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Liberty wrote:Flint:
I believe there will be a lot of public debate about both issues ( OC and CC). Some of those people speaking for the CC right will be articulate young folks whom it will directly affect. These arguements will be about how responsible the CHL carriers have been, while the Brady bunch will come across as being neighsayers and reactionary to the average media consumer.
The OC people will likely be countered with other "gunpeople" I believe in this issue the enemy is amongst us. While I believe we can and will win this one it will cost us in public relations. There is no war as ugly and blood letting as a civil war.
A wise possum once said, "We have found the enemy and he is us!", While the issue is important and worth pursuing, only because its one step further towards constitutional carry. I also believe that this will be a a multi battle war. with several fronts. There may be resistance with the TSRA and it might take a couple legislative rejections, but eventually I know we can win this one. In the mean time we need to go after the easier and arguably the more important stuff.

Agreed, and I have argued for nothing more. (except better communication techniques).

baldeagle wrote:

flintknapper wrote:I disagree here, but maybe I just don't understand the "oppositions" logic (if there is any).
Maybe someone can explain it to me. What makes schools so special? Is it the fact the majority of people there are under the age of 30? Is there some perception that this age group (while carrying) acts impetuously other places? What is it about a school setting that suddenly increases the chance of a mishap? Responsible people tend to be responsible no matter the setting.

Easily answered. It's the children.

You know, we have to have school lunches because children shouldn't have to go hungry. We can't have guns near schools because children shouldn't feel threatened. We have to have welfare because children should have to suffer due to the actions of their parents.

Children are one of the linchpins of the liberals' arguments for more government control.

I suppose it applies everywhere, but you are talking more about K-12 and I was concentrating on College Campuses. The faculty of schools K-12 would be a minuscule number, whereas the faculty and (eligible) students on campus might be appreciable.

Liberty wrote:

I voted for Campus Carry, although I am not a student, and probably won't be spending much time at a college campus in the future.
If we can get the CC through we will be doing more to protect our children. I believe that our children at more risk on our campuses than most workers are during their commute and at their work parking lots. Most of us are allowed to at least take our guns and leave them in the parking lots at work. Some who aren't allowed can still leave them in the car, there is no legal risk. Students face criminal charges if they decide to carry on campus.

I'm fine with Campus Carry for "top billing", IMO it is the most likely to pass anyway.

If we get this law through, it will make a positive statement to the community that there is no blood in the street. That those who legally carry guns are, the same folks that make our world safer. I see Campus Carry as the big enchillada, The one law that when passed that makes such a positive statement, that any antigun law becomes irrelevant. After all if we as a state decide that its ok to have carry our guns in our schools, and bad stuff doesn't happen. Doesn't it make arguments to ban guns in the workplace or just about anywhere silly?

I disagree here, but maybe I just don't understand the "oppositions" logic (if there is any).
Maybe someone can explain it to me. What makes schools so special? Is it the fact the majority of people there are under the age of 30? Is there some perception that this age group (while carrying) acts impetuously other places? What is it about a school setting that suddenly increases the chance of a mishap? Responsible people tend to be responsible no matter the setting.

I don't get it! However...I do agree that EVERY new "privilege" garnered and exercised (without incident)...reinforces the FACT that CHL's are not a threat to the public. You would think 16 yrs. of CC in Texas (largely without incident) would be ample proof. It's a lack of public education, pure and simple.

While this might be the most difficult law to pass, this will be the most opportune time in our lifetime. We have a huge majority and a Governor who is in favor of this. 2 years from now we could lose some of the legislative strength we now enjoy.

I see Campus Carry as having the best chance of any of the bills....but whether it is or isn't the time is right for it, I hope the most is made of it.

I won't be happy until we have full and unrestricted right to carry,

Same!

While some might see the right for Open carry to be the path to accomplish this, I see it as being a divisive, people seeing more guns on people in the malls and streets isn't going to make the average civilian feel warmer or cozier

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Do you mean "divisive" if not pursued until after preparatory work has been laid, or divisive period? I ask...because if your ultimate goal is a full and unrestricted right to carry, then by default... OC is going to be in there. That is why I would like see support for it being gathered NOW in preparation for a future bill. Not as a "leap frog" technique... hoping to advance gun rights in one fell swoop,that wouldn't work and isn't reasonable.

But knowing that folks are carrying on our campuses as well as our malls and churches, should make it more difficult for Texas businesses to ban guns from our workplaces.

We are already carrying in malls and churches as well as hundreds of other places, how many examples does the public need? Again, the facts speak for themselves, CHL's tend to responsible people regardless of the setting. Where we have failed...is in educating the public, we have not reached enough people demonstrating the difference in the two gun cultures (Responsible vs. Criminal)

terryg wrote:I voted parking lot - although if the campus carry bill included private then that would have the greatest impact on me personally. But, I think parking lot would probably serve to benefit the most Texans.

Perhaps, but I wonder if any version that might pass would be so restrictive or ammended that it would cause a new set of problems for those that carry.

I.E. a requirement to park in a designated area (or a... come steal from me, lot). This would also have the effect of "outing" the CHLer. An anti-gun (or vindictive) employer....would immediately know who to fire. Texas is a Hire at Will State and while the employer could not fire you specifically for storing a weapon in your vehicle, they CAN fire you for any other reason (or no reason at all). They just need know who those people are, right?

The bill must be written carefully...and NOT passed in any "neutered" fashion.

EPL for me.

Since we are restricted to one choice. Pretty sure I know why.