Sean, I just saw your "Wally walk" message. Congratulations. The intervention by your representative is very impressive and contradicts what I wrote yesterday.
- Jim
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Return to “Why don't they follow the law?”
- Thu May 22, 2008 7:21 am
- Forum: The "Waiting Room"
- Topic: Why don't they follow the law?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 5343
- Wed May 21, 2008 7:00 pm
- Forum: The "Waiting Room"
- Topic: Why don't they follow the law?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 5343
Re: Why don't they follow the law?
It can't hurt to write a letter.dukesean wrote:Shouldn't this mean that since they are up for election, they would want to make us happy so that we re-elect them? Therefore our letters and phone calls would have even more sway than they usually do?
I'm guessing whether it makes a difference depends. You might get a vacuous response saying that they appreciate your concern. If the incumbent has a bad RKBA record, he might not care because he knows you won't vote for him anyway.
Also, some representatives and senators are retiring or already lost primaries and don't much care what anyone thinks.
- Jim
- Wed May 21, 2008 10:12 am
- Forum: The "Waiting Room"
- Topic: Why don't they follow the law?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 5343
Re: Why don't they follow the law?
I'm not Charles but maybe I can save him some typing.
The Texas Legislature has a very short time to introduce and debate bills (80 days, IIRC). It is not helpful to have multiple bills introduced by different legislators. Ideally, there would be one house bill and one senate bill with the same wording on each issue. The legislators try to negotiate these things through the Texas Legislative Board before the session starts.
Each area of the law is handled by a committee in each house. The House Law Enforcement Committee and the Senate Justice Committed handle CHL issues (again, IIRC).
Lobbying is focused on the members of those committees. If a bill does not get out of committee, it's dead. If it gets out with unfavorable amendments, it's worse than dead. OTOH, it a bill gets out of committee in both chambers, it stands a good chance of becoming law.
The budget is in a similar situation. It is set by the legislature every two years, and is fixed except for emergencies. The definition of emergency is pretty rigid. Governor Perry and other state officials are reluctant to increase spending, because they were elected on a platform of keeping spending under control and the budget balanced or in surplus. Which they have done.
Most Texas legislators are not full-time legislators. When they are not in Austin for a legislative session, they have other jobs. Many are lame ducks. All Representatives and half the Senators will face elections in November. Therefore, any letters or phone calls to them at this time are likely to go on a pile and not make a difference.
If I've mangled any of this information, I apologize in advance; and I'm sure someone will set me straight.
- Jim
The Texas Legislature has a very short time to introduce and debate bills (80 days, IIRC). It is not helpful to have multiple bills introduced by different legislators. Ideally, there would be one house bill and one senate bill with the same wording on each issue. The legislators try to negotiate these things through the Texas Legislative Board before the session starts.
Each area of the law is handled by a committee in each house. The House Law Enforcement Committee and the Senate Justice Committed handle CHL issues (again, IIRC).
Lobbying is focused on the members of those committees. If a bill does not get out of committee, it's dead. If it gets out with unfavorable amendments, it's worse than dead. OTOH, it a bill gets out of committee in both chambers, it stands a good chance of becoming law.
The budget is in a similar situation. It is set by the legislature every two years, and is fixed except for emergencies. The definition of emergency is pretty rigid. Governor Perry and other state officials are reluctant to increase spending, because they were elected on a platform of keeping spending under control and the budget balanced or in surplus. Which they have done.
Most Texas legislators are not full-time legislators. When they are not in Austin for a legislative session, they have other jobs. Many are lame ducks. All Representatives and half the Senators will face elections in November. Therefore, any letters or phone calls to them at this time are likely to go on a pile and not make a difference.
If I've mangled any of this information, I apologize in advance; and I'm sure someone will set me straight.
- Jim
- Wed May 21, 2008 7:26 am
- Forum: The "Waiting Room"
- Topic: Why don't they follow the law?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 5343
Re: Why don't they follow the law?
NICS is the National Instant-Check System. It is a list of people who are disqualified from purchasing firearms because they are felons, mentally ill, etc.
Everyone who purchases a firearm from a federally licensed dealer (that is, all gun stores) must pass NICS unless the buyer has a CHL that meets federal requirements.
The federal requirements include passing an FBI background check.
It would be possible for the state to issue licenses before the background check is completed, then revoke the CHL if the applicant fails the background check. If the state did that, felons and other unqualified people would get CHLs, the media would find out, and the publicity would be damaging. That happened in Florida.
- Jim
Everyone who purchases a firearm from a federally licensed dealer (that is, all gun stores) must pass NICS unless the buyer has a CHL that meets federal requirements.
The federal requirements include passing an FBI background check.
It would be possible for the state to issue licenses before the background check is completed, then revoke the CHL if the applicant fails the background check. If the state did that, felons and other unqualified people would get CHLs, the media would find out, and the publicity would be damaging. That happened in Florida.
- Jim