The State of Texas helps returning vets reintegrate back into a peaceful stateside society!

It's a rare day in hell that goes by without feeling I live in some kind of Lala Looney Land. This example from yesterday (don't worry, I'll blog today's later) comes from my own Lone Star State of Texas.

In an article that appeared in the El Paso Times, I learned Texas has come up with a number of ways to welcome its Iraq war vets back home; to make their transition stateside easier as a means of expressing our gratitude to them.

Seven different laws were enacted but I didn't manage to read them all. No, I only read the very first one which was way too insane to warrant reading further, to wit:

"Getting permitted to carry a concealed weapon in Texas will be cheaper or free for current and past soldiers. A concealed handgun license costs $140 regularly. It will be free for current soldiers or those who served in the previous year. For other veterans the cost will be $70."

Note that according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, one out of every three US soldiers returning from active duty in Iraq needs mental health treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Worse, one in every five soldier is seriously impaired by it.

It's nice to know that Texas wants to cut some slack for these returning vets by providing them with free licenses to carry concealed weapons. It'll help them handle those traumatic flashback moments triggered by the backfire of a passing car or stadium screams from fans after the home team scores a touchdown this fall.

(It's nice to know, however--being a vet myself--I'll be eligible for a reduced concealed weapons license fee too--a tempting offer, just in case a weapons skirmish breaks out in the stadium parking lot during a pre-game tailgate party.)