srothstein wrote:DKSuddeth wrote:I predicted last year that any opencarry initiative would be met with resistance from TSRA, and it's my belief that we were undermined by them in the political field.
We at opencarry didn't go the 'texas method' of lobbying, or work with TSRA, or do ANY of the normal and accepted practices of working gun legislation through it's system. We were, and are, rogues to the machine and therefore should be ignored, admonished, or thrown under the bus as radicals. It's not like we didn't approach your group. Some of asked, it wasn't important to you at that time. That's fine. We could understand that you had your own member issues that you wanted to deal with. What we didn't expect, most of us anyway, was to be actively opposed and undermined.
DKSuddeth,
I am a strong supporter of the NRA and the TSRA. I am also a strong supporter of the individual's right to freedom. Nothing would please me more than to see Chapter 46 of the Texas Penal Code repealed in its entirety.
I do support the movement to allow open carry of firearms. I do NOT support the bill proposed on the opencarry.org web site. It has too many changes and makes the law more confusing than ever. It addresses issues that were never needed to be addressed for what you were proposing. A simple proposal for open carry would have been to just insert the word concealed in the unlawfully carrying section. But your organization did not take the simple approach.
I do not think you were thrown under the bus or openly fought because of your ideals or goal. If I thought that TSRA did not support open carry as a goal, I would no longer be a member. But, as you pointed out, you did not take the normal approach to politics in Texas. You came in and wanted to do things your own way. You certainly have that right. I have bucked the system in the past myself, and I stand ready to buck the system again. I also realize that very rarely do you get anything but trouble when you go against the normal way of doing things.
You also need to understand that the way things are normally done is the result of years (more than a hundred) of working out a system for politics in Texas. These rules became the rules because they worked. If you want a goal, it is usually much better to work with the known system that has a proven record than try a new way of doing things.
You also need to realize that you do not exist in a vacuum. Your goal is not the only goal, or even the only gun related goal, being worked on in the legislature this year. When you go against the established way of doing things, and there are people working on similar goals using the established way, your actions might place their goals in jeopardy. When you place another person's goals in jeopardy, it is only reasonable to for them to fight you to defend their own goals.
I do not believe your organization was thrown under the bus or fought nearly as much as it was just left to stand on its own. I am sure the TSRA did not support you and maybe even distanced itself from your actions. The lack of support could have the same effect as fighting against you, but is different in my opinion. But, if you want to do things differently, you take those chances.
My suggestion would be to look at how things went down this year. Then go study and think before you start planning for another attack next session. You might find that it is better to work with other groups that have similar goals and work in the proven fashion to achieve your own goals. This is why I do not agitate for repeal of Chapter 46 now. I have learned that the incremental approach works (it worked against us, didn't it?) and that TSRA and the NRA understand the proven methods and have a success rate that is enviable. So, I support them in their efforts, offer them as much help as I can on mutual goals, and distance myself from the goals I do not support (though I do not work against them, I just don't offer support). This allows the presentation of a much more united front and is the most successful method. It does mean my goals may not be seen this year, but I have confidence we will get them eventually.
Very well written Steve. 
I don't know why so many people these days think they can bully their way into getting what they want. I have found in over 30 years dealing with VERY large corporations you will only get stomped on and ostracized from the pack if you do this. Government is nothing but a big corporation and works the same way. The major difference is that any type of ruckus in the political arena usually gets media coverage. Coverage of this type is just NOT what open carry supporters need. Alienating the very people that can help your cause is just plain stupid and will get them nothing but negative press as well as causing the other legislators to negatively team with their fellow legislator who is being attacked. 