Cargill complains to Attorney General about City Hall gun ban
Recently Michael Cargill with Central Texas Gunworks tried to go through Austin City Hall security with his gun.
Security told him he couldn't have the gun inside and soon pointed him to the city's law department.
Cargill says Senate Bill 273, which went into effect on September 1st, gives Second Amendment advocates some options when governmental entities put up signs banning citizens from carrying where it's legal.
"Well Senate Bill 273 says there is something that a citizen can do. We actually can file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's office," Cargill said.
Back on September 1st when the law went into effect, the city still had a 30.06 sign up at the entrance. Council Member Don Zimmerman intervened and turned the sign around.
Security turned the sign back around but it did eventually go away and the Attorney General's office sent a letter to the city considering the matter resolved.
But Cargill says since the city is still giving him verbal notice that he can't carry in the building, he's filed another complaint.
"I'm fighting hard for this because this is a city and state government agency. And for some reason they're not following the law," he said.
In response, the City of Austin sent a statement saying:
"One day out of the month that community court, they hold some type of court session at City Hall. And because of that one day out of the month, they are saying that entire building is a courthouse and that is not correct," Cargill said.
Whether that court is once a month or not, the city responded and said the number of times court is held depends on the number of cases on the docket, which varies.
Cargill says it's fine and perfectly legal to ban guns inside the City Hall chambers during council meetings and while court is being held, but that's it.
He wishes City Hall would just move the security checkpoint to right outside the city council chambers.
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