Gov. Perry was on "Gun Talk" yesterday

[UpTheIrons]

Yesterday, Gov. Perry was on Tom Gresham's "Gun Talk" radio show. He talked about the now-famous "coyote incident", the LCP Coyote Special, the state of the CHL in Texas, and he (gasp) deflected most of Gresham's questions on Open Carry in Texas. Perry was ready to talk about everything Gresham asked about (even getting a dig or two in at Bill White) until Gresham mentioned open carry.

I'm NOT trying to restart that argument here, and please don't turn this into another OC vs. CC thread, but I found his non-answers and deflections telling.

Link to the show is here: http://guntalk.libsyn.com/
And the file you are looking for is: Guntalk 2010-05-23 Part A
Perry comes on at about 23 minutes into the show.

[seamusTX]

Gov. Rick Perry is the most pro-RKBA governor that Texas has had since Reconstruction, and probably as good as we could hope for. He has never failed to sign a pro-RKBA bill. If he had not wanted the DPS logjam cleared up last year, it would not have been. He has said that he thinks people with a CHL should be able to carry anywhere a cop can carry.

He is also an astute politician who is running for re-election. He has no reason to take a position on a non-existent bill that would have little support in the legislature that does not meet until next year anyway.

Perry would not earn one vote by supporting open carry.

All that said, I have my points of disagreement with the Governor, but not on RKBA issues.

I normally listen to Gun Talk on podcast, but I haven't listened to this one yet.

- Jim

[G.A. Heath]

go to http://guntalk.libsyn.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; you want to listen to 100523guntalkA.mp3 for the governor's interview.

[UpTheIrons]

He is also an astute politician who is running for re-election. He has no reason to take a position on a non-existent bill that would have little support in the legislature that does not meet until next year anyway.

I agree that Perry is the most pro-RKBA governor out there. I just mentioned the OC thing because I think the assumption is out there that an OC bill would automatically get his stamp of approval. Someone somewhere even said (IIRC) that Perry said that exact thing. Maybe (probably) it was just him playing the political game, and not throwing any ammo to the White campaign. I just heard some uncharacteristic 'waffling' in what he said.

Again, that may just be me, but us redneck preachers have been known to be less than politically astute at times.

[seamusTX]

I think Perry would sign an open-carry bill. I don't see why he would veto it.

The problem is getting it to his desk. Every time this topic comes up, I've asked supporters to tell me if the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker, and committee chairmen are on board.

Meanwhile, he has no reason to take a position on a non-existent bill that few people care about. I don't fault him for keeping his lip zipped about it.

- Jim

[RPB]

Thanks for that .... gonna listen to Rep. Brad Ellsworth too.

nuther pitcher of the "coyote special" special edition LCP ... click it to enlarge
Box from Ruger says "For sale to Texans only"

[texas1234]

I dont think him evading those questions is telling on his stance. There isnt enough support for open carry in the legislature to get it to his desk anyway. seamus is exactly right, why take a position on a hot issue right before an election. There are lots of other things he can focus on to get re-elected other than open carry.

[MechAg94]

Personally, I thought he tried a little too hard at evasion. I think he could have just said that he expected an open carry bill would be debated in the next session and but he can't take a position until he sees what the bill contains.

Either way, I won't knock him over it. I'm not a big OC guy myself, but I like the freedom aspects of it as well as the political advantages it gives to other gun issues. He is light years better than Bill White, IMO.

[seamusTX]

Personally, I thought he tried a little too hard at evasion. I think he could have just said that he expected an open carry bill would be debated in the next session and but he can't take a position until he sees what the bill contains.

I agree. I got around to listening to the program today. Gov. Perry talked too much in response to that question.

But then, when does discussion of open carry not provoke a lot of talk?

- Jim

[UpTheIrons]

Personally, I thought he tried a little too hard at evasion. I think he could have just said that he expected an open carry bill would be debated in the next session and but he can't take a position until he sees what the bill contains.

Thanks for saying what I couldn't exactly put into words. That's what I meant when I posted originally, I just couldn't seem to get the words out right.