Barr Praises Harrold, TX School District
August 20th, 2008 by bbittnerThis afternoon, Bob Barr issued a press release publicly praising the decisions of the Harrold, Texas school district for their recent policy change that allows teachers and staff to carry a concealed handgun on school property. He noted that this may make this particular district one of the safest for students and faculty in the nation. Mr. Barr’s words on the policy change:
The best defense against crime is law-abiding citizens ready and able to defend themselves. The police can’t be everywhere at once, so the rest of us have to be prepared to act to stop crime. That’s why the school district in Harrold, Texas deserves praise for changing its policy to allow teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns. That school will be one of the safest in the country when classes restart next week.
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We need a president who will uphold and aggressively protect the right of Americans to own firearms for any lawful purpose, including, most importantly, defense of one’s self and family, as Suzanna Hupp reminds us. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to buy a gun. But the anti-gun lobby continues to fight to restrict firearm ownership. Barack Obama long has opposed gun rights and John McCain has received only lukewarm C+ ratings from the National Rifle Association. Neither can be counted on to truly protect this most fundamental constitutional right.
Our highest goals as citizens are preserving our lives and freedoms. Gun ownership is a critical means to achieve both of these ends. The American people can count on a Barr administration to uphold and aggressively protect their basic liberties, including the constitutional right of gun ownership.
Neither status quo party candidate has commented publicly in favor of this decision. The requirements for the teachers and other staff who choose to carry a concealed weapon while at school are that they have a Texas license to carry a concealed handgun, are authorized to carry by the district, receive training in crisis management and hostile situations, and use ammunition designed to minimize the risk of ricocheting bullets. This independent school district in North Texas certainly seems to be on the right track in keeping their students and faculty safe from harm. You can view the press release in its entirety here.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Very good stance, and another reason why I am mystified as to why the NRA doesn’t endorse Bob Barr when he is heads and shoulders above McCain on gun rights.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
We should continue to write the NRA pointing out Bob’s stance and report card and continue to ask why they aren’t endorsing him.
Also, I’m glad to see Bob supporting the Harrold TX decision. At last someone who is not afraid to do something to defend our teachers and students!
August 20th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
As an NRA member since 93 - I have let it be known that I will be leaving the organization if McCain is nominated over Bob Barr - McCain / Feingold is only part of the reason McCain should not get the NRA’s endorsement, the NRA spent years fighting this trampling of our 1st amendment rights. McCain has not been the solid 2nd amendment supporter he would like you to believe he is - he cosponsored legislation which could require registration of attendees at gun shows and even ban such shows. Add to this the barely passing “C” grade from the NRA in his last senate run in 04‘, the “F” grade the Gun Owners of America gives him today and reflect on the work he did in 2000 with Americans for Gun Safety, an anti-gun group with a deceiving name, and you get a very different picture than the one he wants us to see - Contrast this with Bob Barr and his steadfast support of the Second Amerndment. I call on all fellow NRA members to join me in calling and writing to the NRA and let them hear how you feel about about a potential McCain endorsement - let them know we havent forgotten recent history - and remind them of the better option - Bob Barr.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Precisely why I am not a member of the NRA. I have been a gun owner my whole life and a Texas CHL holder for 3 years. I’ll be joining Gun Owners of America.
This press release my also move me away from casting a write-in protest vote for Ron Paul and toward voting for Bob Barr. His recent statements are showing that he has truly learned from the folly of his past experience.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
well I hope you do. I don’t know where you live, but in my state, write-in votes don’t count. So, I can’t do a write in vote for Ron Paul. Wanted to. But Bob Barr seems to be the next best thing.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
The superintendent of this school district was interviewed on Lou Dobbs’ radio show today. He’s not a raving maniac. He seemed like a very sensible man. This policy seems sensible in light of the recent years of school shootings. How many lives might have been saved if someone in the schools where these shootings occurred had been armed? It may seem frontier-like, but hey, this is Texas! I am a 5th generation Texan. We like our freedom here! We believe in the Bill of Rights here! We also believe in good sense! When someone behaves like an “outlaw” a little frontier justice might be called for!
August 20th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Every school district in America should follow suite. I’ve never understood the thinking of anti-gun supporters. If you look at the national statistics every state/county/town that has the lowest crime rates also has the most free and open gun ownership laws, and everywhere that has high crime rates has the most restrictive gun laws. You do the math. Just consider, if you were a criminal would you want to operate in a town that promotes concealed-carry or even open-carry? Criminals are going to get guns no matter what, that’s why they are criminals. Taking guns away from law abiding citizens is just plain insanity.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Barr’s camp needs to approach Obama’s gang to set up a one on one debate. The hell with McSame. Tell Obama’s thugs that Barr is going to siphon votes from McCain and the more exposure he gets the more votes he siphons. Those dopes will do the math and decide that no way Obamaniacs would ever vote for someone as far right as Barr and agree to the forum. Once in the forum, just attack McCain, no matter what the topic; Obama is going to sink like a rock before this is over anyway. May not win us the election but it sure as hell will get us a lot more votes.