| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Negative | Negative |
HB 278, if passed, would modify the Penal Code (Section
46.035) to allow those in defense to prosecution to intentionally display a
handgun in plain view of another, in public, provided if at the time the
defense owned a concealed carry license, and was a district attorney, assistant
district attorney, criminal district attorney, assistant criminal district
attorney, county attorney, assistant county attorney, or municipal attorney.
HB 278 is an inappropriate bill as it creates a special privilege
for a certain type of citizen. It is unfair to essentially grant a certain
class of Texan the right to open carry while denying it to others. We support
open carry generally, but not when so strictly constrained. Open carry laws should apply broadly to citizens of the state rather than only to specific, favored groups of citizens based on their occupation. As such we oppose
HB 278.