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Thanks BaldEagle - That is what I thought, but you expressed it better than I could. When I start getting discouraged folks like you help pull me up again. Thanks ! That is the main reason that I am now active on this forum as opposed to other forums that will remain nameless.

This essentially a duplicate of my post under HB 700 Update, so I apologize for that . . .

Though I support the concept of open carry, I would personally rarely, if ever, open carry. More importantly, I am certain that I do not want to be painted with the same negative brush that the open carry bomb throwers (that are so prominent on other forums and who occasionally show up here) seem to want to paint themselves with. I do not support open carry to the point of actively messing up the chances of CHL rights and freedoms being moved forward.

Several speakers at the hearings on HB 2381 and HB 3218 spent far too much time in what I can only describe as rambling and sometimes almost incoherent whining and ranting about the fate of HB 700 - which was NOT up for discussion. I kept asking myself if they are just plain ignorant or if they were intentionally trying to tie the apparently failed HB 700 OC bill directly to CHL bills 2381 and 3218 with the only foreseeable outcome being a negative impact the CHL bills. Anyone care to enlighten me as to any logical reason that the apparently dead HB 700 and open carry "2nd amendment rights" were the theme of so much testimony on two CHL bills ??

Charles, we can always rest assured that you will be on site and standing up for us. Do you think there will be many other supporters that will continue to hang around ?

It is again time to stand up and be counted. If you have not already done so, I urge everyone to communicate with House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee members offices on bills 3218 and 2381 as well as 1747 using facts and logic, and doing so in a polite, calm and respectful manner.
I have just completed calling all of the House HSandPS Committee members offices expressing my support for 3218 and 2381 and pointing out the almost 20 year long record of outstanding conduct by CHL holders (as evidenced by the official DPS statistics) when compared to not only the public at large, but also even when compared to members of Texas law enforcement.
I was also able to communicate my opposition to 1747 which will, on the face of it, increase costs to both manufacturers and consumers, but just as importantly, could put a damper on bringing a lot of firearms and ammunition related jobs to Texas from less firearms friendly States or could even drive off some jobs that are already here.
I had several very good conversations with staff of the Representatives, including an excellent conversation with a very nice lady in Chairman Pickett's office.

Trekfan, if you are going to be there, you can sign up (right there in the committee room) to give testimony, or if you do not want to testify, you can sign up by registering your specific support of HB 3218 and HB 2381 (if you indeed support them) and your specific opposition to HB 1747 (if you indeed object to it) without wishing to speak formally at the podium. It would be a very good day for CHL holders in particular and the 2nd amendment in general if the hearing chamber could be filled to standing room only with supporters of 3218 and 2381 and objectors to 1747.

I just sent detailed e-mails to all committee members in support of 3218 and 2381, and in opposition to 1747. I will be calling each of their offices tomorrow to do the same. Please take the time to express your opinion before the hearings on 4/18. If we want to make any progress whatsoever, we need to make our voices heard clearly, logically, succinctly and respectfully and to do so in overwhelming numbers. If we fail to support the rights and freedoms we enjoy, we will be failing our children and grandchildren and we will continue to be hard pressed to simply hold what ground we already have.