Texas Senate will hold its last interim study on Violence in Schools and School Security

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Originally Posted By: Texas State Rifle Assn.Dear TSRA Members, Family, and Friends:

On Tuesday, July 24 at 9:00 am in hearing room E1.036, the Senate will hold its last interim study on Violence in Schools and School Security.

An interim study simply gathers information and is not linked in any way to legislation or bill passage during the 2019 session. As usual there are those on both sides who sensationalize the hearings, meetings, and discussions for their own basic purposes. The rest of us are working our tails off.

The subject for this hearing as listed in the interim charge:

To examine whether current protective order laws are sufficient or whether the merits of Extreme Risk Protective Orders, or "Red Flag" laws, should be considered for seeking a temporary removal of firearms from a person or others, only after legal due process is provided with a burden of proof sufficient to protect Second Amendment rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution.

TSRA has been participated in every hearing and every discussion on the subject of Violence in Schools and School Security in the House and Senate since the Round Table discussion on June 25th and part of our job has been to find and to provided impact witnesses, meaning those with the background and experience to prove a point.

This is not a numbers game but an information gathering hearing.

In the House Constable Dolle testified that every tool in law necessary to safeguard public safety is currently in Texas when it comes to orders of protection. There are layers and layers of gun laws in Texas.


The only folks even remotely committed to the addition of new law which could strip away rights is the various anti-gun groups such as Texas Gun Sense and the Bloomberg funded Mom's Demand. Nothing new there and all part of politics, not public safety.

What the Governor has asked of the House and Senate is to review existing law. What has been "discovered" is that no "tools" in law are missing.

If you've been told this is all a "gun confiscation scheme" or anything similar, it's a blinking lie.

Also, as for firearm storage, Texas Penal Code 46.13 has been in statute since 1995 and requires firearm storage but NEVER mentions a specific method of storage. What's appropriate for one family would not be for another. PC 46.13 passed with Concealed Carry and was meant to be a child safety law. In 23 years it's only been used by the courts 62 times, which means "not often".

You should also be aware that if your child uses your readily dischargeable firearm for home defense, this is protected by the current statute as is youth hunting and other legal uses.

We don't have trigger lock police and no one has suggested this.

While firearm storage is not listed for Tuesday, the subject was mention in an email alert from a new group sensationalizing the issues.

TSRA was allowed to provide two witnesses with invited testimony for the Tuesday hearing: Gary Wells and Edwin Walker, both are knowledgeable Second Amendment lawyers with the right message, at the right time, to the right people.

In addition this is a very very smart group of Senators.

It's been a busy summer. The Voter's Guide is coming together and will be in the Sept.-Oct. edition of the magazine and online at www.tsrapac.com

In Conclusion

Thanks for the membership, your renewals and for your continued PAC donations. T

he anti-gun folks are hard at work. I see gun bigots everywhere! Remember you can renew your membership or donate to the association to keep bills paid and lights on at www.tsra.com and donate to the PAC or sign-up for this email alert at www.tsrapac.com


Sincerely,

Alice Tripp
Legislative Director
Texas State Rifle Association-PAC


The Texas State Rifle Association was founded in 1919 . We thank our 37,000 members in Texas and around the country for their continued support.
www.tsra.com and www.tsrapac.com

 
Quote: Dan Patrick

Lieutenant Governor of Texas
President of the Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Lt. Governor Patrick Commends Senate Select Committee on
Violence in Schools and School Security

AUSTIN - Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick commended the Senate Select Committee on Violence in Schools and School Security today which has just concluded its final committee meeting. Chaired by Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, the committee has taken testimony from over 150 witnesses on school violence and security issues.

"Senator Taylor and the select committee have done an outstanding job examining the many approaches to addressing the issue of school violence. They have heard from experts on infrastructure and school design, including securing entrances and exits, and looked at strategies to increase the presence of law enforcement in schools and arming school personnel. They also examined a number of issues related to the root causes of school violence including mental health issues, substance abuse, and other risk factors.

"Regarding the topic of 'Red Flag' laws, which was discussed today in the select committee, I have never supported these policies, nor has the majority of the Texas Senate. A bill offered last session garnered little support. Governor Greg Abbott formally asked the legislature to consider 'Red Flag' laws in May so I added them to the charges I gave to the select committee. However, Gov. Abbott has since said he doesn't advocate 'Red Flag' laws.

"I have made it clear that school safety will be a top priority next legislative session and I have encouraged school superintendents to move forward with steps they identify to enhance security before the coming school year."

The Select Committee on Violence in Schools and School Security also includes Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, who serves as vice chair. Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, serve as members.


In Conclusion

Thank You. Lt. Governor Patrick and staff Thank you to witnesses for driving long distances and waiting patiently to discuss existing Texas law and what could be at stake, namely basic Constitutional rights, if an emotional and ill-advised change was made.

Sincerely,

Alice Tripp
Legislative Director
Texas State Rifle Association-PAC
 
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