Action | Promulgation of new regulation banning concealed firearms in executive branch agency offices |
Stage | Emergency/NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 1/27/2016 |
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This proposed regulation is a solution for which there is no problem and does nothing to improve public safety, in fact it does just the opposite. It plays into the hands of terrorists, violent criminals, and the criminally insane who wish to do harm to others while posing the least amount of risk to themselves. We have had no shootings in state agencies and this prohibition on those with a concealed handgun permit, some of whom have active and ongoing threats to their lives, is entirely without any justification. It WILL needlessly and recklessly endangers innocent lives and does absolutely nothing to make law abiding citizens safer.
It is also very important to note that the Governor has no constitutional authority for implementing this regulation. If the General Assembly wanted the Governor to have such power, they would have granted it to him explicitly, as is required constitutionally.
If a private business or private organization chooses to implement a "gun-free zone", we can simply choose not to conduct any business with them so as not to put ourselves at risk. However, we cannot simply choose not to conduct our required business with the government, in state buildings, without unwillingly having to give up our constitutional right to self-defense. The only thing this proposed regulation will do is endanger state employees, law abiding citizens, and the innocent by making state buildings a safe zone for terrorists, criminals, and the criminally insane to inflict their pain and suffering on others.
This regulations should not be approved and the emergency regulation withdrawn.
Please extended the comment period for another 30 days.