TexasCHLforum.com

UpTheIrons wrote: I think the NRA (and likely the TSRA) publish report cards for legislators, but I'm not sure where to find them right now - I haven't done a search yet.

If you have the bill numbers, you should also be able to search the legislature's voting record through the legislature's website. I think.
I made a quick run over to the 2009 Legislature sub-forum (http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewforum.php?f=92) and found the bill numbers. They are:
Parking lot bill: HB1301, SB730
Campus Security bill: HB1893, SB1164

I haven't searched around here too much, but one possibility is: http://www.votesmart.org/index.htm
Wait! I think I found it! The Lege's own website. Duh!: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Home.aspx

Look under "view votes" under the "Search Legislation" box.

The TSRA ratings can be a little deceiving. They tend to favor the incumbents. They tend not to even acknowledge Libertarians (would all be 2nd amendment friendly). They gave the guy I ran against (Craig Eiland) a B This guy is a democrat, who never pushes any gun legislation, but will get on the band wagon when pro gun legislation is inevitable. Eiland was one of the main leading the filibuster, chomping (or what ever its called. I wonder what the TSRA will rate him this year?

Those of us that have Reps that are generally pro gun need to be talked to also, They could have got some of the legislation through if they had used some statesmanship and political savy. The issue that tied up the legislation last year was Voter ID. Most of us will agree that Voter ID is a good idea, but was fighting for it while knowing it wasn't going to go through worth sacrificing the Parking lot Bill and School Carry? Voter Fraud in Texas hasn't been significant since the LBJ days. We need to let our Reps know that we are looking at more than just the vote, but how they participate in pushing our agenda through..

Right2Carry wrote:
And what prevents that same tactic from happening again this year?

There is likely going to be some radical changes this year Perry could be gone, or we could be putting in a lot more conservatives in to the legislator. If Perry survives this would likely be good news.

While we can blame the Democrats and they deserve most of it. The Republicans also aren't blameless in the chubbing. The issue at hand was voter ID. Now most conservatives and Republicans believe that this is an important issue, and I agree. But there really isn't much documented evidence in Texas that it really was a real concern. If the Republicans had agreed to drop the issue and pull the bill (it wasn't gonna pass any way) The Democrats would have had their token victory saved face and we would have some real bills addressed .

Its called statesmanship

tacticool wrote:

SA-TX wrote:Honestly, I think we are being too timid and tactical with the Legislature. Open carry is the carry that the Constitution talked about. The fact that Texas, of all places, has such a hash of general prohibitions and a thousand exceptions is sad. Look at Arizona: they just passed "constitutional carry" -- it is your right to carry openly or concealed, no license needed. They join Vermont and Alaska. That's freedom.

SA-TX

Even if we don't get open carry during the next session, I think it's worthwhile pushing for it.

1. It's the right thing to do. We should be able to openly wear a pistol or a crucifix or a Ron Paul t-shirt.

2. If TSRA doesn't push for open carry, someone else will, and that group will have no reason to listen to TSRA.

3. It's good to ask for more and settle for less than ask for less and settle for much less.

If the TSRA doesn't push for it it isn't gonna happen. No pro gun law will pass in Texas without TSRA support and working hard to push for it. So far I've seen no indication that the TSRA has any interest in supporting this cause.