Campus Carry bill Tx

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farson135

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OK for those of you who don’t know HB 750 is a bill that would allow students, faculty, and staff who have a CHL to carry inside the buildings on college campuses in the state of Texas. Private colleges are exempted from this.

If you have Facebook here is the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus page that announces the event.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131672306905531

If you don’t have Facebook the gist is that we will be meeting at the Capital Building (exact location TBA) at 9:00 AM on Wednesday March 16. Once there we will talk to as many of the house members as possible until the actual hearing starts at 2:00 PM. We are expecting the hearing to go on until 6:00 PM but it may go later.

I any of you live in the Austin area please try to show up for this (this is not just for SCCC members) and invite anyone who might be interested. I understand that many of you have jobs (I myself asked for the day off) but this law seems to have a good chance of passing although it is certainly not guaranteed. If you can’t show up (or you live in another area) we would still appreciate it if you spread the word to anyone who might wish to come.

Also if you want to contact the committee members:

http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/committee/?committee=420&session=81 (thanks to Flintknapper for reminding me)
 
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I am a staff member of a state community college and also have a carry permit. I think it should be my right for my own protection and that of others around me from deadly body harm.
 
Well if you would like to get involved there is a chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus in Tennessee. You can have a look on their website and if there is not a chapter at your college then you can start one. Remember although most of us in SCCC are students there are many adults who work on campus who join us.

http://www.concealedcampus.org/state.php?sid=73
 
From NRAILA.Org

"Lastly, on Wednesday, March 16, the House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety will consider House Bill 750, NRA-backed legislation sponsored by state Representative Joe Driver (R-Garland) that would allow Texas Concealed Handgun Licensees to protect themselves on public college and university campuses. The committee will also consider House Bill 86, a bill similar to HB 750 filed by state Representative David Simpson (R-Longview); House Bill 1167, a measure authored by state Representative Van Taylor (R-Plano) that would allow Texas Concealed Handgun Licensees (CHLs) to carry on community college and technical school campuses; and House Bill 1356, legislation sponsored by state Representative Lance Gooden (R-Terrell) that would allow Texas CHLs who are faculty, staff or employees of Texas colleges and universities to carry on campus. "


Sums it up
 
Update from SCCC

I am posting this message that was sent to me in full for anyone who is interested in the meeting. However the gist is that you can view the hearing online (point 3), if you are attending what you need to know (points 8-10), and if you would like to speak at the hearing what we would like you to do so we don't bog down the proceedings (point 7).

Subject: Additional Info on Wednesday's Committee Hearing for HB 750
Dear Campus Carry Proponents,

Please be aware of the following:

1. This Facebook event is now public, so you can post it to your profile, other people’s walls, group pages, fan pages, etc. We need to spread the word about this committee hearing and drum up as much support as possible.

2. There is a chance that the committee hearing may start late and/or run late, so even if you have to work on Wednesday, you may still be able to stop by after work.

3. If you want to check on the progress of the committee hearing from work or home, you can watch the live video stream here: http://www.facebook.com/l/9f2d90KbHX4nXPS4wvDm87-SBuw/www.house.state.tx.us/video-audio/

4. This is the HOUSE committee hearing. There is a rumor (as yet unconfirmed) that the SENATE committee hearing will take place the following Tuesday (March 22). So, if you want to show your support but can’t make it to the House hearing, you should look into the possibility of attending the Senate hearing.

5. If you want to brush up on your talking points by reviewing the facts, statistics, and arguments supporting campus carry, you’ll find that information here: http://www.facebook.com/l/9f2d9JeVi6MohNX7y1HD_zy_HcA/www.StudentsForCampusCarry.org

6. The committee hearing isn't scheduled to start until 2 PM, but we desperately need people to show up early and help us lobby the 172 legislators who aren't on the committee. We'll meet on the Capitol steps (south side) at 9 AM. We'll then divide up into lobbying teams and disperse at approximately 9:15. If you show up late and miss us, call (512) 921-1265 (ask for Scott), and we'll tell you where to find your team.

7. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: We need as many people as possible to show up at the House committee hearing and fill out position cards. The position cards are how the committee determines how many people showed up to support each side.

If you feel you have something compelling to say, we encourage you to also provide written testimony to the committee (bring at least 20 copies, and give them to the committee clerk).

We are NOT asking people to testify in person. If too many people provide oral testimony (especially if many are saying basically the same thing), it will seriously annoy the legislators and significantly dilute our message. Believe it or not, too many oral testimonies supporting campus carry could actually hurt our chances.

If you feel you have a particularly compelling story (i.e., you’ve been the victim of a violent crime, you have a disability that makes you particularly vulnerable to assault, you’ve been threatened on campus, etc.), and if you're willing to testify in person, send an email to SCCC Texas Legislative Director Scott Lewis (scott@ http://www.facebook.com/l/9f2d9hNG8JgnQB5_y6H09zmDjAw/campuscarry.com), and he’ll arrange to place you on SCCC’s official witness list.

8. Parking is available in the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage at 1201 San Jacinto. The entrances are on 12th St. and 13th St., between Trinity St. and San Jacinto St. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1.00 for each half hour thereafter (maximum daily charge: $8.00). Accessible parking is available with accessible routes to the Capitol. Metered spaces are available throughout the complex. THE VISITORS LOT WILL FILL UP EARLY.

9. You'll find maps of both the Capitol complex and the Capitol building here: http://www.facebook.com/l/9f2d939lg...b.state.tx.us/spb/plan/floorplan/florplan.htm

10. If you have any questions about logistics (alternative places to park, concealed carry in the Capitol, availability of food and restrooms, etc.), post them on the event page, and we'll answer them as quickly as we can.

We thank you for your continued support of this important issue and look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Sincerely,

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus
 
legislation would allow handguns on university campuses

College pupils in a dozen states would be given new legal rights with a new bill. The legislation would allow handguns on university campuses. Those advocating for these laws say that firearms with pupils would make college campuses safer. Those who are in opposition to the legislation have a simple argument. More guns on campus mean that tragedy is much more likely
 
Thanks to all who helped us

For those of you who don't know the measure HB 750 passed the committee last night. There were about 20 SCCC members and various members of the community there to register their support. Interestingly enough the people against the measure seemed to actually set up a schedule for each of their group to come in and give a generic speech. Either that or by some weird coincidence 10 people named Katy, and 5 people named lily, etc , decided to sign up at the same time and they all began with I support the 2A but it will be bad because it will cause more deaths (why it will cause more deaths on TX campuses than on Utah, Colorado, and Virginia campuses and even the outside world is beyond me), it will cost money (verses more security apparently), and it will cause people to leave TX schools.

But I am not really here to complain (just wanted to vent a little) instead I would like to ask for a bit more support if possible. The bill might have gotten out of committee but it still has to be voted on in the house and in order to do that the calendar committee has to let it through with enough time to be voted on. So here is a link to the list of members of the Texas Calendars Committee and if you have time please contact the members and ask them to refer HB 750 to a floor vote.

http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/committee/?committee=050&session=82
 
Here are the Phone numbers of the Calendar Committee Members:


Hunter, Todd – Chair - (512) 463-0672
Bonnen, Dennis – Vice Chair - (512) 463-0564
Branch, Dan - (512) 463-0367
Coleman, Garnet - (512) 463-0524
Cook, Byron - (512) 463-0730
Geren, Charlie - (512) 463-0610
Keffer, James L. - (512) 463-0656
King, Tracy O. - (512) 463-0194
Kolkhorst, Lois W. - (512) 463-0600
Lucio III, Eddie - (512) 463-0606
Ritter, Allan - (512) 463-0706
Rodriguez, Eddie - (512) 463-0674
Solomons, Burt R. - (512) 463-0478
Truitt, Vicki - (512) 463-0690
Zerwas, John - (512) 463-0657
 
Texas SB 354- Concealed Carry on Campus

For those who don’t know HB 750 (concealed carry of campus) passed the Texas House Committee and is in the Calendars Committee. The Problem right now is that in the Senate it is stopped their bill (SB 354) in the Criminal Justice Committee. I am unsure exactly what happened (I had to leave early and I can’t get the video to work) but it appears that they did not have the necessary votes to get the bill through without amendments.

Right now we are trying to get people to call members of the Criminal Justice Committee (also the members of the Calendar Committee but that is on the other topic) and register your support. It doesn’t take much time; all you have to do is call and register your support for bill SB 354.

The Numbers are:
John Whitmire - Chair - (512) 463-0115
Joan Huffman - Vice Chair - (512) 463-0117
John J. Carona - (512) 463-0116
Rodney Ellis - (512) 463-0113
Glenn Hegar - (512) 463-0118
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa - (512) 463-0120
Dan Patrick - (512) 463-0107

Thanks to all those who help.
 
Trying to get this same thing passed in Idaho. The universities are fighting it big time, claiming they should be allowed to decide what is safe for students. They are also making a case that college students are somehow more likely to shoot people because they drink, get upset about relationships, etc... My first thought was that everyone, not just students does those things. Then there is also the sometimes less obvious fact that university policies don't keep guns off campus anyway, and if shootings were going to happen, they would have happened already.
 
I saw that that was going on in Idaho, good luck to all of you.

Personally when I was at both hearings I told the Committee to think about this, “how is campus different from the rest of the world”? I even gave several examples, such as that despite the fact that this hearing is rather stressful nobody was shooting each other so why would it be different on campus. The response I got from one senator was that the day is still young. Even the chairman proved his bias when he stated that there were more Antis than Pros on the speaking list despite the fact that looking at the witness lists it is about 50/50.

They are also pushing in the senate bill to make it optional to public schools by a majority vote but one wonders whether they have ever heard what Franklin said about democracy. Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. I wonder what the Senator would say if UT Austin by majority vote decided to get rid of the 1st and 4th Amendment for all their students?

Oh well hopefully the officials in both our states (and all the others as well) will actually have a moment of clear thinking and pass the Campus Carry bills.
 
The Idaho campus carry bill died in the state senate today. It wasn't exactly voted out. Instead the senate state affairs committee heard testimony from a Moscow, ID police chief and a University of Idaho representative. Then they voted to amend the bill, but that vote failed. So the bill is essentially stuck forever in limbo; or basically dead. Good luck to you guys in Texas though.

You can see/hear the testimony from the chief and university rep on youtube. Search for "HB222."
 
When did that happen? I don't see it on the texaschlforum.com page or in the local newspaper? You sure?
 
gavelwhacker said:
The Texas bill has passed and Governor Perry's signature is all that remains.

No, it didn't. SB354 was heard in committee last week and is awaiting a vote. HB750 is still in the Calendar Committee, and they still need to be hearing from people in support of the bill.
 
That's what I thought. The Calendar committee is the risk as it was before. I've done the e-mails to them to see if they get off the X.

As we all know that's the strategy. Everyone can posture that they support the RKBA and then kill it through chicanery.

As Ms. Tripp pointed out, Perry could have fast tracked the legislation but didn't. Don't see him on the tube pleading for the bills to get to him.
 
It looks like the Senate Committee will be voting on whether to allow the bill out of committee today so if you have not called the Senators yet please do so before 1PM. It is suggested that you call at least these three Senators (at the bottom) and tell them that we want the bill without amendments. The only amendments they are proposing (that I know of) are to make the CHL optional on public as well as private universities.

Sen. John Whitmire – (512) 463-0115

Sen. Joan Huffman – (512) 463-0117

Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa – (512) 463-0120

Thanks for all your help.
 
Emergency Senate Meeting Tomorrow on SB 354

Senate Hearing at 11:45am
Senate Criminal Justice didn't vote on the bill yesterday in their regular meeting. Instead they're meeting at 11:45am tomorrow (Thursday) in the Senate chambers.

Senator Ellis (512) 463-0113 ) is going to offer an amendment to let public universities opt out. YOU NEED TO CALL HIM AND TELL HIM YOU OPPOSE THIS! Schools can ALREADY decide whether to allow concealed carry on campus or not—this is an underhanded attempt to Gut our Bill.

What you can do?

1. Attend the vote tomorrow.
Meet outside the Senate Chambers at 11:30am. It's 2nd floor, East side of the building. If you're late, the meeting is in the Senate chamber.

You can park in the Capitol Visitor Parking at 12th and San Jacinto. Feel free to bring a small sign or your Official SCCC T-Shirt

2. Call Sen. Wentworth: DO NOT let public schools opt out! (512) 463-0125.

We are letting private schools opt out since they are private property but not public universities since they are public property and state funded.

This you’re your absolute Last chance to make sure our bill goes through—call, show up and don’t let them keep us disarmed! Enough people have been raped and killed already. Show up tomorrow to let them know that Enough is Enough!

Chase Jennings
TXSCCC State Director
 
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