Open carry passage potential in Texas

[chipbennett]

At one point in Acevedo's testimony, he seemed to be saying that it would be better for a student to be raped and then treated with all the "resources" available to rape victims than to take the risk that an armed student be murdered with her or his own gun in an attempted rape. This comment is getting a lot of attention in the gun community, on talk radio, and I think the Fox station in Austin did a bit on it. I'm told there was also some pushback on that comment from later witnesses.

Here's the vid of that part of his testimony:

[video=youtube;x86hsyYaN1c]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x86hsyYaN1c[/video]

This is what a real #WarOnWomen looks like.

 

[Alamo]

I forgot to mention that Senator Rodney Ellis, who is the vice chair of the committee, kept asking Acevedo questions and basically arranged for Acevedo to give a 10 minutes anti-campus carry and anti-OC spiel, when witnesses were supposed to be limited to 2 minutes.

The chair, Senator Joan Huffman, is however pro-2A and moved the bills forward.

 

[bwframe]

Wonder where the video of the Indiana legislature sessions is?

 

[Alamo]

Another little pasture dumpling from the anti-2A crowd. I was listening when she said this, and in my best Joe Wilson imitation shouted "YOU LIE!" at the monitor. I didn't realize at the time that she's the president of the Texas chapter of MDA.

[video=youtube_share;iO6lrx-4gYg]http://youtu.be/iO6lrx-4gYg[/video]

She says that the "data set" of crimes by Texas CHL holders is unavailable and completely locked down, and that claims that CHL holders are responsible and law-abiding are "conjecture" and "anecdotal."

By law, ever since the CHL was instituted in Texas, the Texas Department of Public Safety is required to publish each year the numbers of CHL holders convicted of crimes, and this is published on the DPS website. https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/chl/reports/convrates.htm. The first year of published data is 1996, and the latest is 2012 - that's 17 years' worth. There is no excuse for someone involved in the political issue of guns in Texas not to know this, so yeah I think she is a liar or simply does not care what the truth is.

Unsurprisingly to anyone with half a brain, Texas CHL holders are convicted of crimes at a rate far, far below the general Texas adult population (a fraction of 1% for any year recorded). For the latest year available, 2012, out of 584,850 CHL holders, there were only 120 convictions for any crime whatsoever.

In fact, for either the previous legislature or the one before that, one of the Texas State Rifle Association compiled the conviction rates of Texas Peace Officers (now there's a data set that's generally unavailable - it took some persistent open records act requests to get it), and it turns out Texas CHLs are convicted at about half the rate of Texas Peace Officers.

For MDA to spout off like that at a Senate hearing is loathsome. Unsurprising, but loathsome.

 

[chipbennett]

Another little pasture dumpling from the anti-2A crowd. I was listening when she said this, and in my best Joe Wilson imitation shouted "YOU LIE!" at the monitor. I didn't realize at the time that she's the president of the Texas chapter of MDA.

[video=youtube_share;iO6lrx-4gYg]http://youtu.be/iO6lrx-4gYg[/video]

She says that the "data set" of crimes by Texas CHL holders is unavailable and completely locked down, and that claims that CHL holders are responsible and law-abiding are "conjecture" and "anecdotal."

By law, ever since the CHL was instituted in Texas, the Texas Department of Public Safety is required to publish each year the numbers of CHL holders convicted of crimes, and this is published on the DPS website. https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/chl/reports/convrates.htm. The first year of published data is 1996, and the latest is 2012 - that's 17 years' worth. There is no excuse for someone involved in the political issue of guns in Texas not to know this, so yeah I think she is a liar or simply does not care what the truth is.

Unsurprisingly to anyone with half a brain, Texas CHL holders are convicted of crimes at a rate far, far below the general Texas adult population (a fraction of 1% for any year recorded). For the latest year available, 2012, out of 584,850 CHL holders, there were only 120 convictions for any crime whatsoever.

In fact, for either the previous legislature or the one before that, one of the Texas State Rifle Association compiled the conviction rates of Texas Peace Officers (now there's a data set that's generally unavailable - it took some persistent open records act requests to get it), and it turns out Texas CHLs are convicted at about half the rate of Texas Peace Officers.

For MDA to spout off like that at a Senate hearing is loathsome. Unsurprising, but loathsome.

Cross-posted in the MDA fails thread.

 

[Alamo]

Others report that she did not identify herself as a member, never mind officer, of MDA, when she testified. One of the members of TexasCHLforum.com figured that out.

Also, the chair, Senator Huffman, told everyone at the beginning of the hearing that witnesses should consider themselves under oath when they testify.

 

[Bill of Rights]

Others report that she did not identify herself as a member, never mind officer, of MDA, when she testified. One of the members of TexasCHLforum.com figured that out.

Also, the chair, Senator Huffman, told everyone at the beginning of the hearing that witnesses should consider themselves under oath when they testify.

And when this was discovered, did Sen. Huffman call Ms. Burke out and file proceedings for charges of perjury? Are there plans for her to do so?

 

[Alamo]

Others report that she did not identify herself as a member, never mind officer, of MDA, when she testified. One of the members of TexasCHLforum.com figured that out.

Also, the chair, Senator Huffman, told everyone at the beginning of the hearing that witnesses should consider themselves under oath when they testify.

As reported to me, no. It was near the end of the day, everyone was tired and ready to wrap it up, all the senators (even the two antis) already knew she was blowing wind, and they all already knew how they were going to vote. Apparently perjury charges (or whatever is the appropriate term) are never filed anyway, probably because the political impact of getting caught spouting nonsense is more important anyway.

It was such a huge, obvious, easily checkable gaffe, that I have to think rather than intentionally lying, she was just stupid.

And as I said elsewhere, I want the Leg to keep their eyes on the ball (passing good 2A legislation), not get wrapped up in side events.

It's made National Review now.
In Texas, a Mom Who Demands Action Lies on Camera | National Review Online

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Wonder where the video of the Indiana legislature sessions is?

On the Indiana General Assembly website, we are talking Texas here.

 

[Bill of Rights]

On the Indiana General Assembly website, we are talking Texas here.

Kirk, I think his point is that Texas is actually moving on good bills... and why aren't we? (despite contacts with Bosma and Dermody)

 

[Alamo]

Harking back to Austin Police Chief Acevdo's testimony about campus carry:

So this morning, this Tyler Morning Telegraph - Woman shoots sex offender during home invasion happened in [STRIKE]Tyler[/STRIKE], Van Zandt County, Texas, involving an intruder who turned out to be a convicted sex offender.

But Austin Police Chief Acevedo apparently thinks this should not be allowed to happen in campus living quarters, because the victim would have access to all those campus resources for rape victims. If she lived through it. Gotcha, chief.

(edited to reflect this didn't happen in Tyler, and actually wasn't very close to Tyler, just reported by Tyler newspaper).

 

[ArcadiaGP]

Moms Demand Action Loses: Gov. Abbott Says TX Will Be 45th Open Carry State

 

[actaeon277]

Moms Demand Action Loses: Gov. Abbott Says TX Will Be 45th Open Carry State

Bet that spins them up.
Be even better if he names them as one of the deciding factors.

 

[Alamo]

I applaud Governor Abbott, but he does not have much in the way of direct influence on the Legislature for specific issues like this. And the problem is going to be in the House. Speaker Straus's backers include folks from the education lobby, and for the most part they are not supportive of campus carry, open carry, or other 2A issues. He pretty much slow rolled campus carry in the last legislature to prevent it from reaching the floor for a vote (where it most certainly would have won), and he may try to do the same with OC and campus carry again this time. Crossing fingers on these.

 

[mrortega]

I applaud Governor Abbott, but he does not have much in the way of direct influence on the Legislature for specific issues like this. And the problem is going to be in the House. Speaker Straus's backers include folks from the education lobby, and for the most part they are not supportive of campus carry, open carry, or other 2A issues. He pretty much slow rolled campus carry in the last legislature to prevent it from reaching the floor for a vote (where it most certainly would have won), and he may try to do the same with OC and campus carry again this time. Crossing fingers on these.

Hold it. The linked story makes it sound like the bill is already on the governor's desk. But you make it sound like one of the houses of the legislature still has it and passage isn't certain. Would someone please clarify this for us.

 

[SMiller]

I really hope Texas gets open carry, wish Florida would get it even more as when it is blazing hot wearing a MTAC sucks!

 

[Alamo]

Hold it. The linked story makes it sound like the bill is already on the governor's desk. But you make it sound like one of the houses of the legislature still has it and passage isn't certain. Would someone please clarify this for us.

Sure. The short answer is: I'm right.

The national media and websites often have a great deal of imprecision and confusion when addressing what's happening in Texas politics (something to keep in mind, probably applies to other states as well).

The actual status of OC legislation in Texas is this:

Nine bills for licensed and unlicensed OC were introduced in both houses. The unlicensed OC bills had shaky chances at best when introduced, and OCT/OCTC obliterated even those chances with their antics, (plus some of them damaged existing protections for lawful gun carriers with careless language). Some of the bills were identical to each other.

Four of seven bills in the House and one of two bills in the Senate were referred to committees. The four remaining bills are in "Filed" status, and I expect that's where they will stay.

One of the bills (SB17) referred to the Senate State Affairs committee had a hearing and was passed out of committee with a 7-2 vote, as was Campus Carry, which was heard at the same time. That is the bill referenced in many of the above posts. It now awaits scheduling for a Senate vote, which ultimately is up to Lt Governor Patrick (who is also President of the Senate and runs the Senate) to make happen. I am sure he will bring it to a vote and both OC and Campus Carry will pass the Senate.

In the house HB910 is identical to SB17, the bill that was passed in the Senate Committee. Since the Senate is moving along on SB17, I expect none of the House OC bills to move -- they will wait for the Senate bill to come to the House, and debate that instead. I think if licensed OC is voted on in the House it will pass, but I think there is a very good chance the House Speaker will not let it come to the floor for a vote. He is allegedly a Republican, but he has made enough deals with Democrats and squishier Republicans to get elected as Speaker, plus he is cozy with the University of Texas academic leaders who oppose campus carry, OC, and pretty much 2A in general. Thus he will almost certainly try to bury campus carry, and he may very well try to do the same to OC. He has passed other 2A bills in the past, but he seems to be very attentive to UT's wishes, and even if OC passes the House, there will be amendment that forbids OC on campuses.


If the OC bill (and campus carry, etc) does pass both the House and Senate, THEN Governor Abbott WILL certainly sign it. But all that other stuff I nattered about in the preceding four paragraphs was left out of that article you are referring to.

The Governor was using the opportunity to show support, stick his thumb in MDA's eye, and be optimistic, but he doesn't yet have any OC bill to sign.

 

[mrortega]

Thanks for the clarification, Alamo. As I understand current law at least I can't get busted for "Printing" anymore. Is that correct?

 

[Alamo]

Thanks for the clarification, Alamo. As I understand current law at least I can't get busted for "Printing" anymore. Is that correct?

There never was a law against "printing".

The law used to read that intentionally failing to conceal was an offense, and didn't say anything about location.

Last Legislature (or maybe the one before, I forget) it was changed to make it even more obvious that you have to be intentionally showing the gun AND it has to be in a public place to fail the "conceal" test:

A license holder commits an offense if the license holder carries a handgun on or about the license holder's person under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and intentionally displays the handgun in plain view of another person in a public place.

 

[Maximinus Thrax]

This is very good news. Now, let's get to work on that 30-06 sign.