all of the building is utilized by the court. How true his statement is questionable.
George, your Denton County judges are behind it. That shows what is on their minds. Time to get rid of those judges.
Yes, I have filed 2 complaints myself and I know of a few others…
OCT just wants to take credit for everything when they actually hurt more then help in most cases
Sir, I have heard this argument over and over. The fact is that tbe NRA has been in BUSINESS fir greater than 150 years and has not achieved Open Carry of Handguns in Texas. Open Carry Texas is all volunteers and started only 2 years before the 2015 Legislative Session. We have conducted thousands of Open Carry Walks, education sessions, testifying to Congress, etc.
OCT along with 2 other organizations achieved OPEN CARRY IN TEXAS despite being told we are hurting the cause.
We are about getting it done not bringing in the dough and maintaining our power structure.
The only thing OCT did was prevent us from getting constitutional carry this last session by scaring lawmakers and the average Joe Citizen and helping to invigorate MDA and the like. Their greatest achievement was bringing negative attention to the whole process. The Texas State Rifle Association, in conjunction with the NRA, worked WITH state lawmakers to get a viable form of open carry passed. And they will keep working towards constitutional carry.
The Milam County Annex office complex in Rockdale, Texas, has no signs regarding firearms on the exterior glass doors leading into the building (No 30.06 or 30.07 signs), but just inside on another glass partition is a sign with the wording “No Guns or Knives.” This “govern”ment complex houses the offices of the Constable, the county Health Department, the local Veterans Assistance office, the Tx Office annex, restrooms, and a Job Assistance office. So does this violate current laws regarding Concealed or Open Carry?
I THINK those NoGuns No Knives are Baloney signs, and I THINK are NOT legal restrictions to weapons – as I THINK they MUST say 30.06 and/or 30.07, unless they are specifically listed in the paragraph above……I THINK..:-
If it is not a prohibited area and they aren’t 30.06 or 30.07 signs then they have no effect upon a licensed carrier. If you carry into the area and are given verbal notice under 30.06 or 30.07 that you must leave then do so, but then file a complaint with the AG.
There are forms here to help: https://www.texasfirearmscoalition.com/index.php/forms-main/30-06-notice-complaint-forms
Great, Jay! I’m glad they are and I hope they get quick results! I’d congratulate them too, if I knew who they were! The more complaints against the law-breakers, the better.
No one should have to sue their own government to make it follow its own laws!
EXCUSE ME? This whole publicity blurb makes it seem as if OCT is the only one filing complaints with the AG. I know of many complaints that have been filed by people that have nothing to do with OCT. Like the passage of open carry, OCT is trying to take the credit where they don’t deserve.
I’m not a big fan of OPEN carry – at least for myself – as I think it makes one a target for the nefarious badguy. I carry concealed ALL the time.
But…..the Law was passed to keep every Tom, Dick, and Harry from plastering those 30.06 and 30.07 signs on every ‘government’ building in our Republic. Good on OCT !! And I thought it would be a penalty against the INDIVIDUAL who ordered the signs – not just the gov’t office, itself.
Last I looked, Nacogdoches County and Freestone County have signs restricting guns. Nacogdoches County has a sign with a circle and line through it, Freestone County had 30.06 signs last year and likely has 30.07 signs added since the judge and commissioners there seem to be control people.
Having been around for a half century and seeing the American public slowly giving up their “Ownership” of their government, it’s great to see that Texans and OCT are exercising their right to hold government accountable to the law and the people.
Some are willing to fight harder to keep what they have, than those trying to take it away. Democracy is not about progressivism in its current definition.
Stand tall Texas, be a model for the rest of the country.
‘TEXAS,LIKE A WHOLE OTHER COUNTRY’ !