""The day after the election, Greg Abbott reiterates that he will sign an open carry bill if it reaches his desk." -- stealthyeliminator
Yes, but Governor Perry has said that very same thing...but he never DID anything to help GET a bill to his desk. Just TALKED about it, and only ONCE (TMK). No calling people in the State Legislature, no pushing for it. Nothing. Old LBJ didn't mind twisting arms to get bills HE wanted, did he...so what's up with pansy Perry? I hope Abbott has more grit.
So I hope Abbott HELPS get an OC bill to his desk, but makes it clear that he doesn't want just ANY OC bill. Meaning, I hope he doesn't sign a BAD bill just to say he did what he has said he would do and then move on.
I don't know how much of a "gun guy" Abbott is, so I don't know if he is aware of the concerns expressed/debated here (and other TX gun forums) about a good OC bill vs. a bad (restrictive/watered-down) bill.
One of you guys in TX -- or a TX pro-gun organization -- please write Abbott and let him know what he SHOULD be signing and consider any OC bill he gets carefully -- so he can THINK about this issue NOW, BEFORE he gets ANY OC bill on his desk...and send anything back that needs "fixing" even if he has to veto it to GET it fixed. He should still say he wants to sign a OC bill into law, but NOT something too restrictive ("too restrictive" to be defined by you people in Texas, not us non-Texans here) and he's vetoing anything less so it can be improved/reworked so he then CAN sign it.
No more *****-footing around for gosh sakes: All the states around TX have OC, so the last thing needed is a restrictive OC bill passed -- by "restrictive" what *I* mean is OK's OC law, which only allows OC if you have a permit (like it is in OR also, IIRC). What Texans really should get is AT LEAST the ability to OC like residents of NM, AZ, CO, LA: All of which are NOT tied to a CC permit.
I know all that has been discussed here (sorry for the repetition/rehashing of some of this), but I'm just saying it might be better for him to NOT sign the first OC bill that comes to his desk -- if it's too restrictive, and STILL requires permission (a permit) to exercise it.
I don't know why TX can't "leap" into the 21st Century -- having been a follower so far vs. being a leader in the OC "movement" -- but IMO, it should AT LEAST catch-up with the states around it (except OK, as mentioned). I fear if TX gets OC attached to a CC permit, it may be YEARS before that can be changed to NO connection to a CC permit. Constitutional Carry would be best, of course, but I don't hear Abbott saying THAT at all -- has he even used those 2 words, ever? Is he afraid to? He shouldn't be. What's wrong with having a Governor on the more "aggressive" no-nonsense side (like arm-twisting LBJ)?
Abbott COULD start talking about it, and COULD call for Constitutional Carry and push for it big-time NOW. But he hasn't (TMK) so I'm not sure how "pro-gun" he really is.
If Abbott is REALLY pro-OC, however, then he should be aware of and clear in his own mind what kind of OC bill he wants to see on his desk. Let the bill's sponsors know. If Abbott isn't clear on what he wants to see, then someone needs to get him up to speed. Now. Constitutional Carry MIGHT be too much at this time, but I see NO reason to accept OC tied to a CC permit presently in 2014 (and soon to be 2015)! None.
And it would really help if any OC bill was already "fixed" by the bill sponsors...if not though, Abbot will have to do it.
Question is, WILL he do it, or once he signs ANY OC bill, is it a done (and over) issue for him he never plans to revisit.
Enquiring minds want to know...;-)