New ‘no-gun’ sign proposed for businesses

Under current Texas law, any business that wants to prohibit guns on the premises must display a sign strictly conforming to the statute, including printing the text of the law in English and Spanish using block letters that are at least 1 inch high.

Such adherence to the law results in large, unattractive signs at all entrances to a business.

Any alteration by owners in the posted message — leaving out a language requirement or using only the graphic symbol of “no guns” — would mean that the law would not be enforceable even against deliberate violators.

State Rep. Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass, has introduced a sensible bill that would make it less onerous for business owners to keep unwanted guns off their property while still keeping within the law of providing a posted notice to those possessing weapons.

House Bill 2405 would allow for smaller signs no larger than 81/2 inches by 11 inches using a standard design: a “pictogram that shows, on a white background, a handgun drawn in black ink within a red circle and diagonal red line across the gun.”

Anyone who sees that sign and doesn’t realize it means guns aren’t allowed is a person who should not be carrying a gun around in public anyway.

This story was originally published April 8, 2015 at 5:22 PM with the headline "New ‘no-gun’ sign proposed for businesses."