In Texas’ hard-charging gun community, the Dallas Zoo is something of a terra incognita.
The property is city-owned — under state law, that would typically mean holders of concealed handgun licenses could carry pistols there. But the zoo is privately run, and it posts “no guns” signs, pointing to exemptions in the statute for “amusement parks” and “educational institutions.”
Gun owners have long argued over the arrangement, and now, a new state law could help settle the debate over that and other aspects of Texas’ gun laws. Starting in September, Texans will have a formal process by which to complain to the state attorney general about government entities that might wrongfully bar concealed guns.
The mechanism, which could result in legal action and a civil penalty, ostensibly targets “no guns” signs put up by cities and counties in clear violation of state law. But its broader impact could actually come from the courts tackling more nuanced areas, such as the zoo.
For those on both sides of the debate, the stakes may never be higher. That’s because in January, Texas will allow licensed gun toters to openly carry handguns — with the state’s existing concealed handgun rules serving essentially as the foundation for that new practice.