State Capitol security update, Austin Statesman 1-29-10

[mr surveyor]

yep, welcome to the courthouse, comrade citizen!

[RPB]

yep, welcome to the courthouse, comrade citizen!

LOL Thanks, If I was born with only one hand, I don't expect everyone to cut off one hand to keep us all equal, and I saw a person on crutches, I'm glad everyone else isn't required to break their legs to keep everyone "equal" ... Since we were "created equal" even though you may have 2 hands and I have only one, I do appreciate the "equal opportunity" to obtain fishing licenses, hunting licenses, Real Estate Licenses, driver's licenses, license to practice law, etc etc etc. Each of those comes with benefits and restrictions.

Restrictions:
A person licensed to drive isn't allowed to drive on certain beaches that are eroding, a CHL isn't allowed to just carry anywhere. A person under 17 isn't even required to obtain a fishing license, that doesn't mean no one needs one, but to be "fair" shouldn't the fish in the "public waters" belong to everyone "equally"?
Actually they do, they belong to "the State," and everyone is an equal part of the State (a Gov't Of the people, By the people, For the people etc) And, "the State" says .... this is what I can do, and This I can't. "The State" says if you want more benefits to do this or that, you have an equal opportunitty to get a license, if you don't want a manicurist license, then don't get one, and you'll be equal to the group that doesn't want to fish, drive, sell real estate, practice law, do manicures, or walk around a metal detector. It's a system of freedom, each individual s free to choose what they desire to do and do the work to obtain that benefit...It's a system of the people equally, a sytem of freedom of choice, not of breaking everyone else's legs to make them equal to the one with a broken leg, not a system of taking away EVERYONE's gun, because a 4-year-old can't carry a gun there and we should all be "equal". Our system, gives everyone an equal opportunity to obtain benefits.

Wait, I can hear it now ... Certified Peace Officers can just walk around metal detectors at Courthouses, that's not fair, they aren't being treated equal, we should take their guns away..... OR, we have the equal opportunity to become a Certified Peace Officer and walk around too. If you want a benefit, everyone has an equal opportunity to do the work and pay the cost to obtain it. I'm not discussing what the system "should be" or what it originally was meant to be, but that's what we have in reality..... System could be better, but it isn't the worst.

I'm just saying, IF metal detectors are installed at the Capitol, (and no Court Secretary office) I'd prefer to show a license and walk around (get in a different line), thereby shortening the line at the detectors, so others who chose not to obtain a license, could enjoy a benefit of my work and paying the cost to obtain a license, by THEM getting through the detectors faster than if I was in the line too, because the line is now shorter. Multiply that by ALL CHL holders entering, and it speeds up their line even more, and creates a longer line for us who have our licenses out to show to the LEO, they may actually get in before we do !!!. ....
Perhaps we should do something to slow their line so it moves at an "equal pace" with our slower line?
<I hear mumbling something about that woman in the front of the CHL line who waited to look for her CHL in her wallet in her purse until she got to the front of the line while all those non-licensees simply walk through a box quickly> (The EXPRESS lane at the store, isn't always the fatest moving line, but if you want to use it, you are free, and have an equal opportunity to choose less than 20 items) If you prefer to get in the faster moving metal detector line, instead of the slower get out your wallet, fumble in your purse, show your ID/CHL line, simply leave your gun at home and you are free to do so.

I'd hope to be in another line so yours can go faster, see how I'm benefitting you?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_ticket" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; An "E-ticket" isn't the same as a "FastPass", your CHL "E-ticket" line may actually move slower than the metal detector line. If you want a "FastPass" you are free and have an equal opportunity to buy one by doing what it takes to get a job working in the Capitol or to become a LEO and bypass all the lines.

That's safer for everyone than disarming, putting loaded guns in trays with a lot of people standing around, maybe carrying them to other rooms, perhaps with people escorting to the other rooms, the occasional sound of a gun slipping off a tray and landing on the floor when "Granny CHL's" arthritis is acting up, handling the loaded gun more putting it in a locker, later handling more getting it from a locker, reholstering etc etc ...

[Dragonfighter]

yep, welcome to the courthouse, comrade citizen!

LOL Thanks, If I was born with only one hand, I don't expect everyone to cut off one hand to keep us all equal, and I saw a person on crutches, I'm glad everyone else isn't required to break their legs to keep everyone "equal" ... Since we were "created equal" even though you may have 2 hands and I have only one, I do appreciate the "equal opportunity" to obtain fishing licenses, hunting licenses, Real Estate Licenses, driver's licenses, license to practice law, etc etc etc. Each of those comes with benefits and restrictions.

<SNIP>

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Equality and liberty relate to rights. It has nothing to do with a persons physical attributes or how they were created. In that, there are practical limitations. You say we are "free" to be LEO or work in the capitol. Within limits, but if I am infirm, too aged or otherwise incapable of enduring the rigors of those duties, then I am not "free" to pursue those occupations. It used to really tick me off when a teacher would say something to the effect of, "You can be anything you want to be." When I have friends in wheelchairs who would love to be a runner, tell them that.

The problem with what you have outlined is this, we are a republic, at least that is what we are supposed to be. The state, county and city governments work for us and serve at our pleasure. Ideal? Yes, but that is the construct and we are the only ones who can make it a reality once more. So it is not equal that LEO's serving at our discretion (civil service rules aside) would be allowed to side step security measures when we, the citizens are to be herded through gates and scrutinized. After all, you can be an LEO with things on your record that would disallow you to receive a CHL.

We are kept contented with our having to go through training, back ground checks, testing and fee payments to exercise our "right" and yet the "system" we have wants to place further and further restrictions on where and when we can exercise that "right". Sounds more like a privilege, we are "allowed" to carry with a CHL. My point being, we shouldn't be saying that "it is not perfect but it is better than most", we should be saying that is "unacceptable, fix it or your fired". History demonstrates that tolerating/ignoring incremental infringements in the name of "public safety" accelerates into a complete subjection of a populace. They need to know in Austin, county seats and city councils across Texas that they don't allow us, we allow them.

No, you don't take away the LEO's weapons and make them go through scanners. You don't bring them down, you elevate the people they work for so that they can exercise their rights. A government should be afraid of its citizenry, that's the way our founders designed it. But if you are so afraid as to want to isolate yourself from the people you ought to be serving, it's time to install a government that's not.

Burnet Placing a court office in a building that serves other purposes should not, and I'd bet under test of law, would not make entry into the building a punishable offense any more than going into a mall with a post office in it. Traveling down a common hallway past the doors does not place you "in the offices" of a court. I would be at every county commissioners meeting, circulating petitions, lobbying and what ever until this travesty was undone. Secure the office if you want to, leave the rest of the building alone.

I guess I am at a boiling point here, take a long hard look at your candidates and vote your conscience, but vote or soon that too will be an exercise in futility.

[KD5NRH]

Hand-scrawled reply (he always makes me not feel so bad about my handwriting ) received today from Rep. Sid Miller agreeing that the Capitol doesn't need metal detectors. Nothing from Sen. Fraser yet, but it's only been a couple mail-days since I sent a letter to him.

I'm going to have to agree with those who have stated that handwritten letters carry more weight. With most letters, I only know that a staffer picked a form with an inkjet-printed signature to send back. With this, I know that my Rep at least had to derive the issue and my stance for himself in order to write out his reply.