TexasCHLforum.com

RPB wrote:Very good E-mail.

I'm sending you this note because I think you might think the same way I do. You may have a CHL, or be considering getting one. Either way, I see you as someone who will stand up for Second Amendment rights and issues.

Please consider contacting your state senator (and as many of the senators listed below as you can) about SB 354, Sen. Wentworth's bill allowing the carrying of a concealed handgun on college campuses.

Contrary to what you've heard on the radio, seen on TV, and read in the papers, this bill is NOT about handing out guns to incoming college freshmen and allowing them to run amok, getting drunk at frat parties and shooting people in their dorms, in class and intimidating their professors.

All that SB 354 would do is allow those who are already licensed by the state to carry a concealed handgun to enter the buildings on a college campus. Current Texas law allows CHL holders to carry a gun ON the campus, but they CANNOT enter any of the buildings, just like they cannot enter elementary schools, courthouses, post offices, and the like.

The arguments framed by the Brady Campaign, John Woods, and other anti-rights groups focus on what they call "the danger to our children", as if adults at college aren't smart enough to think for themselves. I'd like you to consider the possibility of someone who attends college at night, or the college senior who leaves the library after dark and has to cross, say, Guadalupe Street in Austin to get to her apartment (where there have been a number of assaults in the last several months).

Still not sure what you think about the bill? Read this story about Amanda Collins and consider how the lives of three women might have turned out differently if she had been allowed to cary her concealed handgun late one night after a night class: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/08/op ... ada-woman/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's quite ironic that the Texas State Senate is advancing a bill (SB 905) that would grant current and former state legislators the right to carry their concealed handguns anywhere they go (even places off-limits to ordinary CHL holders) while SB 354 languishes because two senators went back on their word.

Again, all SB 354 does is allow current CHL holders (all of whom have been trained, fingerprinted, and background checked) to carry their concealed handguns across the imaginary line that marks the doorways of college campus buildings. There is nothing special about that line that keeps lawbreakers out, why should the law abiding be punished?

Please feel free to pass this on to whomever you think might be interested in supporting the rights of ALL Texans to decide for themselves how they want to protect themselves, rather than relying on campus security or police who can't be everywhere at once.

By the way, the House companion bill, HB 750, is languishing in the Calendars Committee again where it died last session, so calls to the appropriate people on that committee wouldn't hurt either. I'll send another note with that contact info later.

Thank you for your consideration, and below is the state of affairs as they stand now (Wednesday, April 13).

RPB wrote:As Charles said in another thread "Not dead ... not even in trouble"

Woods is acting big on TV

Meeting tonight at UT Austin with some legislators and others

lots going on still. some (most) can't be posted on a public thread read by Johnny Woods and the Brady Bunch.

People need to write, call, fax and e-mail.

LOTS of bills were "withdrawn" today ... I think Ellis was pretty unhappy no one liked one of his ...
There's still plenty of "polly ticking" goin' on.

Background:

SB 354 by Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) would allow adult students, faculty, and staff with a concealed handgun license to carry in buildings located on college campuses currently prohibited by Texas law. SB 354 would also stop colleges and universities from creating administrative rules which serve to expel a student or terminate an employee for simply having their licensed handgun in their personal vehicle.

You might be interested in knowing that every college and university in the state of Texas has such administrative rules on the books. That's what local control buys you: zip, nada, nothing!

Update and Status:

SB 354 became eligible to be debated on the Senate floor last week. TSRA worked to help Senator Wentworth count the required votes to reach the two-thirds rule. The Texas House uses a Calendars Committee which prioritizes and sets the House Calendar; the Senate requires 2/3s of the total senators present to agree to bring a bill up for discussion. There are 31 senators and the required number is 21. The final vote is an up or down simple majority.

It's a gentlemen's agreement. I'll hear your bill even though I might ultimately vote against it, and you'll hear mine. It also gives power to the minority party and in the case of SB 354, a great deal of power. Two Senators have taken SB 354 hostage, two with help from their "friends".

Senator Wentworth had counted his votes and turned in his list to the Lt. Governor and we were good-to-go with 22 votes, counting Senator Wentworth.

Governor Dewhurst recognized Senator Wentworth who made the required motion to suspend the rules and consider SB 354. A debate followed.

The list of senators agreeing to the two-thirds rule included Senator Lucio (D-Brownsville). Senator Lucio requested language that would address a primary, secondary, and child-care facility on one of his college campuses. Over night the language was hammered out and Senator Lucio's staff believed the correction would address the school's concerns, would be acceptable to Senator Lucio, and wasn't harmful to Senator Wentworth's bill. Good-to-go...

The next day, last Thursday, as Senator Wentworth laid out and began explaining his bill, Senator Lucio decided that he wanted his college to take the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) to review this language and insisted Senator Wentworth hold off.

Wentworth was ready and anxious to get on with it. He would keep the language but did not want to wait three more days. Lucio removed his name from the list and now we were down to 21 but still Good-to-go.

For quite a while the debate continued among those who opposed the bill. This included Senator Steve Ogden (R-Bryan). Ogden insisted that so few students would have a concealed handgun license, how could this number possibly make a college campus more safe. Senator, this is about personal safety! Not policing a college campus.

After a couple of hours a group of senators gathered around Senator Mario Gallegos' desk. Gallegos was on the two-thirds list. Senator Gallegos supported a similar bill last session and told me he had no problem supporting it again. However, with some pressure from the opposition, he too took his name off and now we were at 20 and below the required number. The wheels came off!

Senators Lucio and Gallegos signed the sheet and pledged to vote for the two-third rule to bring up SB 354. The pledge sheet was submitted to the Lt. Governor's desk. Nothing happened to cause these two senators to go back on their commitment, their word to Senator Wentworth and to Texans.

Below is the list of contact information for Texas state senators:

Please pay special attention and email and to call Senators Lucio (D-Brownsville), Gallegos (D-Houston), and Ogden (R-Bryan). It's not a waste of time, it's important that everyone hears from you but particularly the "opposition". If you have children or grandchildren in a Texas college let the Senate know this information too.

*Senator Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) (Co-author)
brian.birdwell@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0122

*Senator John Carona (R-Dallas) (Co-author)
john.carona@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0116

Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth)
wendy.davis@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0110

*Senator Robert Deuell (R-Greenville) (Co-author)
bob.deuell@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0102

Senator Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock)
robert.duncan@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0128

Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston)
rodney.ellis@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0113

*Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) (Co-author)
craig.estes@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0130

*Senator Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) (Co-author)
troy.fraser@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0124

Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. (D-Houston)
mario.gallegos@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0106

*Senator Chris Harris (R-Arlington) (Co-author)
chris.harris@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0109

*Senator Glenn Hegar, Jr. (R-Katy) (Co-author)
glenn.hegar@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0118

Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-McAllen)
juan.hinojosa@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0120

Senator Joan Huffman (R-Southside Place)
joan.huffman@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0117

*Senator Mike Jackson (R-La Porte) (Co-author)
mike.jackson@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0111

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville)
eddie.lucio@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0127

*Senator Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) (Co-author)
jane.nelson@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0112

Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville)
robert.nichols@senate.state.tx.us
512-463-0103