Action | Promulgation of new regulation banning concealed firearms in executive branch agency offices |
Stage | Emergency/NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 1/27/2016 |
This proposed regulation will have the opposite of the intended affect by playing into the hands of terrorists, violent criminals, and the criminally insane. 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 and needlessly and recklessly endangers innocent lives.
Disarming good citizens (who are the only ones likely to obey the prohibition) does not make them safer.
Importantly the Governor has NO AUTHORITY for 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.
This proposed regulation is a solution for which there is no problem. It endangers state employees, law abiding citizens, and the innocent by making state buildings a safe zone for terrorists, criminals, and the criminally insane to conduct their actions.
This regulation should not be approved and the emergency regulation withdrawn.
Please extended the comment period for another 30 days.
As the spouse of a veteran who is related in one way or another to nearly a dozen current and/or former service members (including purple heart recipients, veterans, and retirees) from all branches, most of my family supports the second amendment right to bear arms. Many of these relatives have concealed carry permits. And I trust their judgement and marksmanship implicitly. None of them have mental illnesses. None of them are affiliated with extremist groups or belief systems. And all of them are supportive of this country and have served with honor. None of them pose a threat to any law abiding citizen or to the police or government officials. They would, however, lay down their lives to protect even the Governor who is trying to tie their hands. Please extend the comment period and do NOT approve this regulation as it is written. This is not appropriate in any way, shape, or form. This should be put to public vote at the very least.