#TXLEGE: Grassroots update various limited government issues....

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:28

[Note: The embedded video begins a few minutes after the press conference began.  We apologize, but that feed is the easiest one to format for this website.  You can catch the beginning of the press conference through this link.]

Various grassroots groups around Texas held a press conference this morning at the Capitol to update a number of issues:



Highlights:

JoAnn Fleming (Grassroots America, We the People):

• State revenues, according to the comptroller, are UP $8.7 billion this session.
• No Rainy Day Fund raid
• Maintain Full defunding of the Enterprise fund and film subsidies.
• Fund all 24 months of education in the current budget; failure to do so is simply an excuse for yet another supplemental next session.
• A watered down sanctuary cities bill won't cut it.
• Note: As we have said before, even the bill passed by the Senate doesn't do much.

Aaron Harris (Direct Action Texas):

• Nothing hotter on the local level than property taxes.
• Texas has a local government debt crisis.
• Texas has the Second highest property tax burden of states without an income tax (and New Hampshire doesn't have a sales tax).
• Taxpayer funded lobbyists oppose property tax reform.
• Local governments don't want to tell the truth about their spending.
• SB 2 is a step in the right direction.
• "Elected officials are not local control, voters are."

Dana Hodges (Concerned Women for America):

• Plugs Church Security act.
• Plugs privacy act.

C.J. Grisham (Open Carry Texas):

• Constitutional carry #1 RPT priority.
• The #1 argument against constitutional carry is money.
• HB 1911 moving forward.
• Only problem is that it doesn't apply to college campuses.
• 9 states have passed constitutional carry since the legislature last met.
• HB 2022 - Gets TABC out of the gun business.
• HB 1966 - Protects 2nd amendment rights of renters.

John Seago (Texas Right to Life):

• Not all allegedly "pro-life" bills actually save lives.
• There will be 100,000 abortions between now and the next legislative session if the legislature doesn't act.
• SB 415 - Dismemberment abortion ban.
• Passed Senate, hasn't even been referred to committee in House.
• 56 house members have signed onto companion bill.
• "This is a no-brainer issue."

Terri Hall (TURF):

• House is passing "the worst type" of crony toll road bills.
• If Abbott doesn't veto these bills, he's breaking a campaign promise.
• Public money for private profit equals corporate welfare.
• TxDOT has deliberately frittered away the money they got in '13 and '15 on low priority projects.

UT Regents Modestly Improve Campus Carry Policy

Greg Fenves discussing gun-free zones with Wallace Hall

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;"
1 Peter 4:12

In politics, as in life, one advantage to low expectations is that occasionally they are exceeded; this morning's UT Board of Regents meeting, much like the whole campus carry process, cleared that hurdle.

During public testimony, C.J. Grisham of Open Carry Texas delivered remarks with which we largely concur.  C.J. said that the campus carry implementation group led by President Fenves "by and large" did a good job [Author's Note: By U.T. Standards].  Nevertheless, C.J. re-iterated the longstanding concerns related to the prohibition of firearms in dormitories and pointed out that requiring gun safes would solve the issues that were the alleged basis of the continuing prohibition.

C.J. Grisham talking with Chancellor McRaven

At their May meeting, the Regents punted on two motions to amend the policy.  Vice Chairman Jeffrey Hildebrand revived the first motion to remove a proposed prohibition on chambered rounds.  That motion sailed through 7-2, though it's worth pointing out that Steve Hicks and Sarah Martinez Tucker [Author's Note: Abbott Appointees.] carried water for the politburo.  Speaking of Sarah Martinez Tucker, during public testimony she went out of her way to congratulate two anti-Second Amendment students who re-iterated their opposition to firearms under any conditions.

(Abbott appointee) Regent Sarah Martinez Tucker congratulates anti-Second Amendment student

Wallace Hall did something awesome.  Responding to the previously discussed worries about the continuing prohibition of self-defense in dormitories, Regent Hall introduced a motion to prohibit gun-free zones anywhere on campus.  Brenda Pejovich seconded.  The motion was doomed from the start, but it's still pretty badass that Wallace Hall made them vote on it.  In the event of future litigation, let the record very clearly state that Regents Hall and Pejovich voted against gun-free zones on campus.

Regent Wallace Hall

Following Hall's motion related to campus-wide gun free zones, Alex Cranberg offered a more narrowly tailored motion over written signage to prohibit self-defense in faculty offices.  Hall asked Fenves "is there any downside" to removing ambiguity?!?  Fenves said that verbal notice was sufficient to comply with the law and deflected Hall's inquiry with a vague statement about not wanting to dictate office aesthetics to individual faculty members.  Hall subtly, but unmistakably, pointed out the hypocrisy of faculty members who are unwilling to advertise their own offices as gun-free zones.  In addition, Cranberg got Fenves to admit that a faculty member would have to individually inform each visitor to their office about an office prohibition without signage to satisfy the law.  Without explicit verbal prohibition every single time a visitor enters, the status of the office is actually in legal limbo.  Ultimately, Cranberg joined Hall and Pejovich in voting "aye," but the motion failed 3-6.

Maybe we have Stockholm syndrome.  Maybe we're grading them on a curve.  Nevertheless, at least by U.T. standards, we found the campus carry implementation process to be reasonably transparent and the final policy to be less than reprehensible.

Bottom Line: What was it a certain former Governor said about "the soft bigotry of low expectations"?!?

[Author's Note: You can read the system's press release here.]

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Following the campus carry discussion, Chancellor McRaven gave a brief update on the ongoing Houston debacle 'stakeholder process.'  McRaven's two minute address was littered with buzzwords and cliches.  The phrases "generational effort" and "wide range of possibilities" stood out.

Brent Mayes: The ONLY #SD24 Candidate who supports 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

Texas State Capitol -- Brent Mayes spoke at a rally last weekend:



Highlights:

• "It's uncommon for government to give us back part of our constitutional rights which they have taken away from us."

• "Today, we've partially gotten those rights back."

• "We're still encumbered by a tax."

• "As of today, only California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and South Carolina deny that right [open carry] in any form; I don't know about you, but anything that separates Texas from California, New York, and Illinois I'm for."

• "I come to the fight late, but I come with passion; I pledge to you that if elected in Senate District 24 I will do everything within my power to take that ball the next step and pass Constitutional Carry next year."

• "We can no longer afford to have soft targets and gun-free zones."

• "An armed citizenry is a safe citizenry."

SD-24: C.J. Grisham drops out and ENDORSES Brent Mayes

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

[Update: Apparently, Susan King is also out.]

Apparently, C.J. Grisham ended his Texas Senate campaign last week:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECJ GRISHAM SUSPENDS SD24 CAMPAIGNTemple, TX, November 13, 2015 – A few months ago, I decided to...
Posted by CJ Grisham on Friday, November 13, 2015

Brent Mayes released a statement this morning:

“CJ Grisham is a true patriot and Constitutional conservative. I’ve enjoyed getting to know him on the campaign trail and sparring with him as the only other conservative in the race. With his endorsement comes the responsibility to stay true to conservative principles–CJ will rightly hold me accountable. I hope voters will follow CJ’s lead and join my campaign and fight to save Texas.”

Bottom Line: C.J's selfless action makes Brent Mayes the consensus conservative candidate in this race.  SD-24 is a very conservative district,  Unless he makes a mistake, Brent Mayes is now the clear favorite.

Four SD-24 Candidates willing to vote AGAINST Abbott's UT Nominees

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

Texas Land and Cattle -- At last night's Central Texas Republican Assembly meeting, three SD-24 candidates committed to vote against Governor Abbott's next round of U.T. Regent nominees if they resemble his last round; a fourth candidate expressed similar sentiments when asked over Facebook.

Jon Cobb was the first to speak.  He spoke at length about how Gubernatorial appointments are too powerful.  He compared the recent round of subpar U.T. Regent appointments to similarly subpar appointments to the Lower Colorado River Authority.

Brent Mayes said "absolutely, there's no question" he would vote against Abbott's next round of nominees if the resemble the last round, he added "I would go against Dan Patrick if I had to."

Dawn Buckingham said "I have a bright orange 'Save Wallace Hall' T-Shirt at home".  She offered to text this author a picture of the T-Shirt.  After the meeting, she told us about a conversation she had with former Governor Perry in 2013 where he was conspicuously irritated by the jihad against Wallace Hall.

Upon returning home, we reached out to C.J. Grisham over Facebook: "This is a no brainer. The regents have still not answered for the admissions scandal. It would seem that Governor Abbott is rewarding bad behavior. I would be a no vote....I'm fed up with the establishment acceptance of sweeping scandal under the carpet. At some point we need to stop allowing this lack of transparency in virtually every department of government to go unchecked."

Konni Burton, Bob Hall, and Charles Schwertner were the only Senators to vote against Abbott's last round of U.T. nominees.

Bottom Line: The outgoing Senator in SD-24 was a rubber stamp for the U.T. politburo; any of the four candidates with whom we discussed this issue last night would be a GIGANTIC improvement.

Mom's Demand Action, Texas: The Synchronized Testimony

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 1:7

Yesterday, during the Texas Senate's State Affairs committee's hearing on the watered down licensed open carry bill, the individual members of Moms Demand Action delivered testimony that had clearly been written out by others before hand.  It could have been a drinking game.  See more below:



Highlights:

• Good afternoon; My name is "X" and I'm a supporter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

• I want to thank the committee chairs and the committee members who have treated us with respect and decorum throughout the session.

• I want you to know that, whether or not this bill passes, thousands of Moms and I will be organizing in our communities and we'll be back here in the interim and next session.

• I oppose open carry because it is a bad policy that doesn't solve any existing problems.

• It panders to dangerous and extreme element.

• It is opposed overwhelmingly by law enforcement officials across this state.

• I understand this legislative body is considering adding campus carry as an amendment.

• All major stakeholders on university campuses oppose campus carry.
• Author's Note: Who cares?!?

Constitutional Carry: Grassroots Texans Speak

"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

Update: Breitbart Texas has more here.

Texas State Capitol -- This afternoon, representatives from every credible pro-Second Amendment organization in Texas spoke at the Capitol on Constitutional carry and the second amendment.  The speakers discussed bills in front of the currently convened legislature and worthwhile primary challenges (cough*Straus* cough) heading into the 2016 cycle.  Speakers featured below:

Melanie Davis (Love Your Vets; One Million Rounds):



Highlights:

• Veterans standing beside us in this fight.

• They need our support as much as we need freedom.

• Recycling spend brass shell casings into Art

• Donate shell casings.

• Crowd sourced project.

Craig McMichael, USMC; Congressional Candidate:

Highlights:

• "Our enemies are domestic right now."

• "Just because I took my uniform off, I didn't take my oath off."

• "We need to talk about politics more than football."

C.J. Grisham (Open Carry Texas):

Highlights:

• We have a lot of "Facebook rangers," not enough people putting "skin in the game."

• We're begging for a right that 44 (licensed open) and 31 (no license) already recognize.

• Under current law: "If I pick up my pant leg, I'd be a criminal."

• "A thin piece of cloth is what separates you from being a law-abiding citizen and a criminal."

•  Mom's Demand Action (but totally not in a pornographic way) Assaults: "At least one we know of."

• "Joe Straus doesn't want to offend his Democratic [sic] supporters.

• "Joe Straus needs to be primaried next election."

• "We need Patriots to step up and run for office."
• Even if you lose, you change behavior.
• Case in point: Lamar Smith.

• Show up face to face.

Terry Holcomb (Texas Carry):

Highlights:

• Running against John Otto.

• It only takes 3% of the country to change the country.

• Brings up people who have been illegally arrested.

• Gun rights is the foundation of liberty.

• "We need Texas to start leading."

• MDA not welcome in Texas.

• People are going to intentionally try to sabotage this bill.

• Ask that SB 342 get a fair hearing.

• "The primaries start in September."

• Feds are talking about banning rifle rounds.

• TSRA protects members, never leads
• Didn't do squat to pass open carry.
• Like Joe Pojman.

Pat Cook (2014 Ft. Hood shooting survivor):

Highlights:

• It's exhausting watching everyone every second.

• CHL may be revoked at any time, or suspended during a criminal investigation.
• Author's Note: It Happened to Rick Perry.

• A right does not belong to the government.

• Constitutional carry is a vindication for every crime victim.

• The people are not the property of the state.

• "The progressive era of the 20th century is coming to a close."

• Put permitted carry in the "trashcan of history."

Tom Jefferson (Lone Star Gun Rights):

Highlights:

• Delivered 70,000 constitutional carry petitions.

• "What can't Texas trust Texans?!?"

• "A restraining order is just a piece of paper."

• "No proof that openly carrying creates crime; it's been proven otherwise, to deter a crime."

• 80-90% support unlicensed open carry.

Rep. Jonathan Stickland:

Highlights:

• "This issue doesn't have a bunch of special interest $$$ behind it."

• They want to protect members from "bad votes."

• "When I read the Second Amendment, I don't see any room for compromise on this issue."

• "We are going to vote on Constitutional carry."

• "Most legislators will give you just what you're willing to take (and nothing more)."

• "Open Carry with a license is not enough in the Republican primary."

• "We are going to put elected officials on the record."

Texas Firearms Celebrity Michael Cargill:

Highlights:

• "Here we go again...."

• "If we truly believe in Texas independence, we will pass constitutional carry."

• Criminals already carry.

• Keep legislators on their toes.

• "More guns equals less crime, go out and buy yourself a gun."

Constitutional Carry supporters' Press Conference

"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

The National Association for Gun Rights, along with Lone Star Gun Rights and Open Carry Texas, held a press conference in favor of Constitutional Carry this morning:



Highlights:

Dudley Brown (NAGR)

• Texas only 14th (at best) for firearms freedom.

• No one should have to beg government to defend themselves.

• 7 states already have Constitutional carry.

• Highest priority for NAGR at state lege level.

Tim Hardin (Jonathan Stickland's Chief of Staff)

• Can't compromise our basic rights.

• Current Texas gun laws "embarrassing."

• Vermont has it.

• Constitutional carry does not abolish the permit system.

Don Huffines

• We have strayed a long way in this country from the blessings of liberty.

• Constitutional carry is a priority for Texans.

Q&A

• The real question is going to be the committee chairs.

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Update: NAGR sent out the following press release.

NAGR Champions Constitutional Carry in Texas

AUSTIN, TX- The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) is excited to be working with Senator Don Huffines and Rep. Jonathan Stickland to pass Constitutional Carry legislation in Texas.

“Constitutional Carry is the highest legislative priority for the National Association for Gun Rights, and our state affiliate, Texas Gun Rights.” said Dudley Brown, President of the National Association for Gun Rights. “The concept is simple: no one should have to beg government bureaucrats for permission to defend themselves.”

Sen. Don Huffines agreed: “We don’t seek the government’s permission to exercise our First Amendment right to speak freely. We don’t get a permit to attend church. Government should extend that same level of reverence to the Second Amendment.”

Representative Jonathan Stickland filed Constitutional Carry bill H.B. 195 early in the House in November 2014.

“Constitutional Carry works in a wide range of states from Wyoming, Montana and Arizona to Arkansas, Alaska and Vermont.” said Rep. Stickland. “It’s embarrassing that Texas currently joins gun control states like California and New York in criminalizing open carry for self-defense. The voters in Texas clearly agree, and are tired of this status quo.”

With 350,000 Texas Gun Rights (TXGR) members, and over 4 million National Association for Gun Rights members nationwide, TXGR and NAGR are America’s fastest-growing and most effective grassroots gun rights organizations.

TABC's Backdoor Gun Show Restrictions Fall Flat

"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

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission took public comment on its bizarre proposal to change the rules at gun shows; the fact that Open Carry Texas, C.A.T.I., and Moms Demand Action find themselves on the same side of this proposal tells you everything you need to know:

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

First things first, we should note the final tally of comments about the proposal:
For: 1
Against: 22

Highlights:

• The Commission is claiming legislative authority it doesn't possess.

• When does "safety" become fascism?!?

• Nobody drinks alcohol at a gun show.

• The only person who spoke in favor of the rule change was the lobbyist for the person who requested it.

• Texas Carry has gotten 30,000+ responses; all opposed.

• "It's common sense that no one wants to attend a gun show that has no ammo."

• Texas Carry will ask for an injunction against the rule from the Attorney General.
• Author's Note: Hint, hint Ken....

•  Open Carry Texas vehemently opposes rule.
• TABC is already too involved with guns (bars and gas stations)
• TABC modeling itself after Federal A.T.F.

• "Stick to alcohol and let the legislators stick to guns."

• If you can't transfer onsite, it hurts small retailers.

• Alexandra Chase from MDA:
• Called MDA pro-second amendment.
• Half of gun related homicides involve alcohol.

• If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

• We can never prevent violence through law and regulation.

Texas Open Carry Moves Forward

By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives—to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions
Esther 8:11

[Author's note: This post covers the second half of today's hearing; you can read about the Border Security component here.]

Texas State Capitol -- Open handgun carry in Texas moved forward in today's hearing of the Texas Senate committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs, and Homeland security.  Considering that it's already legal to carry rifles and shotguns openly, expanding it to handguns faced little opposition from the Senators present.  The hearing was, nonetheless, fascinating.

Alice Tripp of the Texas Rifle Association spoke first.  She explained the history of handgun restrictions in Texas.  Texas handgun restrictions began as a Jim Crow law in 1880, which Democrats passed shortly after re-assuming power after reconstruction.  This created a situation where "Texas essentially lost the right to hold a handgun in 1880" until concealed carry passed in 1995.  Unfortunately, it's still not possible to have a visible handgun in Texas.  This leads to ridiculous situations such as being unable to pump gas while packing heat unless you wear a jacket.

Tara Mitchell of the National Rifle Association went next.  She explained how 30 states already have permit-less open carry.  She also elucidated that any open carry proposal under consideration would be subject to the same restrictions as concealed carry as concealed carry.

The most compelling testimony came from C.J. Grisham, President of Open Carry Texas.  An active duty member of the Army, Grisham is currently stationed at Ft. Hood.  Grisham detailed what happened on-base during the shooting, when trained members of our military were forced to take shelter because they couldn't defend themselves in gun-free zones.  As Grisham explained "when you disarm citizens, you empower criminals, whether it's on the world's largest military base or your local street corner."

Coming relief came from Hilary Rand of Mom's Demand Action, who claimed "A Newton sized massacre occurs every day in the U.S."  Not content with that questionable claim, Rand hid behind her ovaries because she "didn't want her children to look at a gun."  Rand called for further restrictions on rifles and shotguns.

The greatest example of gynocratic fascism, however, came from Francis Shenkken of Texas Gun Sense.  Shenkken opposed open handgun carry because women might be frightened.  She also made the bizarre assertion that "any child will be able to get a demonstration of firearms on the street."

Handgun restrictions are the last Jim Crow law Texas' books.  Today's hearing made clear that, at least in the Texas Senate, open handgun carry has bi-partisan support.  Supporters of open handgun carry outnumbered opponents by at least 30 to 1.  The difference between open and concealed carry is a piece of cloth.  There is nothing to fear from allowing our citizens to open carry their handguns.

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In a related note, we also spoke with C.J. Grisham about a disturbing incident that happened to him last year at the Texas Capitol: