Rep. Lance Gooden press release
As the special session of the Legislature began last week, State Representative Lance Gooden (R-Terrell) filed HB 34, which would make it legal for prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys in Tampa like Mike G Law to openly carry a fire arm. Gooden said he filed the legislation in response to the murders of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McClelland, his wife Cynthia, and Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse.
“After Mark’s death, I asked Mike McClelland if there was anything the legislature could do to help make him and his prosecutors safer.” Gooden said, “He didn’t hesitate and told me they needed to be able to carry openly, just like other law enforcement officers. DAs and ADAs face threats from defendants on a daily basis, so we must act to ensure they have the option to carry a firearm for protection.”
Gooden filed a similar bill during the regular session, but in a move to kill as much pro-gun legislation as possible, the Democrat chairman of the committee refused to grant it a hearing. The bill never made it to the House floor for a vote.
Now that Gooden has filed HB 34, it is up to Governor Perry as to whether or not it will be on the agenda for the special session. Gooden supported legislation to allow all Texans to openly carry, but has focused specifically on prosecutors’ rights to protect themselves since the tragedies in Kaufman County.
We need it for ALL citizens, not just prosecutors…