NRA Advocates for Legal Changes in Texas After Harden’s Arrest
The National Rifle Association (NRA) announced on Tuesday that it is pursuing “legal fixes” in Texas to prevent future arrests for gun-related charges, like the one faced by NBA player James Harden.
Harden was detained early Saturday on suspicions of illegally possessing a handgun after an unholstered weapon was discovered in his vehicle, as reported by Sporting News. The NRA has come to Harden’s defense, expressing its intention to tackle this issue through legislative means.
James Harden was arrested because his legally owned firearm was not in a holster in his car, even though Texas permits carrying firearms. The government should not micromanage how law-abiding citizens secure their guns.
“While we respect law enforcement, this case underscores the unnecessary technicalities in current laws that can trap responsible gun owners,” the NRA stated in a comment to the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF). “The NRA is dedicated to finding a legislative solution in Texas to ensure that other law-abiding individuals are not unfairly arrested for simply exercising their Second Amendment rights. We will continue collaborating with lawmakers to strengthen constitutional protections and eliminate unnecessary restrictions that do not improve public safety.”
Gun Owners of America (GOA) swiftly condemned the arrest, mentioning in a post, “Texas has a constitutional right to carry, yet James Harden was arrested for not having his legally owned firearm secured in a holster.” They emphasized, “The government does not have the authority to micromanage how law-abiding citizens secure their firearms.”
According to Texas state law, firearms that are visible must be stored in a holster. Texas is among 29 states that have adopted “constitutional carry,” meaning a permit isn’t needed to carry a firearm.
This law was established in Texas in 2021, eliminating permit requirements despite pushback from anti-Second Amendment activists.
Harden was taken into custody at 3:41 a.m. on Saturday, and was released on a $100 bail just before 5 a.m. He is due in court on Monday facing misdemeanor charges.
Neither Harden nor the Cleveland Cavaliers have responded to requests for comment from DCNF.
