Update - open carry in texas

[mbt2001]

The Texas Legislature is in session and we need to be bringing the full court press regarding open carry of handguns in this state. I know there is a petition that started the groundswell, but do not delude yourself into thinking that it will accomplish anything; we need to contact every like minded Texan and get them to call. The more that the Senators / Representatives hear from us, the more likely it is that they will do something.

Politicians all think one way and Texas is the worst offender, because our legislature only meets every other year. If they can DODGE the issue, they have virtually defeated it.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx

Obviously today is a no work day, a good day to send an e-mail and print it to mail.

PS if you Senator / Representative is Anti-gun then contact one who isn't citing the fact that your representative is playing partisan liberal politics and cow-towing to special interest groups. Gary Elkins and Dan Patrick are good people to contact if such is the case.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Excellent post and keep in mind there are a couple of other firearm bills that were prefiled before the session started.

When you contact your reps on the open carry initiative, mention these as well.

Potentially a big year for Texas here.

House Bill 267, legislation allowing Texans to purchase rifles and shotguns in non-contiguous states. Currently, federal law allows the interstate sales of such firearms, but a conflicting Texas law only allows residents to buy long guns in the neighboring states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. This state law has prevented the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) from approving sales of rifles and shotguns in 45 other states to Texas residents.

HB 410 by State Representative Carl Isett (R-Lubbock). This legislation repeals the requirement that when stopped by law enforcement a Texas concealed handgun licensees display their license when carrying their handgun. Under current law failure to display the license when carrying a handgun may lead to the license being suspended for 90 days and/or the person charged with a class A or a class B misdemeanor. Law enforcement is made aware of the status of the concealed handgun licensee during the wants and warrants check. Technology has made the old law unnecessary and a potential hardship for licensees. Support HB 410 by Isett!

 

[Deer Hunter]

Don't forget allowing students with a CHL to carry on campus.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Don't forget allowing students with a CHL to carry on campus.

Yeah, that is having trouble getting liftoff, forgot to put that one up.

Senator Jeff Wentworth is shopping the State Senate floor looking for co sponsors.

Call or write your Senator and ask them to support Sen Wentworth's legislation.

 

[mbt2001]

bump...

Call your rep daily, call your senator daily. We are too close and failure means another two years of nothing.

 

[mbt2001]

I spoke with Gary Elkins Chief of Staff and they advised that representative Riddle (R TOMBALL) who was going to introduce the legislation is now NOT going to. I guess the opponents have been vocal and the support hasn't been there.

So unless we mobilize quick and call Riddle, Elkins, and whoever you state rep and senator are then this is DOA and we will not even get a vote.

The TSRA and NRA are not supporting us on this, so if you are sitting on the sidelines, we will lose the opportunity....

 

[MaterDei]

What legislation, specifically, are you referring to, mbt2001?

 

[rbernie]

As far as I understand it, there is no proposed legislation yet. The question is whether we can convince a state rep to introduce and back an OC bill.

The TSRA is pushing for passage of four (4) bills:

SB 730 - By Senator Glenn Hegar (R-Katy)/ HB 1301 by Rep. Stephen Frost (D-Atlanta) to allow on an employer's parking lot the possession of firearms and ammunition when stored in a private locked vehicle and to protect law abiding employees from termination for this possession.

SB 1164 by State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio)/ HB 1893 by State Rep. Joe Driver (R-Garland) Campus Personal Protection Act would repeal the Texas Penal Code ban for the possession of handguns by concealed handgun licensees (CHLs) on certain college and university properties currently prohibited by law.

SB 1188 by Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) HB 267,by State Rep. Dennis Bonnen (R-Angleton) Legislation allowing Texans to purchase rifles and shotguns in non-contiguous states.

HB 410 by State Representative Carl Isett (R-Lubbock)/ SB 838 by Sen. Hinojosa. This legislation repeals the requirement that when stopped by law enforcement a Texas concealed handgun licensees must display their license when carrying their handgun.

They have chosen not to pursue open carry in favor of these bills, and frankly I can't say that I blame them. I think that HB730 and HB1164 are far more important to extending the RKBA in texas than is OC.

I support OC, but I'm not willing to prioritize it over campus CHL and legalizing firearms in locked cars at work. Those two bills alone will extend the reach of the RKBA far more than OC possibly could.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I support OC, but I'm not willing to prioritize it over campus CHL and legalizing firearms in locked cars at work. Those two bills alone will extend the reach of the RKBA far more than OC possibly could.

I hate it, but I have to agree. If we can get carry in schools, OC would be a much easier fight in 2 years. The "blood will flow in the streets" crowd won't have a single argument left after 2 years of legal carry in schools. Too bad it doesn't cover high schools but it's progress.

 

[DHJenkins]

I don't really understand the logic behind the last one.

I would think that what we have in place is better for both ccw holders and LEO's, at least in my neck of the woods.

Is there something that's been happening to people when they present their permit that I've been missing?

 

[rbernie]

The current law makes criminals out of folk who simply forget to present the card. This is sad, because the presentation of the card is unnecessary - the DPS computer system SHOWS the officer that I am a CHL holder when he runs my ID.

Forcing me to present my card does nothing to help officer safety and simply punishes folk for forgetting to show the card.

There is no profit in such a system for anyone involved.