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Jusme wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:The only way to pursue "constitutional carry" is with the bill I've already written for 2019. It 1) moves all of TPC §46.035 to §46.03 so as to apply it to unlicensed carry; 2) renders LTC exempt from not only TPC §46.02, but §46.03 as well; and 3) makes anyone who can lawfully possess firearms under state and federal law eligible for a LTC. The Legislature will not pass constitutional-carry unless people are prohibited from carrying in locations currently in TPC §46.035. Removing off-limits areas for LTCs by exempting us from §§46.02 and 46.03 will give a strong incentive to get a license even though it is not required. This will give the Legislature a measure of comfort in supporting constitutional-carry.

This is the bill I'm going to promote, whether or not TSRA backs it or something else. I'm sick of HB560 being ignored for 10 years and I'm not about to support a constitutional-carry bill without providing relief for LTCs that they have deserved for years. I too am tired of "maybe next session."

Chas.

Please keep us updated Charles, also let us know exactly how we can help, beyond just contacting current Legislators. I want to be all in on this, and will do whatever I can. Feel free to PM, email, or even call me, to let me know what I can do. I have no doubt there are others, here, who feel the same.

This will also bring in non-LTC holders, and add more voices to, speak in the ears of the Lege.

Maybe if a thousand of us showed up at the capitol and stood with Mr. Cotton, and get that on the evening news, the legislature wouldn't be so quick to push it aside.

anygunanywhere wrote:
Fixed it for you.

Good one.

Did I want HB 560 to pass? Yes.
Did I think it ever have a chance? No.

HB 560 would have basically given LTC's the right to carry where LEO's have the right to carry. The problem is that the vast majority of the voters see LEO's as being more responsible, trustworthy, and safer than LTC's when it comes to handguns. You can debate that on different points, but it is the public perception. When I talked about this bill with friends, the for and against sentiment was clearly LTC holders yes, non LTC holders no. The arguments against HB 560 included; LEO's have more training, LTC's might not be able to keep their gun from getting taken away from them but LEO's would, everybody can tell that the guy with a badge is a good guy but that doesn't work for LTC.

We all know that statistically LTC's are one of the most law abiding groups of the population. We also know that LTC's commit less crime per capita than LEO's. But making that comparison tends to denigrate LEO's, and is politically a non-starter. The statistics could be presented in a different way, but it would still be a hard sell. You could say that statistically LTC's are the most law abiding and safest group of the population, including LEO's.

The other problem I see with issues like HB 560, and the AG fines for signs fiasco, is that LTC's don't have a lobby. Face it, we don't. TSRA represents gun rights and their paid members, but they are not devoted specifically to issues affecting LTC holders. When legislation is proposed that specifically affects LTC's there is no paid lobby in Austin that I am aware of that works to get that legislation passed. Sure we have people like Mr. Cotton, and others, that work on pro 2A legislation of all kinds, and I am very grateful and respectful of their efforts. But there is not a person who can be introduced in Austin as representing the more than one million LTC holders of Texas. HB 560 was singularly an LTC issue. Fines for signs is an LTC issue. Constitutional carry is not.

There are over one million LTC holders in Texas now. Is that a big enough group to pay a lobbyist? I don't know. Would a paid lobbyist even help our cause? I don't know. But I do know that even among pro 2A Texans, non LTC holders are not terribly concerned or terribly sympathetic to these issues. And that my friends, is something our legislators know as well.

troglodyte wrote:

Lynyrd wrote:If any of our members live in Parker or Wise county, please write your representative Phil King and ask him to support this bill. He is the chair of the committee the bill has been assigned to, Homeland Security and Public Safety. There are nine members of this committee. They will decide whether this bill gets sent to the full house for a vote. Here are the representatives that need to be contacted.

Phil King, Parker and Wise counties - Chair
Poncho Nevarez, West Texas including Pecos, Marfa, and Van Horn - Vice Chair
DeWayne Burns, Bosque County and Johnson County
Gina Hinojosa, parts of Austin
Justin Holland, Collin County and part of Rockwall County
Jarvis D. Johnson, part of Harris County
Will Metcalf, part of Montgomery County including Conroe
Matt Schaefer, part of Smith County including Tyler
Jon Wray, Ellis County and part of Henderson County

Here is a link to the committee where you can find info on each member.

http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees ... ittee=C420

Does it do any good if the rest of use contact them, after all they now represent the all of the State by being on a committee?

How could it hurt? Maybe someone who is more in touch with how the legislature works would care to answer his question.

If any of our members live in Parker or Wise county, please write your representative Phil King and ask him to support this bill. He is the chair of the committee the bill has been assigned to, Homeland Security and Public Safety. There are nine members of this committee. They will decide whether this bill gets sent to the full house for a vote. Here are the representatives that need to be contacted.

Phil King, Parker and Wise counties - Chair
Poncho Nevarez, West Texas including Pecos, Marfa, and Van Horn - Vice Chair
DeWayne Burns, Bosque County and Johnson County
Gina Hinojosa, parts of Austin
Justin Holland, Collin County and part of Rockwall County
Jarvis D. Johnson, part of Harris County
Will Metcalf, part of Montgomery County including Conroe
Matt Schaefer, part of Smith County including Tyler
Jon Wray, Ellis County and part of Henderson County

Here is a link to the committee where you can find info on each member.

http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees ... ittee=C420