Elephant home invasions are on the rise in Texas, I guess
The glorious state of Texas is bringing you
this awesome story of open carry justice.
At the behest of the City of Houston which was prompted by a prominent Texas gun rights group, the Houston Zoo has been forced to remove all "no guns" signage from its premises.
Attorney Edwin Walker with Texas Law Shield, a legal services firm for gun owners, sent a demand letter to the Houston Zoo and its corporate entity and the city's parks and recreation department on Sept. 3 asking that they take down all 30.06 (guns prohibited) signs at the zoo.
Texas Penal Code 30.06 is the law that says one cannot come onto private property with a concealed gun. Even if you have a license to do that, because you're an American hero fighting crime and you cannot stop watching
The Outlaw Josey Wales. So, since the Houston Zoo is a privately owned Zoo, one would think the signs would be warranted and legal but
not so fast hippie.
Walker noted in his letter that the zoo's 30.06 sign was in violation of Texas Government Code §411.209 because, though the zoo is privately owned, it sits on property owned by the City of Houston
Accordingly, it is not a place where firearms or concealed handguns may be prohibited under Texas Penal Code §46.03 or §46.035.
Texas Penal Code 46.03 and 46.035 clearly says that the places you cannot have a gun only include (amongst other things):
(2) on the premises where a high school, collegiate, or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking place, unless the license holder is a participant in the event and a handgun is used in the event;
(3) on the premises of a correctional facility;
(4) on the premises of a hospital licensed under Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, or on the premises of a nursing home licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, unless the license holder has written authorization of the hospital or nursing home administration, as appropriate;
(5) in an amusement park; or
(6) on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship.
I don't see "Zoo" in there. Amusement park, places where there are kids, Churches (even the Jewish kind of Churches!). No Zoo! Case closed.
The Zoo is still reeling a bit. In my opinion they don't want to lose pro-gun customers and are trying to suss out how to diplomatically tell the community to get a grip and no allow guns into the Zoo.
On Monday, zoo officials said in a statement that they were "investigating the legal implications of the request" as they honored it in the meantime.
"We do recognize that this has the potential to confuse or concern our guests and members and we want to emphasize that this will not alter our number-one priority, which is the safety of our guests, employees and animals.”