Should you be able to take your gun to the zoo?
That 'very Texas' question is being debated in the Legislature, as measures have been introduced that would allow cities to ban firearms from 'properties they rent or lease to private organizations, like zoos and municipal golf courses.
The Texas State Rifle Association doesn't even know why this is even an issue.
"Do they think we're going to shoot the animals," TSRA Legislative Director Alice Tripp asked lawmakers. "What's the problem here?"
A companion bill would extend 'gun free zone' protection to indoor and outdoor arenas, gold courses, racetracks, theaters, and museums.
"When you take your grand children to the zoo, or you are going to the Ice Capades, you have every reason to believe that a city owned facility will allow you to walk in with your handgun," Tripp said.
Zoo admission for people with legally carried firearms has been a 'gray area' since the Legislature in 2015 barred city governments from banning firearms in all but specifically enumerated places.
Gun rights groups said the weapons should be allowed because most zoos are owned by cities. But many zoos said they are independent operations managed by their own boards of directors, and some said they should fall under the exemption that covers day care and child care centers, because so many children are found at the zoo on school field trips.
The bill was left pending in committee.