THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GUN FREE ZONES
Stopping people from killing people is an admirable goal. Most people would not argue that point. How we stop people from killing people is where the argument usually starts because it always comes down to the right to carry a gun and where.
Fight fire with fire. If we arm every citizen, everyone will be able to defend himself or herself and the killing will stop, according to many that are anti-gun control. Take away all the guns. If no one has access to a gun, then the killing will stop, according to those that are pro-gun control.
So far, neither side has been able to win the argument. Why not? The second amendment of the Constitution gives every citizen the right to bear arms. Anybody that wants to own a gun can go and get a gun permit and buy a gun. Once they have that gun, no one has the right to take it away from them unless they commit a crime with it. Seems like the problem has solved itself. Right?
Not quite. Not everyone who carries a gun Is a good citizen. Criminals use guns to commit crimes. Terrorists use guns to shoot masses of innocent citizens to terrorize the public for their political cause. Then there are those people that are mentally unbalanced and “hear voices in their heads” or get some “weird notion” in their mind that makes them kill innocent people. What do we do about them?The U.S. Government decided, and the Supreme Court agreed, that we need designated areas where firearms are not permitted. These are “Gun Free Zones.”
Schools
The Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990 was approved and signed by George Bush that prohibits any unauthorized individual from knowingly possess a loaded firearm, discharge or attempt to discharge a loaded firearm in a school zone. Exceptions to this law are: law enforcement officers. The penalty for violating the law is a fine of not more than $5,000 and imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or both.
Unfortunately, the Gun Free School Zones Act did not prevent the shooting deaths of 225 people on school campuses in the 21st century.
Government operated buildings
Establishments and other areas operated by the federal government are considered as federal gun free zones. These include post offices, courthouses, Veteran Affairs buildings and correctional facilities. If you want to carry your firearm in a federal establishment, you must first seek permission from federal authorities. There are exceptions, though, like for emergency situations, military members, law enforcement officers and contract security.
According to FBI studies of active shooting incidents, 10-15% of masses shooting incidents have occurred in federal buildings in the 21st century.
Private property designated as Gun Free by owners
Some states like Texas, permit private property owners to designate their property as a “gun free zone.” This means that visitors can be asked to leave the owners’ property if they are carrying firearms without permission from the owner. Usually, owners are required to put up “gun free” signage to make it clear to visitors before entering the property that firearms are not permitted.
If you are a concealed carrier, you need to know what areas are designated as “gun free zones” and follow the letter of the law when you are in those zones. Here is what is interesting. A criminal, a terrorist or a mentally unstable person is not likely to worry about getting a legal permit to carry a gun. They are also not going to follow the letter of the law regarding gun free zones either.
In fact, those individuals that were indicted for the mass shootings have admitted that they purposely sought out an area where guns were not permitted because no one would be able to prevent them from shooting people. They also admitted to wanting to end their own lives and take as many people with them as they possibly could so they and their cause would be remembered. It’s kind of like shooting fish in a barrel.
Gun free zones don’t seem to be deterring people from killing other people. But, for now, the law is the law, so get your concealed carry permit, get firearms training, and obey the law in gun free zones. Then, go and support the anti- gun control legislators trying to remove the gun free zone restrictions.
