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Charles,

If this "Don't Ask Don't Tell" bill is going to pass due to the Democrats in Congress ... since it affects ARMY regulations etc. ... why not attach language ... something permitting States to control whether we carry or not on USACE recreational property/parks/lakes? (Which actually DOES affect Interstate Commerce/tourism, so Congress actually should have authority to do THAT.)

SIMILAR to language they attached regarding National Parks etc ... to the Credit Card Bill?

I hope the NRA can do something.

http://hutchison.senate.gov/contact.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dear Senator,

A bill currently in debate in the Senate would change the Department of Defense's "don't ask don't tell" policy.

Persons who are otherwise legally permitted to carry a concealed weapon for self defense are prohibited from doing so on land and water controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [36 C.F.R. § 327.13(a)]. This regulation creates a patchwork of areas in Texas and on the state borders where a person can be accused of violating the law without prior notice and for no good reason.

It would be appropriate to amend this bill to remove the prohibition on carrying concealed weapons in areas controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers, as the recently passed credit-card act did for national parks.

Respectfully, etc.

- Jim

I think this is a great idea. If they could get it added to the bill, you can bet this one will pass.

Thanks Jim, those two probably know my name well by now

I used yours but added a couple words in case they don't figure it out, in order for them to "sell" it to other Senators.

Dear Senator,

A bill currently in debate in the Senate would change the Department of Defense's "don't ask don't tell" policy.

Persons who are otherwise legally permitted to carry a concealed weapon for self defense are prohibited from doing so on land and water controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [36 C.F.R. § 327.13(a)]. This regulation creates a patchwork of areas in Texas and other States, and on the state borders where a person can be accused of violating the law without prior notice and for no good reason.

It would be appropriate to amend this bill to remove the prohibition on carrying concealed weapons in areas controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers, as the recently passed credit-card act did for national parks.

Thanks again.

seamusTX wrote:http://hutchison.senate.gov/contact.html
http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dear Senator,

A bill currently in debate in the Senate would change the Department of Defense's "don't ask don't tell" policy.

Persons who are otherwise legally permitted to carry a concealed weapon for self defense are prohibited from doing so on land and water controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [36 C.F.R. § 327.13(a)]. This regulation creates a patchwork of areas in Texas and on the state borders where a person can be accused of violating the law without prior notice and for no good reason. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE WHERE TEXAS STATE PARKS LAND/WATERWAYS OVERLAP CORPS OF ENGINEERS AREAS.

It would be appropriate to amend this bill to remove the prohibition on carrying concealed weapons in areas controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers, as the recently passed credit-card act did for national parks.

Respectfully, etc.

- Jim

Jim,

I took the liberty of using your excellent letter format with the addition noted above. Thank you for making the suggestion in such a 'user friendly' fashion. I tried to make my addition in another color but couldn't so I just CAPPED it all.

Regards
Carl

I don't know how much attention senators pay to e-mail, but if we can get your idea on the desk of someone who can do something about it, it's worth the effort.

One e-mail is probably about as effective as a fart in a stiff breeze, but 100 or 1,000 might get some attention.

I knew a guy who worked as an intern in a congressman's office years ago. He said the congressman once showed him the foot-high stack of cards that came in the mail in response to some issue that the NRA was pushing at the time, and said that it was more than the congressman got on any other single issue.

- Jim

great idea! But why stop at COE lands? Let's ask to remove restrictions at post offices too. Anyone know the specific codes relating to no firearms at USPS locations?

austinrealtor wrote:great idea! But why stop at COE lands? Let's ask to remove restrictions at post offices too. Anyone know the specific codes relating to no firearms at USPS locations?

I was just thinking both are "Army Regs changing" related, so it/little steps which are related, might sell better than asking for Post Offices, Federal Buildings, Federal Courthouses etc etc etc.

Focus. One thing at a time.

The irony of extending "don't ask don't tell" to all military property and all legal practices is priceless.

Senator Hutchison is the Ranking Republican Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. This committee has jurisdiction over a broad range of legislative subjects, including ... coastal zone management, interstate commerce, marine navigation and safety,...

The post office is partially privatized. Legislation that affects it has to open up an entirely different section of the United States Code, which involves different congressional committees than legislation that affects the DoD.

Legalizing carry in federal buildings, as opposed to open lands and waters, would also bring down the proverbial smelly brown showers.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:Focus. One thing at a time.

The irony of extending "don't ask don't tell" to all military property and all legal practices is priceless.

Senator Hutchison is the Ranking Republican Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. This committee has jurisdiction over a broad range of legislative subjects, including ... coastal zone management, interstate commerce, marine navigation and safety,...

The post office is partially privatized. Legislation that affects it has to open up an entirely different section of the United States Code, which involves different congressional committees than legislation that affects the DoD.

- Jim

I agree with Jim here. Also, the other issue is that there is continuing sensitivity about the post office murders from long ago. Correlated or not, "going postal" is pretty firmly ingrained on people's minds.

Also, your kayak can't accidentally drift into a post office. At least you know the score when you go there.

BTW, "going postal" is entirely a creation of the yellow press. The post office has nearly a million employees and contractors, which means a million opportunities for criminality and lunacy. Their safety record is better than most large employers.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:Also, your kayak can't accidentally drift into a post office. At least you know the score when you go there.

- Jim

You sure about that??

Thousands of comedians are looking for work, and now the amateurs have to butt in.

- Jim

Still exploring my career path for when I retire.

To get back on topic, I agree totally that if you try to tack on too many things, you will either not get support to get the amendment added or, if added, it would kill the bill. Small bites get the elephant consumed.

Keith B wrote:I think this is a great idea. If they could get it added to the bill, you can bet this one will pass.

I totally agree KeithB! SeamusTx a FANTASTIC idea! I'm emailing both Senators. We ALL should do the same.

In fact this is so timely and relevant, I think this idea and suggestion should be kicked upstairs to both TSRA AND the NRA. I think the NRA should put out an action alert on it via their "NRA-ILA" emails and all other electronic mass mailings they have at their disposal.

I would think that this issue is common to many other states...not only Texas.

The question is, how to get both organizations involved immediately in this action alert and get the word out to as many members as possible in the shortest possible time, as surely time is of the essence? And have every member email their senators, as quickly as possible.

Paging Mr. Cotton! Mr. Charles Cotton! House phone number 1 please.