Oliveira gun vote challenged after airport stop

By MARY MORENO

State Rep. Rene Oliveira being caught carrying a concealed loaded handgun

strikes retired Border Patrol Agent Fred Hawkins and Cameron County Republican

Party chairman-elect Frank Morris as ironic because the Brownsville Democrat

voted against the concealed handgun law in 1995.

Fellow Democrat state Rep. Jim Solis of Harlingen, who also voted against the

bill, downplayed Oliveiras scrape with the law, saying he simply made an

innocent mistake.

I understand it was an innocent mistake and he was given the same treatment

as everyone, Solis said.

Oliveira was a vocal opponent of the concealed handgun bill in 1995 that

proposed to allow Texans to take a training course and receive a permit to

carry a concealed handgun.

More guns mean more violence, Oliveira said at the time. If guns were going

to make it safer, wed already (be living) in the safest society in the

world.

Despite opposition by Solis and Oliveira, the bill passed.

I just thought it was ironic that he voted against the concealed handgun

licensing law and he was obviously carrying one himself, Hawkins said. Hes

doing exactly what he didnt want everyone else to do.

If he had bothered to take the class he would have learned you never take one

into an airport.

Morris called Oliveiras actions hypocritical.

Its very hypocritical to profess one thing and practice something else,

Morris said. It undermines public confidence when you dont practice what you

profess.

His conduct should be beyond reproach because he is setting an example for

his constituents.

On March 23, Oliveira was discovered to be carrying a loaded handgun in a bag

when he attempted to cross a security checkpoint at Valley International

Airport in Harlingen. He said he was carrying the gun without a permit because

of threats he has received.

Over a period of months, Ive received various threats from a particular

individual, he said, declining to elaborate on the nature of the threat.

I normally do not carry a handgun. Its not something I want to do.

I do not condone the carrying of handguns, but this an extraordinary measure

Ive had to take. Ive been concerned about my safety, as well as the safety

of my children, Oliveira said Thursday.

Oliveira further stated he was not violating state law by not having a

concealed gun permit because he was traveling across county lines, which is an

allowed exception to the state weapons statute. Oliveira said he had traveled

to Harlingen from Edinburg, where he has been staying and working, on the day

of the incident.

I dont need a permit, he said, citing the travel defense. Section 46.15 of

the Texas Penal Code states a person is not carrying a weapon unlawfully if

the person is traveling.

Solis said he, too, has received threats, some against his life, but he does

not carry a handgun for protection.

As state reps we do receive threats, he said. Once, we had a man wave a

knife at a staff member, (but) I dont carry a weapon.

The airports police reviewed the Oliveira incident and it decided not to

pursue charges.

Carrying a gun into a secured airport area knowingly, intentionally or

recklessly is a third-degree felony.