TexasCHLforum.com

Charles L. Cotton wrote:1 million Texas hunting licenses are sold to Texas residents annually; there are over 600,000 Texas CHLs; Texas gun owners number in the multiple millions -- approximately 300,000 to 350,000 are NRA Members, 381 are TFC Members (and it's free).

Apathy is rampant and this is the political climate in which we work. Yes, there are things I cannot say at this point.

Chas.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:I hate the phrase "guardedly optimistic" because it's so over used, but it applies to my feelings at this time. Many people, me included, were very concerned about the appointment of an El Paso Democrat, Joe Pickett, as Chairman of the House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee. It appeared to play into the hands of liberal, anti-gun Democrats because that is the most important House committee for gun owners in Texas.

So why am I feeling better about major bills this session? In spite of tremendous pressure from within his own Party in Texas and elsewhere, Chairman Pickett scheduled public hearings on two high profile, emotionally charged bills and he did it earlier than in last session. I'm speaking of campus-carry and open-carry bills. We also expect votes on those bills to be voted on in a timely fashion, i.e. one week after the hearings. If the votes occur as we have been led to believe, then there is every reason to believe the House will not be an impediment to passing pro-gun bills. That said, this isn't my first rodeo and only time will tell, but again, I'm "guardedly optimistic."

Chas.