TexasCHLforum.com

I called both my State Rep and State Sen regarding support of the bills
providing for campus carry and the parking lot bill. I noticed the Rep (Dem) has
now signed on to the parking lot bill. I received a letter in the mail today
from my State Sen (Rep) saying he has joined Sen Hegar as a co-author of SB730.
I appreciate both officials support of the parking lot bills in their respective
House or Senate areas of government.

Neither have responded to the issue of the campus carry bills. These 2 items
were the only issues I brought to their attention in my phone conversations.
Granted, I only spoke with their staff members. However, I left the appropriate
SB & HB bill numbers, and requested each contact me when they had been able
to review the proposed bills and made a decision to support or oppose (since
staff had no idea).

Maybe campus carry is too hot a topic for them to take a public stance in
advance? If I don't hear from either one, what is a reasonable amount of time
to wait before contacting their offices again? I don't want to be a pest, but I don't
want the campus carry issue being placed on the back burner, so to speak.
It's taken almost 2 weeks to receive the letter I got today.

My personal agenda is CHL to be able to carry anywhere LEO can carry. I know it
can/will be done in small steps.

In case I've never said Thank You to Dr. Cotton for your efforts and this web site
I'm doing it now. Thank you.

I just checked who has signed onto what....in my above post I said my
State Rep (Dem) had signed on with the parking lot bill....that was incorrect....
he actually signed on to the campus carry bill....(Rep Joe Driver from Garland
rocks).
I am elated. Now I just need my State Sen to get on board w/ campus carry
and my State Rep to support the parking lot bill and I'll be a happy voter!

It strikes me as bureacratically easier for the staffs of the senators and representatives (and thus more effective) if letters and emails and phone calls deal with one issue at at time, instead of a laundry list or even a double-barrel. It would let them sort and pigeonhole an individual communication without taking any extra steps to make sure "it counts over here as well." So I have limited my communications to one topic per contact. (Altho I think I will check into my rep's local office next week and go thru the list when face to face with the staff).

However, that is only a supposition. Mr. Cotton, or anyone else that has actually worked with our state legislature, do you know?

elb

Will these apply to employees only? Can a business still ban customers and visitors MPA car carry?

megs wrote:Will these apply to employees only? Can a business still ban customers and visitors MPA car carry?

Yes.

Chas.

ELB wrote:It strikes me as bureacratically easier for the staffs of the senators and representatives (and thus more effective) if letters and emails and phone calls deal with one issue at at time,

It also makes for a bigger stack of letters on each issue. I tend to address one bill in the body of the letter, then thank them for their stated position on another issue in a short closing.

SB730, the parking lot bill in the Senate, is set for public hearing in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday, March 17that 1:30pm, if the Senate has adjourned, or upon Senate adjournment if that comes after 1:30pm.

You can watch the hearing by going to Senate Live Feed and selecting the Criminal Justice Committee. If you don't see anything going on at 1:30, check to see if the Senate is still in session for the day.

We have all of the witnesses lined up, and in this committee that won't be many.

Monday would be a great time to call and/or fax your Senator again and ask them to support SB730 - employer parking lots!

Chas.

I got a very nice followup letter from Jodie Laubenberg's office today in the mail, reitering her support for the parking lot bill, reminding me that she sponsored the bill, and thanked me for my interest.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:SB 730/HB1301 provide employers immunity from civil liability for any injury or damage that may result from storage of firearms in locked vehicles, unless the employer is grossly negligent.

What would constitute gross negligence on the part of the employer regarding a firearms stored in an employee's locked vehicle? The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is possibly failing to report a BMV that the employer is aware of. (or possibly discouraging the employee from doing so, for whatever reason)

And, for that matter, how would this apply to someone who uses their personal car for, say, outside sales?

While we're at it, what if I get one of these and carry it to my desk?

An email message from the NRA today notes that this bill will be coming up in Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, March 17, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee will consider Senate Bill 730 sponsored by State Senator Glenn Hegar (R-18).

Simply stated, this NRA-backed legislation would permit employees to transport and store lawfully-possessed firearms in locked, private motor vehicles while parked at work.

Please contact the members of the Senate Justice Committee and urge them to support SB 730. A list of committee members can be found below.

State Senator John Carona (R-16)
512-463-0116

State Senator Rodney Ellis (D-13)
512-463-0113

State Senator Glenn Hegar (R-18)
512-463-0118

State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-20)
512-463-0120

State Senator Dan Patrick (R-7)
512-463-0107

I called all the Senators on the Justice Committee to urge them to move SB 730 along so the rest of the senate can get it into law, and thanks Sen Hegar for co-sponsoring it (his aide seemed really happy I called with support). Most aides just took the message to pass along, but Senator Patrick's aide, without prompting, told me he supports it.

elb

In response to my phone call a week or so ago I received a letter (dated March 5, 2009) from my State Rep. Tan Parker. He mentioned both HB 1301 and HB 1893 and stated "As a strong advocate for protecting our second amendement rights, I will continue to support legislation that allows law abiding citizens of Texas to exercise their right to bear arms. You can rest assured that I will keep your thoughts firmly in mind when this issue is discussed on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives."

I just e-maile my state rep. and Senator..I will post their asnwers.

I received a letter in the mail from Senator Dan Patrick basically expressing his support for the Parking Lot Bill while reiterating his belief that it should be limited to the bill as written and not effect the business owners rights as a consequence.
I should have brought it to work...darn.

What does this mean "left pending in committee?" I have not had a chance to watch the video yet. Did the committee vote to allow this bill to go before the house for a vote? Will the committee vote?