A republican member of the Texas Legislature has thrown his support behind the governor banning the settlement of any Syrian refugees in the Lone Star state by saying that Texas laws would make it too easy for potential terrorists to get guns. State Representative Tony Dale (R-Cedar Park) sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott (R) saying that current Texas laws, combined with how the federal government grants rights to refugees, would allow the newly arrived Syrians to arm themselves immediately, according to Fox7 Austin.

Calling it a “security gap,” Dale explained under federal law a refugee is granted “special privileges” allowing them to get a driver’s license to find work easier, which he believes would allow them to engage in terrorist activities. “So they could get a job in the airport, for example and they could plant something on a plane like we saw in the Sinai Peninsula recently when the Russian airline was taken down, they could board a plane legally in the United States ,” stated Dale.

On the matter of guns, dale proposed amending Texas laws along the lines of liberal California that would provide refugees with certain rights – but make it harder for them to procure weapons. “California when they issue drivers licenses to non-citizens specifically says that it is not to be used for Federal purpose, not to be used for employment and that means it cannot be used to board a plane…and presumably it could not be used to purchase a gun,” said Dale.