Mike
Site Co-Founder
imported post
New Year's Alert: The Texas Legislature trickles into Austin next week and we still do not have a bill introduced officially - everybody needs to contact their state representative and senator - and do it again right now even if you have already done so - just follow the action items below!
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Let's let the Texas Legislature know we want action on open carry rights restoration. If you live, work, or go to school in Texas, now would be the time:
Action Item 1: Email your STATE (not U.S.) Representative
Find your State Representative at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us, then go to his/her web page, and send a web form email.
Suggested Message
SUBJECT: Please sponsor legislation to restore open carry rights in Texas!
Dear Representative ________:
I ask you to sponsor legislation to restore the right of Texans to open carry holstered handguns. A draft of such a bill can be found at http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum51/17181.html.
The facts are pretty stark - Texas is one of only 6 states banning the open carry of handguns. Of the 44 states which allow the open carry of handguns, only 14 states require any license to open carry. See map at http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html.
And despite the widespread open carry rights outside of Texas, a recent FBI study that essentially says that bad guys don't open carry. See Anthony Pinizzotto, et al., Violent Encounters: A Study of Felonious Assaults on Our Nation's Law Enforcement Officers, FBI (2006) (finding that violent criminals carefully "conceal" their guns
and "eschew holsters"), summary available at
http://www.forcesciencenews.com/home/detail.html?serial=62
It's no wonder then that over 46,200 Texans have signed an online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/texasoc/petition.html to restore the right to open carry in Texas.
As the DC v. Heller decision made clear, the Constitutional right to "bear" arms relates to the carrying of unconcealed guns. Slip Op. at 10 & 54-57, available at http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf.
Even for those who desire to conceal their handguns most of the time, the absolute ban on un-concealing handguns is not just an onerous mandate, it is essentially impossible to comply with at all times in all conditions. For example, under Texas law it is unlawful for any person to un-conceal their handgun (i.e., take off one's coat) even when visiting a friend's home, farm, ranch, or business.
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
--
Action Item 2: Email your STATE (not U.S.) Senator
Find your State Senator at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us, then go to his/her web page, and send a web form email.
Suggested Message
SUBJECT: Please sponsor legislation to restore open carry rights in Texas!
Dear Senator ________:
I ask you to sponsor legislation to restore the right of Texans to open carry holstered handguns. A draft of such a bill can be found at http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum51/17181.html.
The facts are pretty stark - Texas is one of only 6 states banning the open carry of handguns. Of the 44 states which allow the open carry of handguns, only 14 states require any license to open carry. See map at http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html.
And despite the widespread open carry rights outside of Texas, a recent FBI study that essentially says that bad guys don't open carry. See Anthony Pinizzotto, et al., Violent Encounters: A Study of Felonious Assaults on Our Nation's Law Enforcement Officers, FBI (2006) (finding that violent criminals carefully "conceal" their guns
and "eschew holsters"), summary available at
http://www.forcesciencenews.com/home/detail.html?serial=62
It's no wonder then that over 46,200 Texans have signed an online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/texasoc/petition.html to restore the right to open carry in Texas.
As the D.C .v. Heller decision made clear, the Constitutional right to "bear" arms relates to the carrying of unconcealed guns. Slip Op. at 10 & 54-57, available at http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf.
Even for those who desire to conceal their handguns most of the time, the absolute ban on un-concealing handguns is not just an onerous mandate, it is essentially impossible to comply with at all times in all conditions. For example, under Texas law it is unlawful for any person to un-conceal their handgun (i.e., take off one's coat) even when visiting a friend's home, farm, ranch, or business.
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
--
Action item 3: Contact Governor Perry!
Go to http://governor.state.tx.us/contact
Suggest Message
SUBJECT: Please support legislation to restore open carry rights in Texas!
Dear Governor Perry:
I ask you to support legislation to restore the right of Texans to open carry holstered handguns. A draft of such a bill can be found at http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum51/17181.html.
The facts are pretty stark - Texas is one of only 6 states banning the open carry of handguns. Of the 44 states which allow the open carry of handguns, only 14 states require any license to open carry. See map at http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html.
And despite the widespread open carry rights outside of Texas, a recent FBI study that essentially says that bad guys don't open carry. See Anthony Pinizzotto, et al., Violent Encounters: A Study of Felonious Assaults on Our Nation's Law Enforcement Officers, FBI (2006) (finding that violent criminals carefully "conceal" their guns
and "eschew holsters"), summary available at
http://www.forcesciencenews.com/home/detail.html?serial=62
It's no wonder then that over 46,000 Texans have signed an online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/texasoc/petition.html to restore the right to open carry in Texas.
As the D.C. v. Heller decision made clear, the Constitutional right to "bear" arms relates to the carrying of unconcealed guns. Slip Op. at 10 & 54-57, available at http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf.
Even for those who desire to conceal their handguns most of the time, the absolute ban on un-concealing handguns is not just an onerous mandate, it is essentially impossible to comply with at all times in all conditions. For example, under Texas law it is unlawful for any person to un-conceal their handgun (i.e., take off one's coat) even when visiting a friend's home, farm, ranch, or business.
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
New Year's Alert: The Texas Legislature trickles into Austin next week and we still do not have a bill introduced officially - everybody needs to contact their state representative and senator - and do it again right now even if you have already done so - just follow the action items below!
-------
Let's let the Texas Legislature know we want action on open carry rights restoration. If you live, work, or go to school in Texas, now would be the time:
Action Item 1: Email your STATE (not U.S.) Representative
Find your State Representative at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us, then go to his/her web page, and send a web form email.
Suggested Message
SUBJECT: Please sponsor legislation to restore open carry rights in Texas!
Dear Representative ________:
I ask you to sponsor legislation to restore the right of Texans to open carry holstered handguns. A draft of such a bill can be found at http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum51/17181.html.
The facts are pretty stark - Texas is one of only 6 states banning the open carry of handguns. Of the 44 states which allow the open carry of handguns, only 14 states require any license to open carry. See map at http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html.
And despite the widespread open carry rights outside of Texas, a recent FBI study that essentially says that bad guys don't open carry. See Anthony Pinizzotto, et al., Violent Encounters: A Study of Felonious Assaults on Our Nation's Law Enforcement Officers, FBI (2006) (finding that violent criminals carefully "conceal" their guns
and "eschew holsters"), summary available at
http://www.forcesciencenews.com/home/detail.html?serial=62
It's no wonder then that over 46,200 Texans have signed an online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/texasoc/petition.html to restore the right to open carry in Texas.
As the DC v. Heller decision made clear, the Constitutional right to "bear" arms relates to the carrying of unconcealed guns. Slip Op. at 10 & 54-57, available at http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf.
Even for those who desire to conceal their handguns most of the time, the absolute ban on un-concealing handguns is not just an onerous mandate, it is essentially impossible to comply with at all times in all conditions. For example, under Texas law it is unlawful for any person to un-conceal their handgun (i.e., take off one's coat) even when visiting a friend's home, farm, ranch, or business.
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
--
Action Item 2: Email your STATE (not U.S.) Senator
Find your State Senator at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us, then go to his/her web page, and send a web form email.
Suggested Message
SUBJECT: Please sponsor legislation to restore open carry rights in Texas!
Dear Senator ________:
I ask you to sponsor legislation to restore the right of Texans to open carry holstered handguns. A draft of such a bill can be found at http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum51/17181.html.
The facts are pretty stark - Texas is one of only 6 states banning the open carry of handguns. Of the 44 states which allow the open carry of handguns, only 14 states require any license to open carry. See map at http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html.
And despite the widespread open carry rights outside of Texas, a recent FBI study that essentially says that bad guys don't open carry. See Anthony Pinizzotto, et al., Violent Encounters: A Study of Felonious Assaults on Our Nation's Law Enforcement Officers, FBI (2006) (finding that violent criminals carefully "conceal" their guns
and "eschew holsters"), summary available at
http://www.forcesciencenews.com/home/detail.html?serial=62
It's no wonder then that over 46,200 Texans have signed an online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/texasoc/petition.html to restore the right to open carry in Texas.
As the D.C .v. Heller decision made clear, the Constitutional right to "bear" arms relates to the carrying of unconcealed guns. Slip Op. at 10 & 54-57, available at http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf.
Even for those who desire to conceal their handguns most of the time, the absolute ban on un-concealing handguns is not just an onerous mandate, it is essentially impossible to comply with at all times in all conditions. For example, under Texas law it is unlawful for any person to un-conceal their handgun (i.e., take off one's coat) even when visiting a friend's home, farm, ranch, or business.
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
--
Action item 3: Contact Governor Perry!
Go to http://governor.state.tx.us/contact
Suggest Message
SUBJECT: Please support legislation to restore open carry rights in Texas!
Dear Governor Perry:
I ask you to support legislation to restore the right of Texans to open carry holstered handguns. A draft of such a bill can be found at http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum51/17181.html.
The facts are pretty stark - Texas is one of only 6 states banning the open carry of handguns. Of the 44 states which allow the open carry of handguns, only 14 states require any license to open carry. See map at http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html.
And despite the widespread open carry rights outside of Texas, a recent FBI study that essentially says that bad guys don't open carry. See Anthony Pinizzotto, et al., Violent Encounters: A Study of Felonious Assaults on Our Nation's Law Enforcement Officers, FBI (2006) (finding that violent criminals carefully "conceal" their guns
and "eschew holsters"), summary available at
http://www.forcesciencenews.com/home/detail.html?serial=62
It's no wonder then that over 46,000 Texans have signed an online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/texasoc/petition.html to restore the right to open carry in Texas.
As the D.C. v. Heller decision made clear, the Constitutional right to "bear" arms relates to the carrying of unconcealed guns. Slip Op. at 10 & 54-57, available at http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf.
Even for those who desire to conceal their handguns most of the time, the absolute ban on un-concealing handguns is not just an onerous mandate, it is essentially impossible to comply with at all times in all conditions. For example, under Texas law it is unlawful for any person to un-conceal their handgun (i.e., take off one's coat) even when visiting a friend's home, farm, ranch, or business.
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME