TO THE EDITOR:
Texas State Representative Jonathon Strickland seems to have no grasp of what may be in Pandora's Box AKA House Bill 375 "Constitutional Carry."
I'm retired law enforcement, retired federal fire arms instructor of many years, NRA member since the early 1970s, and concealed carry advocate. It is my opinion that to allow untrained, unlicensed people to carry either concealed or open carry is irresponsible.
Law enforcement receives training in marksmanship, weapons retention (officers are still killed annually with their own weapon, taken from them by the Bad Guy), safety, when to shoot and more importantly, when not to shoot. Such knowledge is not innate or conferred the instant a weapon is acquired. If officers need training, all gun owners do. As an instructor, I've seen training bring about a real transformation in skill, creating a safer world for both the firearms owner and those around him. I absolutely believe in the right to keep and bear arms. I believe that with every Right, there is Responsibility. Those who wish to carry should have the training to do so, along with background checks. It's their responsibility to acquire and pay for proper training and apply for the proper checks. It the Legislature's responsibility to ensure public safety and HB375 is the opposite of that.
Jack Hehmeyer
Texarkana, Texas