I had some fun today. I called several Representatives and told them my Representative, Kacal, needs some help.
I explained he's a good man, bless his heart, and he really has his constituents' best interests foremost. The poor guy just can't risk schoolyard bullies like Strauss.
By this time I was getting giggles. I continued, describing what HB560 was and saying Kacal knows supporting HB560 is the right thing, but, you know Kyle, it's not going to happen unless HB560 becomes a safe space.
Please, I asked, join up with the HB560 movement. There are a lot of timid Representatives who will jump right in just as soon as they don't have to be leaders.
Each of the staffers I called asked questions of me. I told them the point wasn't to meet violence with violence, the point was to toughen the fabric of society in general. It doesn't matter if I - or they - carry a gun to the grocery store, it's important that the grocery store not be a gun free zone. For that to happen, somebody needs to lawfully, respectfully, discretely, safely show up with a firearm.
License holders in Texas are the perfect bunch to do the job because they are so wonderfully law abiding, good people.
On the other hand, when gun free zones proliferate, these good strong folks who could tilt the odds away from criminals have to decide. Do they want to constantly arm and disarm, constantly abandoning their guns unattended in parking lots, or do they just give up and stop carrying the guns that could yield some defense against those who would terrorize our streets?
Of course, the only way to know if you're making headway with a politician is when you feel his hand in your hip pocket. Me, poor as a church mouse, I never get that feeling of power.
