Guns in Texas psychiatric hospitals could harm patients, advocates say

Mental health advocates have condemned Texas’ new firearms law for allowing the open carry of guns in state psychiatric hospitals, arguing it could negatively impact patients’ treatments and could lead to an uptick in suicide rates.

The state hospital in Austin took down its signs banning guns this week, the Austin American-Statesman reported, though officials have requested that if visitors enter with their weapons, they at least keep them hidden.

“With the new law in effect, we are putting up signs asking licensed gun holders to conceal their firearms or leave them safely in their vehicles before going into our state mental health hospitals,” said Carrie Williams, a spokeswoman for the state health department. “While licensed visitors are legally permitted to carry on our hospital campuses, our patients are being actively treated for psychiatric conditions and generally it’s best not to expose them to weapons of any kind.”

On New Year’s Day, Texas became the 45th and most populous state to allow some form of open carrying of handguns. Open display of long guns such as rifles was already legal, though a rarely-exercised right. The law repurposes concealed handgun licenses as “licenses to carry”, meaning that licensed Texans may now visibly carry guns in hip or shoulder holsters in many public places.

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http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/08/texas-open-carry-gun-law-psychiatric-hospitals