Bill Caption

Relating to an application made by a county jailer to obtain a license to carry a handgun; reducing a fee. 

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

This bill would allow a county jailer or state correctional officer to apply for and receive a license to carry a handgun without requiring that the applicant go through the handgun proficiency course. If this bill passes, a county jailer or state correctional officer would not have to demonstrate proficiency, and their original license fee and renewal fee would only be $25. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill creates a special, privileged class of individuals, and undermines the rule of law. This violates our principle of Limited Government, by skewing the fairness of the application of our laws. Though we understand the good intentions of the bill in attempting to streamline the process of obtaining a license to carry for an individual who in their normal course of work carries a handgun, we still believe this to be a special carve out. If the bill were to be amended to allow anyone who took a training course related to carrying a weapon in the course of their occupation, and reduced the fee across the board, we would withdraw our objection. For these reasons, as the bill currently stands, we oppose SB 264.