#TXLEGE: It's time to sue Texas over Constitutional Carry (or lack thereof)

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

Rachel Malone has a piece about the state of play on #2A issues as we head into session.

Texas lags far behind other states in our right to carry. While 31 states recognize the right to open carry without a government permit—and 17 states recognize the right to conceal carry a handgun without a permit—Texas still generally requires a permit for handgun carry outside of our property, business, or vehicle.

....

In the name of liberty and justice for all, and in the spirit of the Alamo, the 87th Legislature must pass Constitutional Carry and end “gun-free” zones. Our right to carry a firearm for protection should not rely on government. Texas, it’s time to move forward with freedom.

O.K, sure. Nothing she says is wrong. But it's hard to miss that Texas' elected officials care about "the name of liberty and justice for all" or "the spirit of the Alamo."

Something that's never been tried is a lawsuit against the state of Texas over its permitting system. Doesn't take a genius to see how one could argue it's an unconstitutional infringement. Such a lawsuit might not be successful, but it's worth a shot. Especially in the newly Trumpified federal courts.

At a minimum, such a lawsuit would increase pressure on the legislature far more than vauge appeals to buzzwords and cliches.

Bottom Line: This is a ongoing headline the powers that be won't want, so it's not inconceivable they'd take steps to make it go away.

#TXLEGE/#SD30: Stickland sets record straight re: Springer's #2A history

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

With Drew Springer now claiming to support Constitutional Carry, it's worth reviewing the history:

Highlights:

• Despite Stickland filing the bill each of the past three sessions, Springer never once co-authored.

• RPT legislative priority for most of the past decade.

• Over the years, Stickland asked Springer to sign onto the bill at least a dozen times.

• Thousands of Springer's constituents in HD-68 signed the ConCarry petition.

• In 2015, before he wanted a promotion, Springer publicly declined to support ConCarry.

• "When Representative Springer had the chance, he let you down."

#TXLEGE: Luther's first Senate candidate, in AGES, to endorse Constitutional Carry

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

This is certainly interesting:

Luther also said she’d work to uphold Texans’ right to bear arms. Texas Gun Rights, which is the “largest ‘No Compromise’ gun rights group,” according to its website, endorsed her candidacy on Thursday.

“I definitely agree that Texans have the Second Amendment right to protect themselves; I agree with Constitutional carry,” Luther said. “If Texans have the legal authority to purchase a gun, then they should have the legal authority to carry it wherever they go.”

Of course, what makes this notable is that nobody has even **FILED** this bill the past two sessions. To say nothing of trying to pass it. We're just talking about filing.

Rumor has always been that about half of the Republican caucus in the Texas Senate doesn't support it (*). Thus, they really, really don't want to vote on it. We can't prove it, but that rumor is certainly consistent with their behavior.

For Shelley Luther to take this poisition, especialy when her primary opponent is this guy, is HIGHLY noteworthy.

Bottom Line: It's impossible to know how this will play out in advance, but these comments have to be considered a good sign.

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* - FWIW, we were told that 8 Republican Senators were no votes in 2017.

#TXLEGE: "Behind the Scenes" in the Legislature

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."
Ephesians 5:11

Nothing quite like an former officeholder who's now unshackled.

Don Huffines has been speaking about the reality of his experience in the legislature for some time.  He gave similar remarks at Empower Texans gala in December.  His recent appearance at the True Texas Project is, at least to our knowledge, the first time it's been recorded.



Highlights:

• Decided to run for office because the incumbent (John Carona) became a liberal over his time in office.

• Abolished an obscure quasi-educational agency: "A rats nest of crooks."
• "We uncovered the biggest political corruption scandal in the history of the state of Texas."
• "We discovered these people were stealing a lot of money."
• "Over 3000 employees."
• At least 5 employees are currently in prison, with more potentially coming soon.

• "I didn't get a lot of help in Austin."
• "I didn't get any support of the Governor."
• "I got nothing but opposition from the speaker of the house."
• The Lt. Governor wasn't particularly helpful, but didn't actively work against him either.

• First Republican caucus meeting:
• Took the party platform with him.
• Wanted a vote on Constitutional Carry so that voters could hold Senators accountable.
• 3 Senators left..."it was VERY awkward."
• The next morning, he was told to apologize to the other Senators.
• Republican Senators are willing to be held accountable to the media and lobbyists, but not their own voters.

• "I don't know if you know this or not, but they don't like you...As a matter of fact, they hate you."

• "They belittle you, they laugh at you...they ridicule our state party platform."

• "Have you ever seen our Governor talk about our state party platform?!?"
• Likewise the other statewides.

• "They don't believe in what you want."

• "We have never not had a purple session."

• "Democrats ran this state for 125 years, for the past 20 years you've had Democrat party switchers running it."
• Note: This point CANNOT possibly be emphasized enough.  The only difference today is that all the local Good Ol' Boys run in the R primary instead of the D.  Texas has NEVER been a conservative state.  It's been a deeply corrupt, crony "capitalist" state for 150 years.

• "We've never had a conservative session."

• "If we wanted a secure border, that border would be secure."

• "Did you hear a whisper on education freedom?!?"

• Election integrity: "We know we're being cheated.  We know dead people vote."
• We know thousands of non-citizens are voting, could be significantly higher.
• Abbott was Attorney General for 12 years and never did anything about voter fraud.
• Paxton hasn't been much better.
• "When I lost my election in '18, there was evidence presented to me that we might have a problem."
• The biggest issue is software manipulation: "If they can program a computer to count the votes, they can program a computer to change the votes."
• Yet it was the GOP who killed the election integrity bill.
• His attorney quit because he didn't want to be on the outs with the Governor.

• Socialism: "The Democrats want to get there today, the Republicans want to get there next week."

#TXLEGE: No, seriously, good deal Matt Rinaldi

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

By now everyone's heard: Attempted mass shooting yesterday.  Stopped by a good guy with a gun.  Only reason why it was legal for the church in question to defend itself was because Matt Rinaldi got the church security amendment past the finish line.

We don't have a lot to add.

Matt was a champion in that effort.

Obviously, it's still the case that Matt's effort was only necessary because of deeper problems in how this state is governed.  Equally obvious, it's still the case that places besides churches should also be able to organize volunteer security forces.  Finally, it ought to be obvious that the scope of the amendment that passed in 2017 needs to be dramatically expanded.

There will be time for all that.

For now, however, let's just be glad that Matt Rinaldi's efforts two years ago averted a much worse tragedy.

Bottom Line: Yesterday could have been so, so, much worse.

Chip Roy is completely correct

"The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender."
Proverbs 22:7

+1:

These spending bills are atrocious. It'll be interesting to watch my Republican colleagues, who look their constituents in the eyes while campaigning on fiscal restraint and a "balanced budget amendment," vote in favor of this package. The party of fiscal restraint ... pic.twitter.com/HOICzkO96i

— Rep. Chip Roy (@RepChipRoy) December 17, 2019

Highlights:

• "This bill doesn't provide anything, the American people provide."

• "This bill borrows."

• "Our nation is $23 Trillion in debt, racking up $100 million worth of debt per hour."

• "This bill is filled with massive policy changes, that we should debate, and vote on, individually."

• "It has a bailout for big insurance."

• "The bill changes the tobacco age nationwide."
• Note: Are you serious?!?

• "Turning Federalism on its head, with nary a whimper from Republicans who like to talk about the tenth amendment in speeches back home."

• "The bill continues the giveaway to big corporations like Boeing in the form of Ex-Im for seven years."

• "The bill funds bureaucrats who wish to target your second amendment rights."

• "It funds abortion through Obamacare plans."

• "The biggest problem is we haven't read the bill."

• "The worst kind of bi-partisanship."

Apparently, this spending bill is longer than the original Obamacare bill.

It's disgraceful.

But kudos to Chip Roy for fighting the good fight.

Bottom Line: There's a reason why Chip Roy is one of the few elected officials that deserves re-election.

#TXLEGE: Dana Loesch Killed Lt. Dan's Flirtation with Gun Control (for now)

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

Our post the other day about Lt. Dan got us thinking: He hasn't run his mouth about guns in awhile.

So we decided to check out his campaign website and Twitter feed.

Here's what we found: Lt. Dan's last reference to anything remotely related to the Second Amendment came on September 24th.

Where, pray tell, was Lt. Dan on September 25th?!?



Not a peep on the subject since.

Bottom Line: The whims of the national news cycle remain no way to govern an allegedly "conservative" state. Even if it worked this one time. Thanks Dana.

#TXLEGE: Effective, Sustainable, Solutions for Gun Violence

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

From TPPF:

TPPF: Come and Take It

What Will – and What Will Not – Improve Public Safety in Firearm Violence Prevention

AUSTIN— Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation published the research paper Come and Take It: What Will—and What Will Not—Improve Public Safety in Firearm Violence Prevention. “In the wake of recent shootings, many gun control proponents have demanded that state leadership ‘do something’ in the hopes of preventing future tragedies,” said Derek Cohen, Ph.D., director of Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Right on Crime initiative. “However, these demands often contribute to a clear violation of an explicit right enumerated both in the United States and Texas constitutions—the individual right to keep and bear arms for lawful self-defense—while failing to empirically demonstrate the positive change the proposed policy seeks to achieve.” Key Points: Texas is the safest it has been in a generation, yet some are calling for stricter gun control. Common gun control proposals often penalize law-abiding gun owners while failing to improve public safety. To read the paper in full, please visit:  www.texaspolicy.com/come-and-take-it-what-will-and-what-will-not-improve-public-safety-in-firearm-violence-prevention/

Bottom Line: It's nothing you didn't already know, but it's good to have all the data in one place.

#TXLEGE: Insufferable Senate Solipsists Waste Everybody's Time

"Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished."
Proverbs 16:5

[Note: If you care about the details, Lauren McGaughy of the DMN live tweeted the early part of the hearing here.  Her thread contains links to coverage of later parts.  Masochists can watch the full hearing here.]

[Note II: The definition for 'solipsism' is available here (see definition #2); the definition for 'pompous' is available here.]

It's mercifully over.

Today's initial hearing of the Texas Senate's interim committee on so-called "Mass Violence Prevention & Community Safety" accomplished nothing.  Unless you consider an unintentional case study in ego and political grandstanding an accomplishment.  It delivered on that count.

DPS chief Steve McCraw was the hearing's primary witness.  This would be the same Steve McCraw who, earlier this year, bungled the state's voter roll eligibility review.  Honestly, that tells you everything you need to know.  Only in government could someone with Steve McCraw's recent record of grotesque incompetence not get fired.

A vignette: During his testimony, McCraw prattled on for several minutes about the alleged threat posed by incels.  Seriously, frickin' incels.  Obviously, incels are a demented sex cult.  But they're completely irrelevant.  Yet one of the top law enforcement officials in the state of Texas actually jabbered at the Texas Senate about this topic.  Even worse, the Senate took it seriously.  It was embarrassing (or should have been).

Also, this happened:

. @SenJaneNelson just said there are privacy concerns with checking social media, says she doesn't want law enforcement to be reading all her tweets. 🤔#txlege

— Lauren McGaughy (@lmcgaughy) September 26, 2019

Apparently, Senator Nelson is unaware that Twitter is already a public forum.

Bottom Line: Obviously, recent events in El Paso and Odessa sucked.  That goes without saying.  Nevertheless, today's Texas Senate hearing was a reminder that showboating politicians rarely make things better after a tragedy.

#TXLEGE: More Denial, Rationalization, from Lt. Dan

"The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness."
Proverbs 15:2

Hoo boy:

'The left does this all the time,' @DanPatrick says of the criticism by @EmpowerTexans. 'I'm not anti-#2A to just say we need to look at this issue,' he says of stranger-to-stranger sales needing background checks. 'This is crazy talk, crazy talk.' #txlege https://t.co/g0k6IE5Lu0

— Bob Garrett (@RobertTGarrett) September 23, 2019

[Note: Lt. Dan's full interview is available here, although the tweet quoted above is all you need for this blog post.]

That's not good.

One example: How does one define the phrase "family member" for legal purposes?!?

Will "family member" be defined only as blood relatives?!?  If so, how many "drops of blood" will be required to qualify?!?  If not, will 'family members' via marriage be included?!?  If so, how does Obergefell factor into the definition of marriage (*) for purposes of this statute?!?   How about divorce?!?  We could go on, but you understand.  If defining the relatively simple phrase "family member" has this many unintended complexities, how will Lt. Dan ever define subjective phrases like "friend" and "stranger"?!?

Bottom Line: This will not end well....

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* -- Imagine the mental gymnastics....

#TXLEGE: Patrick falls deeper into denial, rationalization

"The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness."
Proverbs 15:2

Earlier this morning, Michael Quinn Sullivan wrote a short Twitter thread about constitution day.  Ok fine, whatever.   During the thread, Sullivan took a relatively tame jab at Dan Patrick's recent turn against the Second Amendment.

Which caused Lt. Dan's notoriously thin skin to return with a vengeance:

You know my plan exempts family and friends, so apparently you are fine with selling your guns to total strangers who can’t pass a background check because they could be a violent felon or someone bent on mass violence. BTW, release the tape. You are destroying our party.

— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) September 17, 2019

Guilty conscience, Lt. Dan?!?

Lt. Dan's supposition is, of course, preposterous.  Whatever one thinks about Sullivan's strategy re: the Bonnen audio, the notion that it's "destroying our party" has no basis in fact.  Jonathan Stickland explains:

No @DanPatrick you sir are destroying our party. You are the politician who has forgotten who brought you to the dance. You’ve publicly been taking a dump on our party platform & our long held support of the #2A. You will own the election results not the grassroots! #txlege

— Jonathan Stickland (@RepStickland) September 17, 2019

Bottom Line: This farce would be entertaining if it weren't so serious.

#TXLEGE: Abbott's "safety action report" means Patrick's gun registry doesn't poll well

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

From Texas Scorecard:

On Thursday afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott released a list of suggestions for the state legislature on gun violence, following roundtable meetings in the wake of the El Paso and Odessa shootings.

Dubbed the “Texas Safety Action Report,” many of Abbott’s suggestions are either broad, such as his request to consider expediting the reporting of criminal convictions to the Texas Department of Public Safety” or duplicative, like prohibiting the straw purchases of firearms under state law—something already illegal under Federal law.

Most immediately notable in his list of recommendations, however, concerns expanding background checks of person-to-person sales.

While Lt. Gov Dan Patrick has been waging war against gun owners and advocacy groups such as the National Rifle Association over the past week over his support for expanding mandatory government background checks on private firearm sales, the governor took a markedly different tact.

Instead, Abbott recommends that “The Legislature should consider ways to make it easy, affordable, and beneficial for a private seller of firearms to voluntarily use background checks when selling firearms to strangers.”

Lots to unpack.

The biggest takeaway is that, for the second time in as many days, a major statewide elected official has distanced themselves from Patrick's gun registry.

That being said, for the statewide official to be Abbott rather than Cruz is very noteworthy.

Whatever, else you want to say about Abbott...he polls EVERYTHING.

What makes this even more interesting is that Patrick has been citing alleged polling data to justify his gun registry.

While the following is nothing but informed speculation, here's what we suspect happened:

• Patrick polled, or cited polls, framing the question in the friendliest way possible for Patrick's position.

• Abbott polled the issue neutrally.

• Abbott didn't like what he saw.

Thus, Abbott put out what he put out.

Bottom Line: Sometimes the actions of elected officials who govern by polls reveal interesting nuggets about public opinion.

#TXLEGE: Cruz calls legislature a "lunatic asylum"

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Proverbs 29:2

Via the DMN:

WASHINGTON -- Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is distancing himself from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's proposal to require background checks for all stranger to stranger gun sales, painting his fellow Republican's idea as in line with broader proposals offered by Democrats.

Asked on Thursday if he supported Patrick's specific idea -- which would not affect private sales between friends and families -- Cruz compared it to the notion of universal background checks.

"The consistent focus of Democrats in Congress is precisely the proposal that you laid out -- it is mandating that all private person to person sales have a federal background check," he said at a breakfast hosted by The Christian Science Monitor. "That's a mistake."

Cruz was pressed on the fact that Patrick's idea would focus only on private gun transactions between strangers -- and not all private person to person sales -- and was asked if that distinction would change his feelings.

The senator demurred.

"Dan Patrick is a good man," he said, before noting that his focus is on policy proposals being considered in Congress. "I have every confidence the Legislature in Texas will debate and consider these issues. Thankfully, I serve in a different lunatic asylum."

[Note: Emphasis added.]

Wow.  Lots to unpack there.  Obviously, a rift between Ted Cruz and Dan Patrick would be...a rather significant development.

The truth, however, is that we don't know how this situation will unfold.  Speculation is pointless.  Whatever's going to happen will happen; we'll know soon enough.

For now, take a second to relish the awesomeness of that Cruz quote.

Bottom Line: He's not wrong.

If Fallon's Serious

"He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much."
Luke 16:10

Interesting:

Today, State Senator Pat Fallon (R-Prosper) said he would explore challenging incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

Fallon said he would launch an exploratory committee, and told The Texan, “I want to have an open and honest conversation with GOP primary voters to see if there is a groundswell of support for a primary challenge for U.S. Senate.”

A former Frisco City Council member, Fallon was elected to the Texas State House in 2012. He served there until 2017 when he announced he would challenge incumbent Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) in the Republican primary.

This is mostly good.

Obviously, John Cornyn's a terrible U.S. Senator.  Equally obvious, despite being terrible, John Cornyn's never received a credible primary challenge.  So, good on Pat Fallon for positioning himself to run a credible campaign.

Two cheers.

Still.

While Fallon has been historically one of the more conservative members of the legislature, with the exception of his vote for Scott Turner in 2015, he's tended to talk a bigger game than he's delivered.

It's unclear if, as a U.S. Senator, Fallon merely intends to vote more conservatively than Cornyn, or whether he's going to push the envelope.

HOWEVER....

Pat Fallon is a sitting member of the Texas Senate.  It just so happens to be the case that the current presiding officer of that chamber has recently taken up the cause of gun control.  We desperately need a sitting TEXAS senator to lead that fight against the Lt. Governor.

If Fallon were to be that Texas Senator, the case for his own promotion to the U.S. Senate would grow infinitely stronger.

Furthermore, it just so happens to be the case that the Lt. Governor in question is supporting Cornyn.

So Pat Fallon has nothing to lose.

Bottom Line: Words on the campaign trail are cheap, but Pat Fallon's current position will offer plenty of opportunity to demonstrate action in the coming months.

#TXLEGE: Dan Patrick is the new Dubya

"Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But such as keep the law contend with them."
Proverbs 28:4

Dan Patrick sent...quite the e-mail yesterday:

I am sorry that some of my allies in the battle to protect our Second Amendment rights are angry about this — but as I say in this Fox clip, the National Rifle Association is just wrong on this. Their refusal to compromise on this issue will only hurt our long-term defense of the Second Amendment.

....

If those of us who support the Second Amendment won’t begin a discussion on this common sense change in our current laws, we risk losing everything. The crazed gun control crowd— from Biden to Beto — will sweep in and destroy our rights. They want to take away our guns — and even remove the Second Amendment from the Constitution.

In other words: Dan Patrick wants to suspend the Second Amendment to save the Second Amendment.

[Note: Does Patrick feel the same way about the fourth, fifth and sixth amendments?!?]

Where have we heard that logic before?!?

BUSH: Well, I have obviously made a decision to make sure the economy doesn’t collapse. I’ve abandoned free market principles to save the free market system.

[Note: It's absolutely insane, but all video clips of that Dubya quote have been scrubbed from the internet.]

Eleven years after that Dubya remark, the free market has never recovered.  It might be in modestly better shape than it was 3 or 4 years ago.  But the U.S. economy remains less free to this day.

With all due respect to Dan Patrick, we don't want to see that happen to the Second Amendment (or the fourth, fifth and sixth).

Bottom Line: They're not even coming up with new talking points anymore.

#TXLEGE: Will Lt. Dan accept Loesch's offer?!?

"As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."
Proverbs 27:17

Things just got a little more interesting:

I feel @DanPatrick is misguided on already federally regulated legal private sales which studies have shown are not the driver for illegally acquired firearms https://t.co/3zdtxDx8h9

Happy to have him on air with me to discuss. https://t.co/19G3KIlBnl

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) September 6, 2019

Thank you Dana.  This author understands how, as a national radio host, you're pulled in 25 different directions every day.  Fortunately, you recognize this moment's dire stakes.  We're gonna need you.

For now, however, the ball is in Dan Patrick's court.

He's likely to accept.  When it comes to firearms related public policy, however, Dana Loesch knows her stuff.  Lt. Dan, putting it mildly, doesn't always do well in these scenarios.

Bottom Line: We have no idea what will happen, but the Bill of Rights could hang in the balance.

#TXLEGE: Greg Abbott Don't Need No Stinkin' Bill of Rights

"You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor."
Leviticus 19:15

That's not good:

• Order No. 1 Within thirty days of this order, the Texas Department of Public Safety shall develop standardized intake questions that can be used by all Texas law enforcement agencies to better identify whether a person calling the agency has information that should be reported to the Texas Suspicious Activity Reporting Network.
• Order No. 2 Within thirty days of this order, the Department of Public Safety shall develop clear guidance, based on the appropriate legal standard, for when and how Texas law-enforcement agencies should submit Suspicious Activity Reports.
• Order No. 3 Within sixty days of this order, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall make training available to educate all law-enforcement officers regarding the standards that will be developed pursuant to Order No. 1 and Order No. 2.
• Order No. 4 The Department of Public Safety shall create and conduct an initiative to raise public awareness and understanding of how Suspicious Activity Reports are used by law-enforcement agencies to identify potential mass shooters or terroristic threats, so that the general public and friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, and classmates will be more likely to report information about potential gunmen.
• Order No. 5 The Department of Public Safety shall work with the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on ways to better inform schools, students, staff, and families about the importance of Suspicious Activity Reports and how to initiate that process.
• Order No. 6 The Department of Public Safety shall work with local law enforcement, mental-health professionals, school districts, and others to create multidisciplinary threat assessment teams for each of its regions, and when appropriate shall coordinate with federal partners.
• Order No. 7 The Department of Public Safety, as well as the Office of the Governor, shall use all available resources to increase staff at all fusion centers in Texas for the purpose of better collecting and responding to Suspicious Activity Reports, and better monitoring and analyzing social media and other online forums, for potential threats.
• Order No. 8 Beginning January 1, 2020, all future grant awards from the Office of the Governor to counties shall require a commitment that the county will report at least 90 percent of convictions within seven business days to the Criminal Justice Information System at the Department of Public Safety. By January 1, 2021, such reporting must take place within five business days.

Chilling.

"Suspicious activity reporting," "multidisciplinary threat assessment teams," and "fusion centers."  It doesn't take a genius to see how this goes horribly, horribly, wrong.  Greg Abbott should party with George Orwell.

[Note: You can learn why so-called 'fusion centers' are bad, bad, bad, bad, bad news here; likewise 'multidisciplinary threat assessment teams' here.]

There's been a lot of commentary about how Greg Abbott's actions will impact the Second Amendment.  That's certainly appropriate.  However, the truth is that the long term impact remains to be seen.

That being said, we don't have to speculate how Greg Abbott's actions will impact other parts of the Bill of Rights.

Consider the Fourth Amendment:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The Fifth:

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

The Sixth:

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

[Note: Emphasis added.]

Go back an re-read Greg Abbott's executive orders.

Do you see the phrase "probable cause"?!?

Neither do we.

How about "indictment" or "due process of law"?!?

NOPE.

"[I]nformed of the nature and cause of the accusation," "confronted with the witnesses against him," or "assistance of counsel?!?

LOL.

Furthermore, remember that these new powers the office of the Governor just assumed for itself will remain on the books long after Greg Abbott departs.

Bottom Line: While the long-term impact on the Second Amendment remains to be seen, the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments are already toast.

#TXLEGE: Patrick's "Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention" appointments aren't much better

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

Yesterday, we discussed Bonnen's appointments to this new select committee to exploit El Paso and Odessa to push a longstanding agenda.  Lt. Dan waited until later in the day to release his appointees.  Likewise YIKES:

PR 09 04 2019 Lt. Gov. Patr... by Cahnman on Scribd

Thoughts:

• The fact that Huffman is chairing this committee tells you everything.

• If you don't see the chilling implications for civil liberties in second and fourth charges...are you even paying attention?!?

• That being said, the list of charges does seem long enough that to suggest that there won't be a special session in the immediate future.

• At least a committee of 5 R's and 3 D's is an accurate reflection of the partisan breakdown of the Texas Senate.

• We can't go into detail without burning sources, but some of the R's on that committee have been talking out of both sides of their mouth on the second amendment for a long time.

• It might very well be for the best, but considering that he's the Senator who represents Odessa, for Patrick to not include Seliger is insanely petty.

• Pray for Kelly Hancock.
• For real y'all.

• Bryan Hughes taking over State Affairs might have positive implications over the longer run.

Bottom Line: Nothing good is coming out of this process....

#TXLEGE: Bonnen's "Select Committee on Mass Violence prevention" is a Rogue's Gallery

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

YIKES:

New: @RepDennisBonnen appoints 13 members to new House Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety. Notably, @drewdarby4Tx is chair. #txlege pic.twitter.com/qHdc3QIEGL

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) September 4, 2019

That list...pretty much speaks for itself.

A couple of these can be justified due to geography.  Specifically, Joe Moody and Cesar Blanco are from El Paso.  So those are understandable.  Likewise, Brooks Landgraf from Odessa.

Still...Poncho?!?  Julie Johnson?!?  Disproportionate Democrat representation?!?

[sarc]We're sure Chairman Drew Darby, Charlie Geren, and Giovanni Capriglione won't sell out our rights. [/sarc]

Bottom Line: That this committee has an equal number of D's and R's despite a solid R majority tells you everything you need to know.

#TXLEGE: Will Bonnen's scandals FORESTALL GUN CONTROL?!?

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:9

For as much as we LOATHE Scott Braddock, this isn't a bad point:

If there was a special session on gun violence, the first thing Texas House members might be tempted to do is entertain a motion to vacate the chair. When the presiding officer doesn't protect the institution, it can't do anything else effectively #TxLege #OdessaShooting https://t.co/v1gQaZh3cx

— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) September 1, 2019

Good.

The last thing we need right now is for the legislature to attempt to "be effective."

For as much as we should have a special session on things like so-called "sick leave" ordinances, election integrity, ending public subsidies for labor unions, and the new Austin homelessness debacle...none of those seem to be in the cards.  Thus, special sessions are dangerous right now.  Stay home lege.

If Bonnen's scandals are a catalyst for keeping the lege at home, so much the better.

Bottom Line: Unintended consequences can do strange, strange, things sometimes....