This week Ark. Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into law a bill that makes it legal for those with proper licensing and training to carry their handguns into previously off-limits spaces, including state universities, government buildings, and even some bars that choose to allow them.
The bill, which will take effect next year, requires a concealed-handgun license and eight hours of active-shooter training. The training course has yet to be designed. Supporters say the law will make these venues safer for everyone. They also say it's a move in the right direction under the Second Amendment.
Detractors say at least some of the provisions in the bill are foolish. They claim allowing guns in universities and bar, where emotions run high and are often fueled by alcohol, is just asking for trouble.
University officials are upset as well, saying the new law infringes on schools' power to set firearms policy.
Lawmakers appear to agree somewhat and voted Thursday to exempt college sporting events from the new law.
We want to know what you think. Do you support expanding the number of places where guns can be carried, including universities, government buildings and bars? Or are you opposed?
Send your response (50 words maximum) to [email protected] by Wednesday, March 29. You can also mail your response to the Texarkana Gazette Friday Poll, at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. We will print as many responses as we can in next Friday's paper.
Last Week: Bathroom Bills
Last week's question was about pending legislation in Arkansas and Texas that would restrict the use of public restrooms and locker rooms by the gender listed on an individual's birth certificate. Do you support a law regulating bathrooms use according to birth gender? Or do you oppose the idea?
I totally agree there should be a bill that regulates bathrooms. If you are born with male parts, you should be in the men's restroom. Ditto for females. I personally will not use a unisex bathroom without a lock on the door that only one person can use at a time. I don't think too many people would feel comfortable going in a multi-stall bathroom used by men and women. I would never be cruel or bully a transgender person. Where were transgender people using the bathroom before all this came up?-S.S., Hope., Ark.
No, legislators have no business passing a "bathroom bill." Do they have plans to hire a bathroom attendant checking birth certificates of each person lined up for the facilities? You cannot determine the birth gender of a transgender person by appearance, incidentally. This is all about fearmongering. There is no evidence that a child has been molested by a transgender person. Check out the after effect of North Carolina's HB2 law which discriminates against the LGBT community. Millions of dollars have been lost due to many event cancellations in the state protesting the bill.-M.M., Washington, Ark.
Following NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio's support of a "transgender bathroom" bill, the city listed 31 different gender identities that employers, customers, and landlords must use to avoid $250,000 fines. This type of insanity can be expected here, if our leaders bow to the LGBT. But, the children will suffer the most.-D.H.M., Texarkana, Ark.
I favor the bills, it is just common sense. Texas and Arkansas should not be intimidated by dire warnings from activists. The lieutenant governor of North Carolina recently testified before the Texas Legislature that the economic impact on North Carolina has been practically zero since passage of their bill.-S.K., Texarkana, Texas
I am opposed. Two questions: 1) With all the serious problems facing us today, why is so much time being spent on a solution to a non-problem? 2) How would this law be enforced-birth certificate, bathroom monitors? How ridiculous-G.B.G, Hope, Ark.
A major Texarkana department store proclaimed the politically correct message that their stores' bathrooms were transgender. Any store that will allow males to enter the bathroom my granddaughters are using is not a store where my family should be. Our family no longer purchases from that store, either online or here in town.-F.F., Texarkana, Ark.
I, being a female, do not want a male in my dressing room nor my bathroom. Why should 1 percent of the population dictate what bathroom they prefer over what I being 51% of the population wants? For every business that states that a male can come into my dressing room or my bathroom is one less business that I will shop at.-D.S., Texarkana, Ark.
From www.facebook.com/TexarkanaGazette
- The issue isn't discrimination. Do you really want a big, burly transgender man forced to go in your bathroom? Anyone who thinks this law is good has been misinformed about transgender people. A transgender woman looks just like any other woman and you would not have a clue. Unless, of course, she was in the men's room.
- Transgendered people have been using restrooms all along and as far as I know there has been no issue in our area. I say this is a useless bill meant to scare people
- It is just stupid to think it protects kids, there is a greater chance of the children being molested at one of the mainstream evangelical churches.
- Well, if people continue to reject the idea of letting transgendered people use the restroom of their identity they will therefore get their wish and force those big burly men that some women claim to be so fearful of to go by their birth certificates and use the women's restroom. If you think you're afraid of a trans woman wearing a dress and heels in the restroom now, wait until bearded trans men are required to begin using the women's room. You'll wish for the way things were when you had no idea.
- How do any of you actually support this bill? I'm sorry but I do not want any women who are mid- or post-op in the men's room. That is so much more awkward than having a post -op man in the men's room. Who cares what their birth certificate says it's kind of more important who they are. Also why do so many people care that they are changing genders in the first place? Name one way in which it actually harms or even affects you in the slightest and no, made up propaganda about bathroom attacks don't count. I mean how has it truly influenced you in any way. Ill wait.
- Crazy just crazy! Education needs funding and they're worried about who is using the bathroom where. I honestly could care less who is in the stall next to me but I do care that public schools are not receiving the funding they need to serve the children!
- If people choose to be gay or lesbian then that's their choice. I may not agree, but I can't do anything about it. However you should have to use the public restroom that corresponds to what you are born with below the belt line.
- And that is the way is should be. Why should everybody else be uncomfortable because someone thinks they are not what God made them. Don't ask, don't tell.
- So are we having someone checking birth certificates at the door?
- Please. I don't care. Use any bathroom available please. I have been at venues and used men's bathroom because women's was not available. When you gotta go you gotta go. It is still a toilet no matter what sign is on the door.
- I guarantee every person on this thread has used the same restroom as a trans person and had no idea. Why? Trans people aren't stereotypes. They look like everyone else, and 90 percent of them are stealth-which means you wouldn't know they were trans unless they told you. There have been ZERO cases of true transgender people committing any sex crimes in bathrooms. I wish I could say the same about U.S. legislators.
- This isn't about bathrooms, just like it was never about water fountains. This is about a minority groups right to exist comfortably in public, despite the hate and bigotry of another minority group. A trans person making you uncomfortable does NOT negate their constitutional rights to life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness.
- I sincerely doubt they could enforce it if they passed it. I'm against all useless legislation.
- That's what's wrong with this world it needs to go back the way it was in the '40s, '50s and '60s the rest rooms should be men women
- I support the bathroom bills according to birth certificate gender!
- That would be great unless they stop putting birth gender on birth certificates.
- If a guy goes in the same bathroom as my girl don't worrier about him no more same as for a woman going in the rest room with my son.
- Good! It is not discrimination get over it!
- Support.
- Very good unless they find a way around it.