From the Office of the
Director….
Regarding the new Open Carry Law
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW….
The Open Carry Law is an extension to the current
concealed handgun law. The concealed handgun law currently allows a license
holder to carry a concealed handgun in most City-owned or leased properties.
The Open Carry Law has extended for license holders to carry their handgun in
the open (holstered) and not limited to being concealed only.
OPEN CARRY LAW
·
The new Open Carry Law becomes effective Friday,
January 1, 2016.
·
The law allows for a citizen with a current
concealed handgun license or new license to carry a handgun in most City-owned
or leased property.
·
The gun must be concealed or holstered in a belt
or shoulder holster.
·
The guns can be a handgun or a long handgun.
ARE LICENSED GUN
HOLDERS ALLOWED TO HAVE THEIR HOLSTERED WEAPONS ON LIBRARY GROUNDS?
·
The Houston Public Library is a public
government entity and is not exempted under the law.
·
HPL may not prohibit licensed individuals from
bringing (holstered) handguns into the library beginning on January 1, 2016
·
Individuals cannot bring in a handgun during:
School-sponsored
events (more details on handling this
situation will come at a later time)
An
election when HPL is serving as a polling site
An
on-going closed-door meeting inside the meeting room.
ARE HPL PERSONNEL
ALLOWED TO REQUEST TO SEE A PERSON’S HANDGUN LICENSE?
·
NO!
·
Only a law enforcement official is able to
request for a person to show their handgun license.
·
Contact HPD if you feel concerned and would like
to have the request made to an individual.
ARE HPL PERSONNEL
ALLOWED TO BRING A HANDGUN ON LIBRARY GROUNDS?
·
The Open Carry Law does not allow ANY City
employee to bring a handgun on government property during working hours.
·
HPL Personnel are allowed to have their
concealed handgun locked in their vehicle during these hours.
·
It is recommended that the handgun is locked and
hidden away from public viewing in the vehicle.
*If any HPL personnel makes a verbal statement
threatening violence of any type (with or without a weapon), you are to report
this incident immediately to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), per
Executive Order 1-50.
HOW TO RESPOND TO A
CONCERNED CUSTOMER OVER THE NEW LAW
Please use the below statement when addressing a
concerned customer regarding the new law:
The Houston Public Library is a public entity and is
not exempt from the Open Carry Law. Therefore, individuals are allowed to enter
the building with their handgun, but it must be holstered in their belt or
shoulder holster as per the law. We do take all of our customers’ concerns
seriously. If you are ever concerned, please feel free to contact us and we
will contact a law enforcement official.
HOW TO RESPOND TO THE
MEDIA OVER THE NEW LAW
Please use the below statement if the media calls a
location regarding the new law:
Please contact our Communications Office for an
official statement from the Houston Public Library.
If they persist…The Houston Public Library is a public
entity and is not exempt from the Open Carry Law. Please contact our
Communications Office for an official statement.
Here is a link about Open
Carry that HPD has distributed to all COH employees
We will also post this
information on the HPL Intranet
Best Regards,
Rhea Brown Lawson
Rhea Brown
Lawson, PhD, Director
Houston Public Library - We link people to the world.
500 McKinney| Houston, Texas 77002
Houston Public Library - We link people to the world.
500 McKinney| Houston, Texas 77002
832-393-1300
The Houston Public Library is a vital member of a dynamic and
diverse local, national, and global community.
I have MY Link. Do you have yours? http://www.houstonlibrary.org/mylink
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