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TexasBill wrote:Rants? How about debating points? I have not engaged in insults or ad hominem attacks against you or any member of this forum. When presented with an opposing argument, I have presented verifiable sources to support my contentions. Passionate? Yes, indeedy: I believe what's happening is wrong and I advocate a proper way for those who agree with my position to oppose it.

The "all" I want isn't going to happen anytime soon. But the Act of April 12, 1871 wasn't a baby step: it was a giant leap to an absolute prohibition on the citizens of Texas carrying handguns outside of their homes or places of business or "traveling" (a term so poorly defined it took two sessions of the legislature over a hundred years later to set it straight). I believe we should strive to take more than "baby steps" to regain the rights we once enjoyed: at the very least, we should graduate to toddling.

Furthermore, I know the Legislature is the last step. We need to do a better job of marshaling public opinion. We need to set a long-term goal and devise strategies and tactics to achieve it. But long-term doesn't mean "sometime, never."

Bill

Your right we do need to do a better job on educating the public and getting public opinion on our side. And the way to do this is below.

To anyone reading this: if your not a member of the NRA, then join. If your not a Member of the TSRA, then join it too. If your not a member of the new Texas Firearms Coalition, then join it too (especially considering how low the membership fee is). Then join any other gun rights groups you want. Once you have all your memberships taken care of your next step will be to take your friends, family, coworkers, ect. shooting and get them to join these organizations. Also, try to get an NSSF first shots program, or something similar, going in your area. Finally read the paper, watch the TV news, and listen to the Radio. When something wrong is reported contact them and let them know how they are wrong. Try to educate the news outlets in your area, and a good place to start is to send them a link to, or hard copy of, http://gunfacts.info. Educate those around you and those who are reporting the news to the public as well as the people around you, then we will have a much easier time with the legislature.

I'll be honest I don't like the way this bill came about, I don't particularly like the way it's going, however I know enough to tell when I am not getting the full picture and we are not getting the full picture. The TSRA, and Charles, have worked too long and too hard to get us where we are and I know that they are not going to leave this alone. I assure you that Charles and the TSRA are not going to throw a majority of CHLs under the bus in order to help a privileged few. There is a strategy here and I can't tell what it is, but there is something being set into motion and you can bet it will benefit all CHLs at some point.