TexasCHLforum.com

Richard_B wrote:I have checked the House website for the status of HBs 3218, 508, 972 and, of course, 700 which died in committee. It appears that all the rest have failed to achieve final action as well. Does anyone have information that indicates this not to be the case?

Thanks

Teamless wrote:

2firfun50 wrote: as another 2 years of false signs is way too long.

This is my whole issue
While I know sometimes it does take a long time to get things done, even over several sessions of Congress, it really shouldn't.
And pushing forward, getting hopes up, hearing positive spins, then being let down is way too much to deal with time after time.

Rrash wrote:

2firfun50 wrote:

TxLobo wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:I'm too mad to comment at this time. I'm going to draft an open letter to Governor Perry sometime next week and I hope our Forum Family will endorse the letter by contacting the Governor in support.

Chas.

Got my support..

I don't have the tact or eloquence of TAM when writing letters, and I sure don't have the full legalese that Chas has..

I look for form letters and try to turn them into my words, or at least some of them being my words, that being said, I look forward to your letter sir. and will throw whatever support I can behind it.

I have the same issue with writing letters. So I too will be waiting.

However, I'd like to get some feedback from the members about the appropriateness of going public with letters to the editors of major newspapers. A polite, professional letter, calling out Senators by name for the region of the newspaper. This is not just a gun issue, but an issue of the Senate attempting to create a special privilege. If they as a legislative body, get away with this, what will they try next?

My two cents:
It's usually not the best idea to write a letter when our emotions are fired up. Sending a letter to a news source - you have to remember that the audience is made up of pro-2A, antis, and mostly, indifferent readers. Unfortunately, most of the major news sources are not 2A friendly, so it is likely that our letters would fall on deaf ears or be used against us. In a large city such as Dallas and Fort Worth, you would likely get the attention of city government, who would certainly do anything they can to prevent this bill, including using our words out of context.

I think we all feel the same as you do. I actually started to draft a letter to Senator Carona, and stopped after about 15 minutes, because I realized while my intentions were good, it wasn't beneficial. My advice: Wait for respected, veteran people such as Mr. Cotton, who understand the legislature process, have a rapport with lawmakers, and know best how to strategize to our advantage. If he feels the need to mass-contact elected officials, he will ask us to do so.

Concerning the dilemma of how to construct/what to write to our lawmakers, I think it would be pretty cool for us to share copies of our letters on this forum.

TxLobo wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:I'm too mad to comment at this time. I'm going to draft an open letter to Governor Perry sometime next week and I hope our Forum Family will endorse the letter by contacting the Governor in support.

Chas.

Got my support..

I don't have the tact or eloquence of TAM when writing letters, and I sure don't have the full legalese that Chas has..

I look for form letters and try to turn them into my words, or at least some of them being my words, that being said, I look forward to your letter sir. and will throw whatever support I can behind it.

CWOOD wrote:

2firfun50 wrote:It looks like HB508 was just killed in the House. Words can not describe my disgust with everyone associated with Senator Carona's amendment and the Conference Committee.

That being said, I was really proud of some of those who spoke passionately of the responsibility to honor the rights of constituents.

CJD wrote:

2firfun50 wrote:

CJD wrote:

2firfun50 wrote:Senate has passed conference committee report on Hb508

So what does this mean for the bill?

We're waiting on the house to act. They have been debating on SB1 (budget) for the last hour.

What did the committee agree on? Is the controversial amendment still intact?

CJD wrote:

2firfun50 wrote:Senate has passed conference committee report on Hb508

So what does this mean for the bill?

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

2firfun50 wrote:The conference committee report for SB1907 has been accepted in both the house and the senate.

I'm trying to find out what happened. It's my understanding the House amended the committee report. If so, the House must have changed their rules because conference committee reports have always been subject to a single up or down vote without amendments.

Chas.

jmra wrote:

nightmare wrote:That's what they said about LEOSA ten years ago. I hope nobody was holding their breath.

Who is they? You can be a glass half empty person if you so choose. I see forward movement due to the great work of men like Chas and others who are dedicated to the restoration of our rights. I believe like them that these steps are positive in nature toward achieving that goal.

jmra wrote:

artx wrote:Before y'all run Carona out of town on a rail, have you looked at the pro 2a bills he has helped with in the past? There are a lot.

Also, after watching the TX legislature fairly closely for 4 sessions now, I agree with Chas that Carona's amendment helps pass a bill like hb3218 in upcoming sessions. Before going with the emotional response, think about how pro gun laws actuall get passed in Texas.

The general flow of pro 2a bills that are contraversal in the TX legislature goes like this:

1) Exposure - bill is introduced but has little chance for passage. May get a committee hearing or one house floor vote, but not tremendous progress.
2) Groundswell of support and debate - bill is heavily debated in committee, is supported by a sizable 'contact your reps/senators campaign', may get through one house but ultimately fails. This can continue for several sessions (employer parking lots is good example). TSRA, NRA lobbyists help generate support and influence representatives/senators to vote for the bill.
3) bill overcomes hurdles and is eventually passed. Examples like the HB 508 modifications help here (hey, you allowed yourselves to do this! Besides, nothing bad happened, just like we predicted).

TSRA and their lobbyist (Alice Tripp) helps tremendously with this process.

In short, do I like the 'some animals are more equal than others' scenario as it exists for a couple years? Of course not. But I can see how it can help long term.

FYI judges and prosecutors today can carry into off limits locations.

in the long term I believe in works in our favor.