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May 11th is the deadline for bills to pass their body of origin! In other words, any House bill that doesn't pass the House by May 11th is dead, and the same with Senate bills in the Senate. We have three urgent action items that must be addressed ASAP.

1. We need telephone calls, faxed and yes, even emails (but not just emails) to the following Representatives who have removed their names as co-authors of HB1893 (Campus-Carry):

Dwayne Bohac http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Members/ ... Code=A2230" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Joe Heflin http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Members/ ... Code=A3175" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Particia Harless http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Members/ ... Code=A3150" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As always, be polite but at the same time be sure to let them know you are very disappointed to see them withdraw their public support. PLEASE call and fax; emails are a bonus.

2. Also, please call every member of the House Calendars committee and ask them to set HB1893 for debate on the House floor. It has 75 co-authors and denying a debate would be a travesty. House Calendars Committee

3. Please call and fax every member of the Senate State Affairs Committee and ask them to vote on SB1164 by Wentworth (Campus-carry)! Be sure to tell Chairman Duncan's office you want a vote. Also thank Senator Deuell for his very strong support of SB1164 during public hearings.

Please respond to this request ASAP and ask your friends and family to do so as well.

Thanks,
Chas.

Wow this sucks :(

ETA: Just called Bohac's office. Apparently they're concerned with the "ambiguities" that are in the text of the bill (probably mentioned in yesterday's hearing) and won't cosponsor it until those ambiguities are addressed =\.

I have no idea what they're talking about.

What should I do?

Codename46 wrote:Wow this sucks :(

ETA: Just called Bohac's office. Apparently they're concerned with the "ambiguities" that are in the text of the bill (probably mentioned in yesterday's hearing) and won't cosponsor it until those ambiguities are addressed =\.

I have no idea what they're talking about.

What should I do?

As Charles stated in antoher thread, the 'ambiguities' are a 'red herring'. The law is clearly defined on what 'premises' are and IMO they (Senator Duncan and others in the committee) are trying to stall and let it die in committee. We can't let that happen.

I have called Rep. McCall's office and voiced my concern on Campus Carry and the Parking Lot bill. He is my representative and I made it clear they need to get these moving and make sure they have time on the floor. Calls in progress to other committee members in both the House and Senate.

Keith B wrote:

Codename46 wrote:Wow this sucks :(

ETA: Just called Bohac's office. Apparently they're concerned with the "ambiguities" that are in the text of the bill (probably mentioned in yesterday's hearing) and won't cosponsor it until those ambiguities are addressed =\.

I have no idea what they're talking about.

What should I do?

As Charles stated in antoher thread, the 'ambiguities' are a 'red herring'. The law is clearly defined on what 'premises' are and IMO they (Senator Duncan and others in the committee) are trying to stall and let it die in committee. We can't let that happen.

I have called Rep. McCall's office and voiced my concern on Campus Carry and the Parking Lot bill. He is my representative and I made it clear they need to get these moving and make sure they have time on the floor. Calls in progress to other committee members in both the House and Senate.

What is the NRA and TSRA and etc. planning on doing to address this red herring?

Codename46 wrote:

Keith B wrote:

Codename46 wrote:Wow this sucks :(

ETA: Just called Bohac's office. Apparently they're concerned with the "ambiguities" that are in the text of the bill (probably mentioned in yesterday's hearing) and won't cosponsor it until those ambiguities are addressed =\.

I have no idea what they're talking about.

What should I do?

As Charles stated in antoher thread, the 'ambiguities' are a 'red herring'. The law is clearly defined on what 'premises' are and IMO they (Senator Duncan and others in the committee) are trying to stall and let it die in committee. We can't let that happen.

I have called Rep. McCall's office and voiced my concern on Campus Carry and the Parking Lot bill. He is my representative and I made it clear they need to get these moving and make sure they have time on the floor. Calls in progress to other committee members in both the House and Senate.

What is the NRA and TSRA and etc. planning on doing to address this red herring?

We're getting you folks to start calling and faxing.

Chas.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

Codename46 wrote:
What is the NRA and TSRA and etc. planning on doing to address this red herring?

We're getting you folks to start calling and faxing.

Chas.

Thank you for saying that.

People like Chas, and the NRA are important, but only part of the whole engine. They are the conductors of the symphony, but we all are the orchestra. They are useless without us, and they help direct the masses for the best effect.

I think too many gun owners overlook their own important role in all this.

22 faxes sent. I skipped the obvious Fs.

Like all printed-on-one-side paper around here, these faxes will be made into bullseye targets.

- Jim

nitrogen wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

Codename46 wrote:
What is the NRA and TSRA and etc. planning on doing to address this red herring?

We're getting you folks to start calling and faxing.

Chas.

Thank you for saying that.

People like Chas, and the NRA are important, but only part of the whole engine. They are the conductors of the symphony, but we all are the orchestra. They are useless without us, and they help direct the masses for the best effect.

I think too many gun owners overlook their own important role in all this.

This is absolutely right!! Response to action items are critical to our effectiveness.

Thanks,
Chas.

Charles, or other knowledgeable individual,

Please post a summary of the red-herring arguments for the "ambiguities" and the counter arguments so that I (and, possibly, others) can include the counters as rebuttals in our letters.

Here's what Charles said in another thread:

Charles L. Cotton wrote: There is no ambiguity and that is what worries me about Senator Duncan's questions. SB1164 is very clear:

1. You can carry on a college campus;
2. The institution can regulate the storage of firearms in on-campus dorms and and residential housing;
3. The prohibition on carrying at a collegiate sporting event found in TPC §46.035(b)(2) is still applicable, but only if a 30.06 sign is present.


DPS attorney Steve Moninger's testimony about a potential conflict between the definition of "premises" and "activity grounds" is utterly bogus and he knows it. He and I have talked about that very issue.

This alleged ambiguity is a red herring folks.

Chas.

Called the first 3 names....Heflin's office didn't seem interested in my call at all. The other 2 were polite and I felt they actually would tally my call in favor of Campus Carry.

Called both committee clerks and voiced my concerns there too.

Mr. Heflin is A rated. Maybe the person who answered the phone was just having a bad day.

I like to send faxes because a piece of paper is harder to ignore than a phone call or e-mail.

- Jim

I live in Patricia Harless district. She is normally very responsive to input from her constituents.

I e-mailed her minutes ago and asked her to reinstate her sponsorship.

Well, as a father with a daughter nearing college age, this bill is important to me. Important enough that I made the call to Mr. Bohac, Mr. Heflin, and Mrs. Harless office. Here is the response I got

Dwayne Bohac - I talk to a gentleman named Chris. Chris explained that Mr. Bohac is in support of the bill, and said that Mr. Bohac voted for the parking lot bill. However, Chris said that the ambiguity in the language of the bill caused Mr. Bohac to withrawel his sponsorhip of the bill. Chris said Mr. Bohac is still in favor of the bill, and if the ambiguity is resloved then Mr. Bohoc would move to reinstate his public sponsorship.

Joe Heflin - I talked to Mr. Heflin's assistant, and she told me that she didn't know much about it. She said she literally found out yesterday that he had dropped his sponsorhip. She was not sure what drove him to drop his sponsorhip of the bill. She took down my information and asked if I was in support of the bill. She also said that she would have Mr. Heflin call me.

Patricia Harless - I talked with Mrs. Harless assistant. She indicated that she dropped her sponsorhip of the bill due to calls from her constituents against the bill. While the assistant would not say, this leads me to believe that Mrs. Harless may not vote/support the bill at all.


Guys, I cannot tell you how easy it was to make that call. Literally took 5 minutes to each person. I feel it is each of your duty to show support and call these individuals at this very important time.

David

The guy I talked to at Rep Bohac's office (Chris?) mentioned that the Rep had gotten a lot of constituent calls concerning dorms specifically. He said that Bohac has every intention of voting for the bill, but could not keep his co-authorship due to constituent pressure.

Maybe the person who answered the phone was just having a bad day.

I got interrupted and snapped at by the lady in Rep Heflin's office. I didn't get her name. I was about halfway through my (polite) introduction when she interrupted and said "We've heard your script before, you can stop right there!"