SB 65 introduced by Sen. Nugent limits the ability of state and local governments to restrict possession of firearms in public buildings, including schools and courthouses.
Provides that a person who possesses a valid Indiana license to carry a handgun may not be prohibited from possessing a handgun on land or in buildings and other structures owned or leased by: (1) the state or a political subdivision of the state; or (2) a nonpublic elementary school, nonpublic secondary school, or nonpublic postsecondary educational institution. Provides exceptions for airports and penal facilities.
I guess this is a fighting fire with fire kind of bill. Initially, I thought this was a completely wacky bill. And, on balance, I think I’m still against it. But, it’s not as stupid as it looks. I’m not passionate about the right of disgruntled ex-spouses to tote firearms into divorce and custody proceedings in the courthouse. But, I think the security measures we have to implement to keep guns out of public buildings are expensive and diminish us as citizens. Our ability to prevent the harm that will be caused by nutjobs is limited. To even make a small dent, we have to expend great sums on security forces and machinery. And, we have to consent to routine searches in order to enter our public institutions and participate as citizens.
Still, Sen. Nugent doesn’t come at what I view as the benefits of this bill directly. So, I suspect he has different benefits in mind. This bill probably comes from the perspective that views the solution to Columbine and Virginia Tech as more guns. I don’t really see it this way. I view those tragedies as a lamentable price we pay for living in a free society.
And, as a final note, as a pro-local government guy, I don’t like the State telling local officials what they can and can’t allow into local government buildings.
[tags]guns[/tags]
Senator Ted Nugent?
Protecting Hoosiers from the deadly affliction of Cat Scratch Fever.
Good thing this wasn’t allowed in the Lake County government buildings last week. They still haven’t mailed out our 2006 (payable 2007) bills, but if you wanted them for deductions you could come in and get a printout from the auditor’s office and then pay them. The line was awful for the treasurer’s office-but I was smart. I found out I could pay the bill at a local bank, so my toalt wait time was fifteen minutes.
I don’t think this will reduce the security measures. They’ll still have metal detectors and x-rays, but they’ll just give the gun back to the person that has a permit.
I think this is more of a “eat your own dog food” thing. If the state says that it is OK for someone to carry a pistol into a bar and into Chucky Cheese, then why can’t they do it in a government building?
http://www.rockcandyrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/Nugent%20Weekend%20Warriors%20(1).jpg
the only “senator” nugent I’d vote for.
the hoosier one, drank, drove, wrecked, and senator Wyss never peeped.