Singer Cancels Austin Show Due to Campus Carry

quote-don-t-let-your-eyes-refuse-to-seedon-t-let-your-ears-refuse-to-hear-ray-lamontagne-91-44-32From the beginning of this academic year, the campus carry law has allowed students at the University of Texas with concealed carry licenses to bring their weapons onto campus.  Due to this law, folk singer Ray LaMontagne has cancelled his show scheducled for Thursday evening at the Bass Concert Hall.  In a Facebook post he stated, “No matter how hard I try to understand the rationale for allowing guns on campus or more broadly, the ‘concealed carry’ law in general, I just cannot in any way support that ideology.”  University officials confirmed that the campus carry law would indeed allow students to bring firearms into the concert venue.

A “Sign” of the Times

open-handguns-prohibited-texas-sign-k2-0012The open-carry law (Section 30.07, Penal Code) becomes a reality in the state of Texas, beginning January 1, 2016.  After that date, anyone with a licensed weapon will be able to carry it visibly in public.  Some locations such as schools, hospitals and sporting events are exempt from this law but any other locations wishing to conscientiously object must install a sign with the following details and size requirements:

— Must appear in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height.

— Must be in both English and Spanish.

— Must be displayed in a “conspicuous manner” at the property’s entrance.

— Must say: “Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly.”

Is it any wonder that the current battle in Texas is not over the weapons themselves but over the signage required to keep them out of personal places of business and churches?   Quite fitting that the penal code section number is, 30.06.

Read more here: ‘No open carry’ signs are likely to trigger next Texas gun debate