marchese56
New member
imported post
She supports it..... but apparently you can support it, and still not sponsor the bill.
If your Rep replied to you and said "ummmmI support it but Riddle is going to introduce it" get back on them.
RE: Open Carry Support
From:
Jon English (jon.english@house.state.tx.us) on behalf of District150 Riddle District150.Riddle@house.state.tx.us
Sent:
Sun 2/22/09 5:32 PM
Dear Mr. ,
Thank you so much for the e-mail. I know this is a very frustrating situation. I would like to make sure you are aware that it is not a crime if you accidentally have your shirt pull up or your jacket blow out and expose a weapon that was intentionally concealed. I know people quote some exceptional situations where a law enforcement officer may not have been properly informed, but the law does not punish you for accidentally exposing an otherwise concealed weapon. <comment- well thats a lie>
It is true that Rep. Riddle is unlikely to file the bill this session. It is not a matter of having "too many" Second Amendment bills, but rather the way those different bills are perceived. Open Carry has soured the attitudes of many members towards other Second Amendment bills and caused a lot of confusion. More than that, this confusion is diverting resources away from not only other Second Amendment bills, but our entire legislative portfolio right now. Because Texans currently have a resource that allows you to exercise Second Amendment rights in CHLs, these other bills have to take a priority. It is just simply a fact that Open Carry has made other bills more difficult to pass, and Rep. Riddle doesn't want that to continue.
You're absolutely right that there is a time and a place to file a bill just because it's the right thing to do, but when she sees right in front of her that there would be negative consequences towards other issues she believes in, it does not seem like this is that time or that place. However, it would be fantastic if everyone who supports Open Carry would support other issues that are before the legislature we can all agree on, such as your right to have a gun in your car at work or students rights to carry concealed handguns on campus.
These political realities constantly frustrate Rep. Riddle and us as staff on a daily basis. No one more vocally opposes "politics" as usual than Rep. Riddle. She authored the Castle Doctrine and has always been the first to stand up for your Second Amendment rights. It is with those rights in mind that she believes pushing Open Carry would cause more harm than good. We want to come out of this session with more rights, not equal or less.
I really appreciate you taking the time to so thoroughly outline your concerns, Please always feel free to contact us with any additional questions or concerns on this or any other issue. Our door is always open to you!
Sincerely,
Jon English
Chief of Staff
State Representative Debbie Riddle
phone: (512)-463-0572
fax: (512-463-1908
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910
jon.english@house.state.tx.usmailto:jon.english@house.state.tx.usmailto:jon.english@house.state.tx.usmailto:jon.english@house.state.tx.us
[align=center]ORIGINAL MESSAGE[/align]
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 12:56 PM
To: District150 Riddle
Subject: Open Carry Support
Message:
Representative Riddle:
I have been watching the momentum of the open carry movement for almost a year now. I heard about it in passing and decided to research it. I was stunned when I learned that Texas was one of the only states that disallowed the practice. I received my concealed license as soon as I was old enough and was disturbed when I learned that the simple act of letting your shirt pull up and exposing the bottom of a gun is a crime.
Rumors of your dwindling support for the open carry bill you are drafting have me highly concerned. The logic and necessity of the bill is unquestioned and I know that you understand that. I will not lecture you on why this is a good bill. I do not agree with the logic that too many pro-gun bills could sour the chance of some passing. I believe just the opposite in fact. The more pro-freedom bills that are offered, the better chance we have of passing some of them.
Striking down an existing law is traditionally one of the hardest things to do in lawmaking. I don't ask that you submit this bill because it could help with other gun bills or create a wave of support. I ask that you submit this bill simply because it is the right thing to do. Protecting the God given rights of the people is the single purpose of government.
I cannot accept the argument that a bill which unquestionably returns a right to the people is unfit to be introduced to the floor simply because of the legislative climate.
She supports it..... but apparently you can support it, and still not sponsor the bill.
If your Rep replied to you and said "ummmmI support it but Riddle is going to introduce it" get back on them.
RE: Open Carry Support
From:
Jon English (jon.english@house.state.tx.us) on behalf of District150 Riddle District150.Riddle@house.state.tx.us
Sent:
Sun 2/22/09 5:32 PM
Dear Mr. ,
Thank you so much for the e-mail. I know this is a very frustrating situation. I would like to make sure you are aware that it is not a crime if you accidentally have your shirt pull up or your jacket blow out and expose a weapon that was intentionally concealed. I know people quote some exceptional situations where a law enforcement officer may not have been properly informed, but the law does not punish you for accidentally exposing an otherwise concealed weapon. <comment- well thats a lie>
It is true that Rep. Riddle is unlikely to file the bill this session. It is not a matter of having "too many" Second Amendment bills, but rather the way those different bills are perceived. Open Carry has soured the attitudes of many members towards other Second Amendment bills and caused a lot of confusion. More than that, this confusion is diverting resources away from not only other Second Amendment bills, but our entire legislative portfolio right now. Because Texans currently have a resource that allows you to exercise Second Amendment rights in CHLs, these other bills have to take a priority. It is just simply a fact that Open Carry has made other bills more difficult to pass, and Rep. Riddle doesn't want that to continue.
You're absolutely right that there is a time and a place to file a bill just because it's the right thing to do, but when she sees right in front of her that there would be negative consequences towards other issues she believes in, it does not seem like this is that time or that place. However, it would be fantastic if everyone who supports Open Carry would support other issues that are before the legislature we can all agree on, such as your right to have a gun in your car at work or students rights to carry concealed handguns on campus.
These political realities constantly frustrate Rep. Riddle and us as staff on a daily basis. No one more vocally opposes "politics" as usual than Rep. Riddle. She authored the Castle Doctrine and has always been the first to stand up for your Second Amendment rights. It is with those rights in mind that she believes pushing Open Carry would cause more harm than good. We want to come out of this session with more rights, not equal or less.
I really appreciate you taking the time to so thoroughly outline your concerns, Please always feel free to contact us with any additional questions or concerns on this or any other issue. Our door is always open to you!
Sincerely,
Jon English
Chief of Staff
State Representative Debbie Riddle
phone: (512)-463-0572
fax: (512-463-1908
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910
jon.english@house.state.tx.usmailto:jon.english@house.state.tx.usmailto:jon.english@house.state.tx.usmailto:jon.english@house.state.tx.us
[align=center]ORIGINAL MESSAGE[/align]
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 12:56 PM
To: District150 Riddle
Subject: Open Carry Support
Message:
Representative Riddle:
I have been watching the momentum of the open carry movement for almost a year now. I heard about it in passing and decided to research it. I was stunned when I learned that Texas was one of the only states that disallowed the practice. I received my concealed license as soon as I was old enough and was disturbed when I learned that the simple act of letting your shirt pull up and exposing the bottom of a gun is a crime.
Rumors of your dwindling support for the open carry bill you are drafting have me highly concerned. The logic and necessity of the bill is unquestioned and I know that you understand that. I will not lecture you on why this is a good bill. I do not agree with the logic that too many pro-gun bills could sour the chance of some passing. I believe just the opposite in fact. The more pro-freedom bills that are offered, the better chance we have of passing some of them.
Striking down an existing law is traditionally one of the hardest things to do in lawmaking. I don't ask that you submit this bill because it could help with other gun bills or create a wave of support. I ask that you submit this bill simply because it is the right thing to do. Protecting the God given rights of the people is the single purpose of government.
I cannot accept the argument that a bill which unquestionably returns a right to the people is unfit to be introduced to the floor simply because of the legislative climate.