I figured Austin would be an issue, did not plan on Dallas

[dubya]

I guess I just don't look close enough at local politics. Locally they always say party does not matter as much and in my suburb many even refuse to identify typically in an election. I guess I was kidding myself we would not see this attitude in Dallas. Mr. Rawlings, you certainly do not speak for ALL of DFW or Texas. How far off is that next election available for Dallas proper residents. Calling Chief Kunkle....

Thank God I exist in a suburb and not Dallas proper. Will we have to watch where we drive if Mr. Rawlings has his way?

=====

From the DMN (excerpts):
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings says he's all-in on Obama's gun control agenda
He says he speaks for “the citizens of Dallas” in backing expanded background checks and magazine limitations.
...
He embraces the holistic approach outlined by President Barack Obama earlier this week: attention to mental health and education, to violence in movies and video games, and also to weapons themselves.
...
“People have got their minds made up. All I’m speaking for are the citizens of Dallas,” he said.
...
Last week, Rawlings held an emotional news conference at City Hall decrying domestic abuse and the general culture of violence. He briefly suggested that Dallas might ban gun shows from the city’s convention center, which hasn’t hosted such events in a decade. That quickly fell apart, as Attorney General Greg Abbott threatened to take on cities banning gun shows.
...
“Which side am I on in this thing? I’m on the side of universal background checks and minimizing these magazines. This is a common sense approach,” he said. “I’m most passionate about magazines. There’s no reason for a 30-round magazine. What the right number is, I don’t know.”
He added: “And I get this from all my friends that are gun owners. They say we don’t need that many” rounds in a magazine.

[VMI77]

Every large urban area in the country is a liberal cesspit, even in Texas. 90% or more of all our crime is in the metropolitan areas. No reason to confine it to this country either --I doubt there is a country in the world where most of the crime problems aren't in their biggest urban areas. Also, in any collapse or social breakdown situation, the closer you are to one of these liberal cesspits, the more problems you're going to have. Having lived in both small towns, medium sized towns, and some of the state's "big cities," I see the difference as day and night between small town and country life and everything else. I consider myself very fortunate to have a good job that doesn't put me anywhere near an urban cesspit.

[Wes]

Maybe it's time to get back on the phones and make sure other large cities do not follow, Ft worth, Austin, etc. they 'think' they speak for the people, we need to show them what the people think.

[Redneck_Buddha]

I guess I just don't look close enough at local politics. Locally they always say party does not matter as much and in my suburb many even refuse to identify typically in an election. I guess I was kidding myself we would not see this attitude in Dallas. Mr. Rawlings, you certainly do not speak for ALL of DFW or Texas. How far off is that next election available for Dallas proper residents. Calling Chief Kunkle....

Thank God I exist in a suburb and not Dallas proper. Will we have to watch where we drive if Mr. Rawlings has his way?

=====

From the DMN (excerpts):
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings says he's all-in on Obama's gun control agenda
He says he speaks for “the citizens of Dallas” in backing expanded background checks and magazine limitations.
...
He embraces the holistic approach outlined by President Barack Obama earlier this week: attention to mental health and education, to violence in movies and video games, and also to weapons themselves.
...
“People have got their minds made up. All I’m speaking for are the citizens of Dallas,” he said.
...
Last week, Rawlings held an emotional news conference at City Hall decrying domestic abuse and the general culture of violence. He briefly suggested that Dallas might ban gun shows from the city’s convention center, which hasn’t hosted such events in a decade. That quickly fell apart, as Attorney General Greg Abbott threatened to take on cities banning gun shows.
...
“Which side am I on in this thing? I’m on the side of universal background checks and minimizing these magazines. This is a common sense approach,” he said. “I’m most passionate about magazines. There’s no reason for a 30-round magazine. What the right number is, I don’t know.”
He added: “And I get this from all my friends that are gun owners. They say we don’t need that many” rounds in a magazine.

Sorry my response is localized to the one small bolded fragment, but this is an example of how the left and the media (I know, redundant) are controlling the vernacular in the ongoing debate. A truly unbiased reporter would have worded this "and also to firearms (omitting "themselves...very poor grammar"). They are using the vaguest of terms calculated to alarm and cause the most chronic sense of fear ("assault weapons", "high-capacity clips", and "weapons" when referring to ownership by regular Joes and Janes. If we are to strengthen our organization like the anti-freedom anti-gunners, I suggest a big part of that effort would be to get the upper hand on proper rhetoric, if nothing else to educate and not necessarily to manipulate.

[VMI77]

I guess I just don't look close enough at local politics. Locally they always say party does not matter as much and in my suburb many even refuse to identify typically in an election. I guess I was kidding myself we would not see this attitude in Dallas. Mr. Rawlings, you certainly do not speak for ALL of DFW or Texas. How far off is that next election available for Dallas proper residents. Calling Chief Kunkle....

Thank God I exist in a suburb and not Dallas proper. Will we have to watch where we drive if Mr. Rawlings has his way?

=====

From the DMN (excerpts):
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings says he's all-in on Obama's gun control agenda
He says he speaks for “the citizens of Dallas” in backing expanded background checks and magazine limitations.
...
He embraces the holistic approach outlined by President Barack Obama earlier this week: attention to mental health and education, to violence in movies and video games, and also to weapons themselves.
...
“People have got their minds made up. All I’m speaking for are the citizens of Dallas,” he said.
...
Last week, Rawlings held an emotional news conference at City Hall decrying domestic abuse and the general culture of violence. He briefly suggested that Dallas might ban gun shows from the city’s convention center, which hasn’t hosted such events in a decade. That quickly fell apart, as Attorney General Greg Abbott threatened to take on cities banning gun shows.
...
“Which side am I on in this thing? I’m on the side of universal background checks and minimizing these magazines. This is a common sense approach,” he said. “I’m most passionate about magazines. There’s no reason for a 30-round magazine. What the right number is, I don’t know.”
He added: “And I get this from all my friends that are gun owners. They say we don’t need that many” rounds in a magazine.

If this ignorant tool doesn't know what "the right number is" then how does he know it isn't 30? He's also plainly a liar when he says there is "no reason" for a 30 round magazine, since at a minimum, if there was "no reason" for them, they wouldn't be manufactured.

[VMI77]

I guess I just don't look close enough at local politics. Locally they always say party does not matter as much and in my suburb many even refuse to identify typically in an election. I guess I was kidding myself we would not see this attitude in Dallas. Mr. Rawlings, you certainly do not speak for ALL of DFW or Texas. How far off is that next election available for Dallas proper residents. Calling Chief Kunkle....

Thank God I exist in a suburb and not Dallas proper. Will we have to watch where we drive if Mr. Rawlings has his way?

=====

From the DMN (excerpts):
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings says he's all-in on Obama's gun control agenda
He says he speaks for “the citizens of Dallas” in backing expanded background checks and magazine limitations.
...
He embraces the holistic approach outlined by President Barack Obama earlier this week: attention to mental health and education, to violence in movies and video games, and also to weapons themselves.
...
“People have got their minds made up. All I’m speaking for are the citizens of Dallas,” he said.
...
Last week, Rawlings held an emotional news conference at City Hall decrying domestic abuse and the general culture of violence. He briefly suggested that Dallas might ban gun shows from the city’s convention center, which hasn’t hosted such events in a decade. That quickly fell apart, as Attorney General Greg Abbott threatened to take on cities banning gun shows.
...
“Which side am I on in this thing? I’m on the side of universal background checks and minimizing these magazines. This is a common sense approach,” he said. “I’m most passionate about magazines. There’s no reason for a 30-round magazine. What the right number is, I don’t know.”
He added: “And I get this from all my friends that are gun owners. They say we don’t need that many” rounds in a magazine.

Sorry my response is localized to the one small bolded fragment, but this is an example of how the left and the media (I know, redundant) are controlling the vernacular in the ongoing debate. A truly unbiased reporter would have worded this "and also to firearms (omitting "themselves...very poor grammar"). They are using the vaguest of terms calculated to alarm and cause the most chronic sense of fear ("assault weapons", "high-capacity clips", and "weapons" when referring to ownership by regular Joes and Janes. If we are to strengthen our organization like the anti-freedom anti-gunners, I suggest a big part of that effort would be to get the upper hand on proper rhetoric, if nothing else to educate and not necessarily to manipulate.

While I agree, I don't know how you're going to do that. The left owns the public school system, the universities, and the media, lock, stock, and barrel. They simply don't cover anything they don't want low information voters to hear. All we have is the internet, and we're mostly talking to ourselves. I heard most of this nonsense way back in the 70's and it's only gotten a lot worse since then.

[Texasrpbrock]

Dallas used to be a city of Texans but I noticed in the last 10 - 15 years, DFW and Austin have become cities with large growth based on companies bringing in new jobs from Northern locations. A lot of these companies relocated to Dallas and Austin for the tax incentives. I remember having some of these people that were relocated ask me questions like "how are you allowed to own firearms? ... Why would you ever need them? ... I've never been around firearms, can I see what one looks like? ... Etc... Not saying these people are bad but they had no understanding or education of why good ole conservative Texas is a gun friendly state and they want it to be more like the places hey moved from. Most have never seen a hunting rifle, shotgun or grandpas 1911.

DFW and Austin have become in some ways like a giant melting pot of people with different views than the Native Texans and the generations before them. Before I lived in the DFW area I was just a good ole boy from West Texas. It was an eye opener for me back in the early 90s. Texas is becoming very divided with left and right thinkers that moved here from other states and countries to benefit from the jobs created during the last 20 plus years. It's a little sad to see my state changing as rapidly as it has. The last election was proof Texas is definitely changing. But that's just a "good ole boy's" opinion.

[Jasonw560]

While I agree, I don't know how you're going to do that. The left owns the public school system, the universities, and the media, lock, stock, and barrel. They simply don't cover anything they don't want low information voters to hear. All we have is the internet, and we're mostly talking to ourselves. I heard most of this nonsense way back in the 70's and it's only gotten a lot worse since then.

I have a friend in the local media down here who is as pro 2A as we are. He's so Blue Dog, he's a DINO. He might have changed his colors since 2008.

But, he has taken one of his co-workers target shooting multiple times, and another co-worker had her first experience with a semi-automatic rifle.

My point is, maybe what we need to do is educate those in the media. Maybe a little history lesson, along with some hands on training. Show them the CHL stats, the stats from places like Chicago and LA vs. Houston and (say) Salt Lake City.

Get a meeting of like minded individuals (sans camo and other "trappings" that they could consider "gun nutty") together from all walks of life, and sit down with them and really explain things.

[fickman]

Maybe it's time to get back on the phones and make sure other large cities do not follow, Ft worth, Austin, etc. they 'think' they speak for the people, we need to show them what the people think.

Ft. Worth is still holding out. All of the annexation to the north and the development of the Alliance corridor has given the city a huge suburban voting base that is reliably conservative but not predictably pro-gun.

(I do seem to meet soccer mom types that agree with the freedom to own guns conceptually but start to get panicky if somebody around them actually wants to buy or carry one. They're dangerous to our cause because they're likely to be among the "pro gun conservatives" who think "nobody needs that many bullets".) Our mayoral race is at least still decided in the Republican primary.

Dallas, Houston, Austin are long gone (city proper only). From far away, it seems like San Antonio and El Paso are following right along.

[kman458]

Dallas has always been the more cosmopolitan of the two while Fort Worth was and is cowtown.

[stonewall7]

For all you Dallas residents out there, please make sure the Mayor's office hears what you think! I gave his Chief of Staff some hard things to think about. Contact info on http://www.dallascityhall.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Light em up!

[texanjoker]

All big city politicians seem to be liberal's.

[John75]

I sent them a piece of my mind too. He needs to go next election. New York would be a good place for him.

[Zoo]

Doesn't he belong to that Mayors Against Civil Rights organization?

[bagman45]

Just another politician who can't be honest about the problem, and is either looking for a "silver bullet", or trying to appeal to his liberal partie's mantra to move up.... They are all the same, and don't give a dam& about you or your rights. The Royalty and our Political Elite have always been the same