A recent article in The Washington Post raising skepticism of the passionate gun culture in Texas has resulted in many Second Amendment activists applauding the state for its extensive gun rights.
On Tuesday, The Washington Post published the article titled, “In Texas, guns are everywhere, whether concealed or in the open.” It appears that the article is trying to invoke a sense of alarmism and condemn the state of Texas for its lack of gun restrictions.
The article starts by highlighting the ubiquity of firearms in Texas, saying that Texans are “surrounded by guns” and mentions various places where guns are commonly found, from boots and bras to purses and trucks. It also notes that Texans often bring guns with them to various activities, including fishing, attending church, and going to the movies.
The article goes on to point out that Texas has refused to implement the gun control measures that are commonplace in liberally-ran states.
“Unlike California and some other blue states, Texas has no state firearm sales registry, no required waiting period to buy a gun, no red flag law guarding against the mentally ill or violent having weapons, no restrictions on the size of ammunition magazines and no background checks for guns purchased in a private sale.”
The Washington Post
However, gun control legislation like waiting periods and “red flag laws” are a hindrance to law-abiding gun owners and do little to stop criminals from carrying out acts of violence.
In recent years, Texas has relaxed several gun restrictions, introducing measures like permitless carry, which is often referred to as “constitutional carry.” The state has also allowed students to carry handguns on college campuses.
The high rate of gun ownership in Texas is attributed to its unique culture and practical needs, such as self-defense, property protection, hunting, and pest control. Guns are viewed as tools for many Texans who lead diverse lifestyles far different from urban areas in blue states like California and New York.
The Washington Post attempts to make a correlation between high gun ownership and mass shootings, citing USA Today data that indicates Texas has experienced more mass killings than California, despite having a smaller population. The data defines a “mass killing” as those with four or more fatalities. However, this data purposefully excludes instances of gang violence, killings related to drug deals, and robberies that result in killings. By purposefully omitting this data, it gives the impression that states like Texas are more dangerous than cities with high levels of gun control like Chicago or Los Angeles.
Many individuals interviewed in the article share a common sentiment among gun owners: carrying a firearm is a means of protecting themselves and others from random acts of violence. One individual who was asked if he was going to carry his firearm in a movie theater responded, “Of course” and cited the Aurora movie theater shooting in 2012.
The Washington Post attempted to criticize Texas for its passionate endorsement of gun culture. But by doing so, it points out the exact reasons that a well-armed and well-trained society is necessary for the security of our country.
This piece first appeared at TPUSA.
