Thank you J for the awesome update. On my question, is there a specific time period in which they will readdress it?
Yep...So we still have our Joe Strauss problem to worry about.
The full archive of the meeting (starting after the morning House session, which is where Campus Carry starts) is here: Texas House of Representatives : Video / Audio Player
Ok, I may be speaking out of school here but House Bill 700 shows to be enacted and will become an Act on September 01, 2013
Ok, I may be speaking out of school here but House Bill 700 shows to be enacted and will become an Act on September 01, 2013
83(R) HB 700 - Introduced version - Bill Text
So my question is did the Bill pass for this to become an Act?
I do have a comcealed permit and I do a lot of work in TX. Much of the time, I am carrying openly while I work. I hate to have to change mode of dress just to work a couple of hours across the border from my house but the people I have to deal with are such I am not going to confront unarmed.
Why I Support Open Carry
March
22 2013
This is the essence of testimony I brought before a House committee on at a hearing for HB 700.
A young boy was sitting next to me at lunch some time back. As we ate our turkey sandwiches, I engaged in a bit of table conversation….I asked if he was familiar with the 2nd amendment. Based on his response, I decided he needed a little bit of education! So I told him, as fast as I could.
I told him about April 18 – that evening 238 years ago when the colonists found out that the Redcoats were going to come after their stores of gunpowder.
I told him how Paul Revere and Samuel Prescott and William Dawes all rode and warned the people. I told him how they were captured, and got away by telling the truth.
I told him about the brave men – 70 men who stood on Lexington Green while the 800 British Regulars came under Colonel Smith and slaughtered them.
I told him how, 5 miles down the road, Isaac Davis came….how he led the charge down the hill, and bravely caused the redcoats to break and run after 2 minutes – although Isaac Davis ended up with a musket ball in his heart, and never saw his wife Hannah again.
I told him about the retreat down Battle Road – 17 miles or so – where Lord Percy came to bring reinforcements to the redcoats. I told him about General Heath and his brilliant Circle of Fire.
I told him how these men bled and died so we could have the government we have today. And I told him, that’s why we have the 2nd amendment. That’s what our founders were thinking of when they penned those words.
And I read it to him. “A well-regulated militia…” –and please understand, well-regulated in that time meant well-trained, or well-disciplined — in other words, self-regulated; it was certainly not referring to government regulations! – “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
He looked up at me for a minute, and then he wanted to know, “Does it say concealed?”
And I said, “Well, you tell me! How does it read to you – ‘The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed’? He decided, “Nope! Doesn’t mean concealed!”
Then he asked, “Why don’t you do it?” And I told him I might get in trouble because there are some legislators at the capitol who have decided that under TX handgun law we have to conceal.
He suggested, “Well, write ‘em and tell ‘em about the 2nd amendment!” and I said, “Why don’t you?” And he did just that – because he understands the history and the meaning of the second amendment.
So, yes, we all grow up and think we know better than a 12-year-old, but really, this is a simple issue. Constitutionally we do have the right to open carry, and the people of Texas should be legally allowed to open carry.
But we politicize the issue, we dramatize it, we emotionalize it with various things. Let’s take that out! Let’s go back to what we read in the Texas Constitution and in the US constitution.
sliderleg-4-holsteredhandgun
Some people say it would make them “uncomfortable” to see firearms being worn openly. Well, what if it makes me uncomfortable to keep mine concealed?
They suggest that in our modern times people aren’t used to guns and can become disturbed by the sight. I suggest that, earlier in our nation’s history, people were quite comfortable with guns being around. In fact, guns used to be seen positively, and I believe that can happen again. Open carry will be a great step toward effecting a positive outlook on guns, so people won’t be irrationally frightened by them.
As a woman, I want to note that open carry will be especially helpful in protecting women. I’ve spoken with many women who want to carry for self-defense, but they always ask the same question: ”But how would I ever conceal?!” Often, they end up not having their gun on their person because it is difficult, uncomfortable, or awkward to try to effectively conceal. So open carry would give these women greater freedom to protect themselves.
Of course, it’s a great embarrassment for Texas to be one of only 6 states that does not allow some form of open carry.
But seriously: the argument for open carry is not just so we can keep up with Oklahoma. The argument is Constitutional.
There is no constitutional reason that carry must be concealed; therefore I support open carry.
anybody hear anything lately?
Edit- just saw this on lavendars facebook. He posted it a few days back on 3-30
george lavender for state representativethanks, guys. We are now being told that we can vote open carry out of committee in 2 weeks. It doesn't make me happy, but, if it happens, it still gives us time to get it passed in both houses.