Tuesday, April 28, 2009

TSRA Legislative Alert

The most recent TSRA Legislative Alert is worth posting as written:


TSRA Members, Friends and Family

This session of the Texas Legislature is a critical one for gun owners and sportsmen! TSRA is working hard to pass landmark legislation protecting our right to self-defense.

Senate Bill 730 by State Senator Glenn Hegar & State Representative Stephen Frost would allow employees to transport and store lawfully-owned firearms secured in their locked, private motor vehicles while parked at work. Many employer policies - often handed down from headquarters located outside of Texas - prohibit the possession of firearms in employees' cars and trucks on company-owned parking areas. These bills would permit Concealed Handgun Licensees (CHLs) to protect themselves during their commutes and would enable sportsmen and competitive shooters to go straight to their hunting leases or shooting ranges from work.

House Bill 1893 by State Representative Joe Driver would allow Concealed Handgun Licensees to protect themselves on the campuses of public colleges and universities. Private postsecondary schools would have to affirmatively "opt-out" of the law, as private businesses are permitted to do.

These bills are under attack by powerful business interests and the anti-gun elite of higher education. They embrace corporate policies that render hard-working Texans defenseless on their drives to and from work. Or they theorize that law-abiding CHLs would suddenly transform into irresponsible criminals if legally allowed to enter a college or university setting. These measures need to pass this year, before the anti-gun extremists in Washington gain momentum that filters down to the state level.

Here's what YOU can do to help pass these important bills this session:

● Contact the members of the House Calendars Committee listed on the attached page and urge them to work to set SB 730 & HB 1893 for a vote by the full House of Representatives. This committee decides if and when the bills get to the House floor for consideration.

● Call and email your State Representative and urge him or her to SUPPORT SB 730 & HB 1893 on the House floor and to OPPOSE any amendments not supported by the sponsors of the bills.

Click to see list that will tell you whether your House member has signed on as a joint- or co-author. Be sure to thank them if they have and urge them to stay the course and pass this landmark pro-self defense legislation.

037
058

Texas House Calendars Committee Members

Texas State Senators
Texas State Representatives

Sincerely,

Alice Tripp
Texas State Rifle Association
Legislative Director

Quite a few bills died in Calendars during the last legislative session. These bills have to make it through Calendars in order to get an open debate on the House Floor.

Oh, and for those of you who have never met her, Alice Tripp is a Texas Treasure who is on the front lines defending our right to keep and bear arms every single day. We are blessed to have her dedication working for us.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

While you're voicing your support for these bills. Let 'em know what you think about HB1863 as well. It re-asserts state sovereignty under the 9th/10th then goes on to state that firearms, firearms accessories & ammunition that are manufactured & stay in Texas are exempt from all federal regulation. Montana passed a similar bill. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB1863

Rabbit said...

I just emailed Leo Berman (Tyler) to thank him and support his bill, HB 1863. Got a brief but nice response form him a few minutes later. I also emailed my state rep to bring this to his attention. No response from him yet.

Regards,
Rabbit.