If you are a grabber


NEW from THE TRACE: 2021 has been a banner year for proponents of permitless carry. Nineteen states now have no requirement for residents to obtain a license before they carry a gun in public. On April 8, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed House Bill 786, making his state the latest to scrap its permitting requirements. Three others — Iowa, Montana, and Utah — have also approved permitless carry laws this year. Twenty years ago, Vermont was the only state that didn’t require a permit, but since then, the laws have become more popular in Republican-led states. That’s despite frequent opposition from law enforcement groups, which say getting rid of permits makes it harder to know who’s legally carrying a gun. “You're simply going to have more people on our streets and in our neighborhoods, carrying guns with no training and no background check,” said Bill Gibbons, a former public safety commissioner in Tennessee and president of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission. You can read my piece here. — Chip Brownlee, investigative fellow

Hopefully Texas will be added to the list soon...

What irks me is that the issue of a permit or no permit to carry- seems to be totally emotional. I'm originally from Colorado(4th generation). You can open carry no problem unless a particular place (Denver) has some sort of deal. In any event, no problem that I could ever tell. I'll bet it's the same in Vermont, no problem. So....it gets to this idea of a one size fits all law type of legal system. It sure has a lot of problems. For example Marfa is not downtown Dallas. Why should one law cover both places? It is a HUGE inconvenience to folks that will never cause any trouble. Why should their freedom be taken away? I think one option maybe for a Statewide FREEDOM and then if some urban area wants to enact restrictions= let the folks in that area fight it out. Isn't it that the way it worked in the good old days? You are "are the trail" but if you want to wander around Dodge City you have to check your guns- but every place is free.

I question whether Texas will be added to the list. Too many immigrants from elsewhere, California included, that have very liberal ideas.

Things are rapidly changing and not for the better. That wall needs to be on the top part of Texas.

On the house floor today as I understand.

That wall needs to surround Texas!

In most countries the people are not free and trying to become free or risk their lives to get to a place of freedom. It seems odd that we often are willing to have bits of our freedom eradicated for some perceived financial benefit, etc.