“providing private security to prevent parking lot gun sales...”
This usually involves off duty cops on OT paid by the proprietor.
Police depts do what their chief tells them to do. Chiefs are political hacks that obey their political masters(usually a mayor and usually a liberal).
“(usually a mayor and usually a liberal)”
In Austin, always liberal.
The real issue here is the BATF involvement. It is not mentioned in this article, but in a previous similar article from the Examiner.com does state that.
Some other sites are a bit more out in the open, but I admit caution is in order to prevent getting too carried away.
If the BATF (Holder) did pressure the Austin Police to do this there is a Serious Question of Legality. It is clearly not legal to “force” this. Voluntary agreement between lesser & lessee is another matter.
But parking lot gun sales where the seller is not a FFL aren't illegal. Where do they get off telling him he has to prevent legal transactions?