Call To Action From TSRA - HB 972 & 700

[TrueFlog]

This Thursday, March 14th, several important pieces of legislation will be considered in House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety.

A word of thanks to House Committee Chairman Joe Pickett (D-El Paso). Campus Carry and Open Carry are being heard earlier in committee this session than in previous ones, always a good sign for gun-owners.

Bills on the list to be heard in HSPS Committee include:

HB 972 by Rep. Allen Fletcher (R-Tomball) contains language hammered-out over two previous sessions and during one interim study by the Legislature. It would allow adult students, faculty and staff with a concealed handgun license the option of carrying during their day to day activities including while on campus. Two other bills, HB 1077 and HB 1078 filed by Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt (R-Lexington), work toward this end and all are supported by TSRA. These three bills must move through the committee process.

Another pro-gun bill of special interest to Texans is HB 700 by Rep. George Lavender (R-Texarkana) to allow those with a concealed handgun license the option of open carry. A major concern has been for a resurgence of PC 30.06 postings on private property targeting those who carry openly but impacting all with a license. This is being addressed by a committee substitute which would create a PC 30.07 sign restricting only licensed open carry. Texas is following Oklahoma's passage of licensed open carry. The Mississippi Legislature is in the final stages toward passing "unlicensed open carry".

...

Committees often Vote on issues the following week!

Please contact all the members of Homeland Security and Public Safety by phone or by email. Please be polite and respectful and urge them to support a quick bill passage. Urge the vote "for" our bills and request "reporting" be done promptly. These are the next two stages toward bill passage.
Committee Members:
Chairman Rep. Joe Pickett (Thank the chairman, please)
VC Rep. Allen Fletcher (Author of HB 972 campus)
Rep. Philip Cortez
Rep. Tony Dale
Rep. Dan Flynn
Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt (Author of HB 1077 and 1078)
Rep. George Lavender (Author of HB 700 Open Carry)
Rep. Kenneth Sheets
Rep. Ron Simmons

I received the above e-mail this morning from the TSRA. As Charles noted in another thread, it's encouraging to see these bills scheduled for a hearing this early in the process. We can't afford to let this opportunity slip by, so it's imperative that we make our voices heard to all of the committee members to let them know of our support. I think it's also important that we express our thanks to Charmain Rep. Pickett for scheduling them this early - he took a big risk politically by going against his own party.

I've already called everyone on that list to express my support. I would encourage all of you to do the same. Also, the staff member at Rep. Pickett's office suggested I call 512-463-0133 and register my support there. I'm not sure what that number is for, but I guess it can't hurt to try. I tried calling earlier but got no answer; I guess I'll try again later.

[tornado]

Some Google searching shows that number to be assigned to the "committee clerk."

Also, I haven't read this bill and don't have time to dig into it at this very moment, but if it really only allows "adult students, faculty and staff with a concealed handgun license" to carry, then what about those of us who are visiting a campus or attending some event there? I hope it's not actually worded in a way that limits it only to "students, faculty and staff" (and I doubt that it is, but I don't know for sure).

EDIT: OK, I made time. It didn't take long. There appears to be no such limitation.

[Beiruty]

Now all show us your support and start calling or emailing the committee members.

[anygunanywhere]

Done. Thank goodness for copy and paste.

Anygunanywhere

[The_Busy_Mom]

Done.

TBM

[mojo84]

Done. Hopefully our efforts will bear fruit this year.

[ALCSTUDIOS]

All done sir

[RX8er]

All done!!

[styxx]

I completely support both campus carry and open carry - provided the final language of each does not in any way further restrict CHL, nor does either change in any way the current 30.06 wording or sinage requirements.
I have e-mailed all committee members to that effect. I strongly encourage all to voice their opinions now.

[maverick2076]

Does anyone have a link to the committee substitute for HB 700? I'd like to actually read it before giving my support. I want to see how the 30.07 is written, and if they addressed the idiotic holster requirement in the original.

[RPBrown]

Done

[Wes]

Charles said it will be presented t the open hearing I believe

And done

[maverick2076]

I'll email and call with my support after I can read it, then. I don't want to take the chance that it isn't changed, or that the changes do not affect the result we want. After all, we were told once before that the bill wouldn't affect 30.06...and look what happened.

[RX8er]

I'll email and call with my support after I can read it, then. I don't want to take the chance that it isn't changed, or that the changes do not affect the result we want. After all, we were told once before that the bill wouldn't affect 30.06...and look what happened.

What???

We have to pass the bill so we can find out whats in it!
-N. Pelosi

In my emails, I said I was all for it so long as it did not infringe on my ability, in any way, to conceal carry.

[jsenner]

Emails sent.