[Charles Cotton]

SB501, the local government preemption bill for CHL holders, will prevent cities and governmental agencies from posting 30.06 signs on government property. HB878 is the companion bill in the House.

Unlike the House, the Senate does not have a Calendars Committee and we need 21 votes in the Senate to have the bill considered.

Here is the potential problem: Sen. Ratliff who holds an "A" rating walked on the committee vote and his staff has said he will vote against SB501 if/when it is on the floor. We do not know if Sen. Ratliff will vote against consideration of the bill, but if he really wants to kill it, he knows that's the best way. If it gets to the floor, it will pass. The Texas Municipal League (TML) knows this and is working hard to get Senators to vote against consideration.

There are 23 "A+" and "A" rated Senators, with the remaining 8 with B's or lower. If Sen. Ratliff votes "no" on consideration, then we have only a margin of one vote, if every remaining "A" Senator is present and votes for consideration. If SB501 is considered, it will pass, but we need your help just getting it to the floor.

Please call your Senator and ask them to support SB501 by voting for consideration and voting for the bill when it is on the floor. These people need to know this is not a minor issue with gun owners and a "no" vote on either is considered a vote against our rights. As always, please be polite; no one listens to ranting.

I cannot over emphasize the importance of letting Senators hear from us on this issue.

Thanks for your help,
Charles L. Cotton

Here is a link to a web site for locating your Senator, getting phone numbers, etc.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm

[Greybeard]

Glad to see posted. I contacted my Senator (Jane Nelson) a day or two ago. Encourage other Texans to do the same. This (and HB878) is essentially the CHL "flagship" legislation for this session. We will have to live with the results for at least 2 more years. Call 'em, write 'em. Pretty please. :)

[No4Mk1]

Thanks from me too! I have cross posted this over at www.packing.org to get more support. There is a very large TX CHL contingent over there, so hopefully we can get them mobilized!

I was not aware of this concern, and will be sure to call my Senator's office Monday.

[Charles Cotton]

The TML is working like ants trying to get this bill killed, so efforts like yours are critical.

I will post updates when possible at http://www.cottonfamily.com Just follow the link to PSC-IDPA and the "Urgent" button on the menu.

Thanks again,
Charles L. Cotton

[Blackhawk]

Here are their addresses, etc:

SENATE DISTRICT 1 - SENATOR BILL RATLIFF
Capitol Office: CAP 3S.5
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0101
District Address: P.O. Box 1218
Mount Pleasant, TX 75456
District Phone: (903) 572-1887


SENATE DISTRICT 2 - SENATOR BOB DEUELL
Capitol Office: CAP E1.810
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0102
District Address: 18601 LBJ Freeway, Ste. 400
Mesquite, TX 75150
District Phone: (972) 279-1800


SENATE DISTRICT 3 - SENATOR TODD STAPLES
Capitol Office: EXT E1.708
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0103
District Address: 504 E. Hodges St.
Palestine, TX 75801
District Phone: (903) 729-7717


SENATE DISTRICT 4 - SENATOR TOMMY WILLIAMS
Capitol Office: CAP GE.7
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0104
District Address: P. O. Box 8069
The Woodlands, TX 77387
District Phone: (281) 364-9426


SENATE DISTRICT 5 - SENATOR STEVE OGDEN
Capitol Office: CAP 3S.3
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0105
District Address: 7607 East Mark Dr., Ste. 241
College Station, TX 77840
District Phone: (979) 694-2609


SENATE DISTRICT 6 - SENATOR MARIO GALLEGOS
Capitol Office: EXT E1.806
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0106
District Address: P.O. Box 41
Galena Park, TX 77547
District Phone: (713) 678-8600


SENATE DISTRICT 7 - SENATOR JON LINDSAY
Capitol Office: EXT E1.606
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0107
District Address: 15531 Kuykendahl Suite 251
Houston, TX 77090
District Phone: (281) 583-1011


SENATE DISTRICT 8 - SENATOR FLORENCE SHAPIRO
Capitol Office: CAP 3E.10
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0108
District Address: 5005 Addison Circle
Addison, TX 75001
District Phone: (972) 385-9876


SENATE DISTRICT 9 - SENATOR CHRIS HARRIS
Capitol Office: EXT E1.704
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0109
District Address: 4108 Amon Carter Blvd., Ste. 210
Fort Worth, TX 76155
District Phone: (817) 318-0253


SENATE DISTRICT 10 - SENATOR KIM BRIMER
Capitol Office: EXT E1.712
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0110
District Address: 1600 W. 7th St., Ste. 650
Ft. Worth, TX 76102
District Phone: (817) 332-8269


SENATE DISTRICT 11 - SENATOR MIKE JACKSON
Capitol Office: EXT E1.712
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0111
District Address: 1109 Fairmont Parkway
Pasadena, TX 77504
District Phone: (713) 948-0111


SENATE DISTRICT 12 - SENATOR JANE NELSON
Capitol Office: EXT 1E.3
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0112
District Address: 1235 S. Main St., Suite 280
Grapevine, TX 76051
District Phone: (817) 424-3446


SENATE DISTRICT 13 - SENATOR RODNEY ELLIS
Capitol Office: CAP 3E.6
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0113
District Address: 440 Louisiana, Suite 575
Houston, TX 77002
District Phone: (713) 236-0306


SENATE DISTRICT 14 - SENATOR GONZALO BARRIENTOS
Capitol Office: CAP 3E.18
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0114
District Address: P.O. Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711
District Phone: (512) 463-0114


SENATE DISTRICT 15 - SENATOR JOHN WHITMIRE
Capitol Office: CAP 1E.13
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0115
District Address: 803 Yale Street
Houston, TX 77007
District Phone: (713) 864-8701


SENATE DISTRICT 16 - SENATOR JOHN CARONA
Capitol Office: CAP 4E.2
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0116
District Address: 2208 Routh
Dallas, TX 75201
District Phone: (214) 303-1100


SENATE DISTRICT 17 - SENATOR KYLE JANEK
Capitol Office: CAP 3E.16
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0117
District Address: 7777 Southwest Freeway, Suite 102
Houston, TX 77074
District Phone: (713) 272-8929


SENATE DISTRICT 18 - SENATOR KENNETH L. ARMBRISTER
Capitol Office: CAP 1E.14
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0118
District Address: 3205 E. Mockingbird
Victoria, TX 77904
District Phone: (361) 572-8061


SENATE DISTRICT 19 - SENATOR FRANK L. MADLA
Capitol Office: EXT E1.610
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0119
District Address: 1313 SE Military Dr. Ste 101
San Antonio, TX 78214
District Phone: (210) 927-9464


SENATE DISTRICT 20 - SENATOR JUAN "CHUY" HINOJOSA
Capitol Office: CAP GE.5
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0120
District Address: 612 Nolana
McAllen, TX 78504
District Phone: (956) 972-1841


SENATE DISTRICT 21 - SENATOR JUDITH ZAFFIRINI
Capitol Office: CAP 1E.12
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0121
District Address: P.O. Box 627
Laredo, TX 78042
District Phone: (956) 722-2293


SENATE DISTRICT 22 - SENATOR KIP AVERITT
Capitol Office: EXT E1.608
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0122
District Address: River Square Center
Waco, TX 76701
District Phone: (254) 772-6225


SENATE DISTRICT 23 - SENATOR ROYCE WEST
Capitol Office: CAP 3E.10
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0123
District Address: 5787 S. Hampton Rd., Suite 385
Dallas, TX 75232
District Phone: (214) 467-0123


SENATE DISTRICT 24 - SENATOR TROY FRASER
Capitol Office: CAP 1E.15
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0124
District Address: P. O. Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711
District Phone: (512) 463-0124


SENATE DISTRICT 25 - SENATOR JEFF WENTWORTH
Capitol Office: CAP 1E.9
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0125
District Address: 1250 N.E. Loop 410, Suite 720
San Antonio, TX 78209
District Phone: (210) 826-7800


SENATE DISTRICT 26 - SENATOR LETICIA VAN DE PUTTE
Capitol Office: EXT E1.808
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0126
District Address: 3718 Blanco Rd., Suite 2
San Antonio, TX 78212
District Phone: (210) 733-6604


SENATE DISTRICT 27 - SENATOR EDDIE LUCIO
Capitol Office: CAP GE.4
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0127
District Address: 7 North Park Plaza
Brownsville, TX 78521
District Phone: (956) 387-0445


SENATE DISTRICT 28 - SENATOR ROBERT L. DUNCAN
Capitol Office: CAP 3E.12
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0128
District Address: 1001 Main Street, Suite 608
Lubbock, TX 79401
District Phone: (806) 762-1122


SENATE DISTRICT 29 - SENATOR ELIOT SHAPLEIGH
Capitol Office: EXT E1.706
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0129
District Address: 800 Wyoming, Suite A
El Paso, TX 79902
District Phone: (915) 544-1990


SENATE DISTRICT 30 - SENATOR CRAIG ESTES
Capitol Office: CAP 3E.8
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0130
District Address: Bank One Tower
Wichita Falls, TX 76308
District Phone: (940) 689-0190


SENATE DISTRICT 31 - SENATOR TEEL BIVINS
Capitol Office: CAP 1E.5
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0131
District Address: P.O. Box 9155
Amarillo, TX 79105
District Phone: (806) 374-8994