Quote: With the Clock Ticking!
Last Night and HB 910
Most of yesterday afternoon and late into the night the Senate debated HB 910-Licensed Open Carry by Rep. Larry Phillips (R-Sherman) and sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls). After heated debate on various amendments HB 910 passed along party lines.
Is this the final step to Governor Abbott's desk?
It Should Be!
Much of last night's Senate debate centered on an amendment referred to as the Dutton amendment. The amendment had been added to HB 910 on April 20th before the final vote and passage in the House .
Then the Dutton Amendment was stripped from HB 910 by Senate State Affairs Committee at the request of committee Chairman Joan Huffman (R-Houston).
Last night during the Senate floor debate, language similar but not identical to the Dutton Amendment, was offered and successfully added by Senator Huffines (R-Dallas).
Again, Senator Huffines' language was remarkably similar but not identical to the House version.
The purpose of Dutton and Huffines Amendments is to add probable cause language to the section of law which deals with a licensee carrying an exposed handgun and law enforcement. Simply seeing an exposed handgun cannot be the sole reason for
being stopped or detained.
No, this is not a "backdoor" approach to constitutional carry. Carrying a handgun, concealed or exposed, without the state-issued license is a criminal offense in Texas.
Probable cause is ingrained and a part of current Texas law. Some in the Senate consider the amendment to be redundant and unnecessary and potentially harmful for law enforcement.
Our objective is to protect the underlying Open Carry bill for Texas gun owners.
Governor Abbott
A long-time friend to Texas gun owners and to TSRA, Governor Greg Abbott will sign HB 910 but first the measure must return to the House for a review on the Senate changes.
Effective Date
The effective date for licensed open carry is January 1, 2016.
The delayed date came from DPS. The delay was requested because the agency holds their instructor certification training during the 4th quarter of the year, plus wanted time to update their website and make changes to the program and program materials.
Update on other TSRA Agenda Legislation
SB 273 by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) with Rep. Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City) sponsoring the bill in the House. SB 273 is the issue lost in the closing hours of the 2013 session. SB 273 provides substantial penalties for a governmental entity which posts an improper PC 30.06 sign on property, open to the general public, and not restricted in statute. Rep. Guillen is a hard working State Representative who serves his district and Texas gun-owners and we can never say enough good things about Senator Campbell, always a friend to the Second Amendment. Passed!
SJR 22 by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) and Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) is a constitutional amendment, the right to hunt and fish, has also passed in the Legislature and will be on the ballot for the November 2015 election. The work to get-out-the-vote comes in the fall! Kudos and thanks to Sen. Creighton, Rep. Ashby and their staff for their hard work and service to Texas sportsmen. Passed in the Legislature and will be on the November ballot.
As Session winds down! Time to Act!
The Senate agreed to move HB 910, licensed open carry and the House agreed to move SB 11, campus carry in these last few days of session. SB 11 is a good bill, passed in the Texas Senate by Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) and will be sponsored on the House floor by Rep. Allen Fletcher (R-Tomball).
The language in SB 11 has developed over four legislative sessions to provide an important personal protection option for adult students, faculty and staff with a handgun license, employed by or attending public colleges and universities.
Please call and email your state representative and Speaker of the House Joe Straus. Urge these legislators to finally finish SB 11, Campus Carry.
Many Thanks
Special thanks to Senate and House staffers who work long hours and are gracious and welcoming to everyone. We also thank the House messengers who access to the House floor and deliver notes and messages. These young people are smart and funny and very professional.
Thank you to TSRA's Legislative Committee who act as my grassroots advisors and to Charles Cotton our volunteer drafting attorney. Drafting legal language is a specialty field and we've been blessed to have his help and friendship for decades. My predecessor, Doc Brown told me in 1998 to call Charles.
Special thanks to Texas Outdoor Partners and their association members, all of us are committed to supporting the hunting-fishing constitutional amendment at the polls in November.
We couldn't ask for better partners than TOPS.
Our gratitude also goes to Texas Law Shield who early in session offered to underwrite a free CHL class for Capitol staffers after a few unruly gun owners caused problems. One hundred staffers registered for our free class. Legislative committee member Mike Cox did his usual fine job as instructor.
Texas Law Shield is more than a legal service for gun owners, they are invested in Texas and in the legislative process.
Finally I want to thank Tara Mica, the NRA lobbyist. I've worked with Tara for almost 20 years. I often say Tara is my business-family and if you're around us long you'll know why. She's the NRA lobbyist for Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and Mississippi and she brings to the table out-of-state experiences plus the power and influence of NRA.
As the NRA state affiliate, TSRA's relationship with NRA continues to be one of harmony, respect and cooperation.
Finally
TSRA's commitment continues to be to YOU, our membership and to Texas gun owners. Every win belongs to you.
It's time to mention donations to the TSRA-PAC. PAC funds are reported to the Texas Ethics Commission, as per state law, and are used solely to elect or reelect pro-gun,pro-hunting, pro-2nd Amendment candidates.
And as always,
Keep the faith.
Alice Tripp
Legislative Director
Texas State Rifle Association
the NRA state affiliate
Last Night and HB 910
Most of yesterday afternoon and late into the night the Senate debated HB 910-Licensed Open Carry by Rep. Larry Phillips (R-Sherman) and sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls). After heated debate on various amendments HB 910 passed along party lines.
Is this the final step to Governor Abbott's desk?
It Should Be!
Much of last night's Senate debate centered on an amendment referred to as the Dutton amendment. The amendment had been added to HB 910 on April 20th before the final vote and passage in the House .
Then the Dutton Amendment was stripped from HB 910 by Senate State Affairs Committee at the request of committee Chairman Joan Huffman (R-Houston).
Last night during the Senate floor debate, language similar but not identical to the Dutton Amendment, was offered and successfully added by Senator Huffines (R-Dallas).
Again, Senator Huffines' language was remarkably similar but not identical to the House version.
The purpose of Dutton and Huffines Amendments is to add probable cause language to the section of law which deals with a licensee carrying an exposed handgun and law enforcement. Simply seeing an exposed handgun cannot be the sole reason for
being stopped or detained.
No, this is not a "backdoor" approach to constitutional carry. Carrying a handgun, concealed or exposed, without the state-issued license is a criminal offense in Texas.
Probable cause is ingrained and a part of current Texas law. Some in the Senate consider the amendment to be redundant and unnecessary and potentially harmful for law enforcement.
Our objective is to protect the underlying Open Carry bill for Texas gun owners.
Governor Abbott
A long-time friend to Texas gun owners and to TSRA, Governor Greg Abbott will sign HB 910 but first the measure must return to the House for a review on the Senate changes.
Effective Date
The effective date for licensed open carry is January 1, 2016.
The delayed date came from DPS. The delay was requested because the agency holds their instructor certification training during the 4th quarter of the year, plus wanted time to update their website and make changes to the program and program materials.
Update on other TSRA Agenda Legislation
SB 273 by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) with Rep. Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City) sponsoring the bill in the House. SB 273 is the issue lost in the closing hours of the 2013 session. SB 273 provides substantial penalties for a governmental entity which posts an improper PC 30.06 sign on property, open to the general public, and not restricted in statute. Rep. Guillen is a hard working State Representative who serves his district and Texas gun-owners and we can never say enough good things about Senator Campbell, always a friend to the Second Amendment. Passed!
SJR 22 by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) and Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) is a constitutional amendment, the right to hunt and fish, has also passed in the Legislature and will be on the ballot for the November 2015 election. The work to get-out-the-vote comes in the fall! Kudos and thanks to Sen. Creighton, Rep. Ashby and their staff for their hard work and service to Texas sportsmen. Passed in the Legislature and will be on the November ballot.
As Session winds down! Time to Act!
The Senate agreed to move HB 910, licensed open carry and the House agreed to move SB 11, campus carry in these last few days of session. SB 11 is a good bill, passed in the Texas Senate by Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) and will be sponsored on the House floor by Rep. Allen Fletcher (R-Tomball).
The language in SB 11 has developed over four legislative sessions to provide an important personal protection option for adult students, faculty and staff with a handgun license, employed by or attending public colleges and universities.
Please call and email your state representative and Speaker of the House Joe Straus. Urge these legislators to finally finish SB 11, Campus Carry.
Many Thanks
Special thanks to Senate and House staffers who work long hours and are gracious and welcoming to everyone. We also thank the House messengers who access to the House floor and deliver notes and messages. These young people are smart and funny and very professional.
Thank you to TSRA's Legislative Committee who act as my grassroots advisors and to Charles Cotton our volunteer drafting attorney. Drafting legal language is a specialty field and we've been blessed to have his help and friendship for decades. My predecessor, Doc Brown told me in 1998 to call Charles.
Special thanks to Texas Outdoor Partners and their association members, all of us are committed to supporting the hunting-fishing constitutional amendment at the polls in November.
We couldn't ask for better partners than TOPS.
Our gratitude also goes to Texas Law Shield who early in session offered to underwrite a free CHL class for Capitol staffers after a few unruly gun owners caused problems. One hundred staffers registered for our free class. Legislative committee member Mike Cox did his usual fine job as instructor.
Texas Law Shield is more than a legal service for gun owners, they are invested in Texas and in the legislative process.
Finally I want to thank Tara Mica, the NRA lobbyist. I've worked with Tara for almost 20 years. I often say Tara is my business-family and if you're around us long you'll know why. She's the NRA lobbyist for Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and Mississippi and she brings to the table out-of-state experiences plus the power and influence of NRA.
As the NRA state affiliate, TSRA's relationship with NRA continues to be one of harmony, respect and cooperation.
Finally
TSRA's commitment continues to be to YOU, our membership and to Texas gun owners. Every win belongs to you.
It's time to mention donations to the TSRA-PAC. PAC funds are reported to the Texas Ethics Commission, as per state law, and are used solely to elect or reelect pro-gun,pro-hunting, pro-2nd Amendment candidates.
And as always,
Keep the faith.
Alice Tripp
Legislative Director
Texas State Rifle Association
the NRA state affiliate