TSRA Alert HB131

[Drizzt]

Rep. Lon Burnham of Ft. Worth has again filed legislation (HB 131) that would significantly limit or prohibit firearms (shotguns and rifles) from youth hunters and sport shooters under 17 unless accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. Your telephone calls, letters and faxes are needed to stop Rep. Burnham's legislation as it was stopped in past sessions.

This legislation is opposed by Texas State Rifle Association, 4-H members and their coaches and hunting families statewide.

In past sessions Boy Scouts, 4-H'ers and their coaches, and youth hunters came to Austin from across Texas to testify that this legislation would virtually stop 4-H Shooting Sports and youth hunting. We hoped that would not be needed this session. It will be!

Laws should punish criminals and not restrict or intimidate law-abiding children.

HB 131 is now assigned to the Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee (see listing below for rating and contact information).

The TSRA rating for the members of this committee are immediately after the name. With only one-third "A"-rated members, this is not a favorable committee. Please call or write today and urge them to stop this legislation!

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee Members:

Chairman: Phone Fax
Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) F * 512-463-0510 512-463-8333

Vice Chairman:
Rep. Toby Goodman (R-Arlington) C* 512-463-0562 512-475-1178

Committee Members:
Rep. Elvira Reyna (R-Mesquite) A* 512-463-0464 512-463-1492
Rep. Todd Baxter (R-Austin) A 512-463-0631 512-236-1065
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) ?? 512-463-0669 512-463-5074
Rep. Jim Dunnam (D-Waco) C- * 512-463-0508 512-463-5934
Rep. Terri Hodge (D-Dallas) C * 512-463-0586 512-463-8147
Rep. Joe Moreno (D-Jacinto City) C* 512-463-0614 512-912-8563
Rep. Geannie Morrison (R-Victoria) A* 512-463-0456 512-476-3933
*asterisk indicates incumbent

Capital Address for House of Representative members

Honorable . . .
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910

Please contact the committee and urge them to stop HB 131 in committee and then write to your State Representative. Urge your representative to oppose HB 131 if it comes to the floor of the House.

Legislation can be viewed at http://www.house.state.tx.us

 

[Beren]

Available since Feb. 4th on the State Legislative Watch forum, fwiw.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7352

I don't really understand what the bill is meant to accomplish. Even if your kid is picked up for having a rifle under the text of this bill, the parents could come and get the rifle back at the hearing.

While I am against the bill, it would /not/ significantly impact 4-H shooting sports or youth hunting. If someone 17 or older is in the car with the kid and the rifle, and the parent or guardian has granted "effective consent" (which I would think exists in this example), they are exempt. Likewise, they are allowed to engage in "lawful hunting" though getting to the area where you want to hunt would require a consenting adult, as above.

It's a silly bill that makes alot of wind over very little, and deserves to die a withering death.

How serious is a Class C misdemeanor in TX? (I honestly don't know, that's why I ask.)

Thanks for keeping us up to date.

 

[Greybeard]

Class C Misd. in TX is least serious, but a PIA nonetheless.

I've yet to have time to read the particulars, but it sounds like another law where something similar already exists. Hunters under 17 in TX are already "illegal" unless they have completed a hunter education course OR are within normal speaking distance of licensed adult hunter.