HOW HIGH MUST THE BODY-COUNT GO?

[Charles L. Cotton]

Why can't Texas lead the Nation with a "Special Call" of the Legislature and get this passed NOW?

I wish we could, but that would put too much focus on our bill. We work better when there is a flurry of activity on thousands of bills.

Chas.

[casingpoint]

The body count nationwide is high enough now with the last shooting at Northern Illinois University (five dead) to initiate self defense curriculum at the high school level that encompasses handguns. To those who oppose it, I merely ask, what good is the sex education commonly taught nowadays if students may not make it to reproduction?

[tomc]

Bravo Charles, Bravo

[smyrna]

The recent event in Illinois has me thinking the same thing. I think it is time to allow CHLs in public schools and universities. It was the Virginia Tech incident last year that convinced me to get my CHL. Prior to that I had carried when I traveled but I was always worried about being found out.

I'm assuming this is a decision for each state legislature. If so, just how close are we in Texas to allowing CHL in schools? Anyone?

[frankie_the_yankee]

Public opinion on this issue may be changing.

I have a sister who lives in CA who is a left wing liberal through and through. When we were kids, she worshipped the Kennedys. And she was actually a Kennedy delegate at the 1980 Democrat Convention. FWIW, she favors Hillary for the presidency this cycle.

Of course she has long known of my advocacy of gun rights, self defense, etc. She is generally opposed to gun rights herself, (and gun ownership for that matter) and believes me to be misgiuded. On the 2A, she believes it was intended to apply only to those serving in a militia.

So we're chatting on the phone yesterday, and she tells me, "I'm going to say something that I think you will agree with." (Politically, we disagree about almost everything.) "I think that if someone in that lecture hall at NIU had had a gun, they might have been able to stop that lunatic from killing so many people."

I was shocked to hear her say this. She went on to say that she was uncomfortable with the idea of students carrying, but maybe if they allowed instructors to carry guns that would be OK. I pointed out that if it was well known that instructors could carry, all it would mean is that any nut case shooter like this one would simply take the instructor out with his first shot.

Then I said, "Imagine this. Suppose I was in that class. After all, there's no age limit for attending college. So what if I had been there and just for the sake of argument let's assume that I wasn't unlucky enough to be the first one shot. How do you think it would have turned out then?"

She was silent for a few seconds. Then she said, "Oh, you probably would have shot him I guess. But you're different. You've had training, you practice, blah...blah...blah....." (Note" I've never been in the military, never been a cop, never been in a life and death situation or anything like that, and she knows it. Any "training" I've had has been in the areas of firearms safety, self defense and the law, and whatever you get from shooting bullseye and IDPA matches. She knows that too.)

My point is that if a lifelong far-left person like my sister is connecting the dots, in California no less, then other people are too.

[shootthesheet]

....If so, just how close are we in Texas to allowing CHL in schools? Anyone?

It is my opinion that we are as close as the number of voices that are raised. We need a massive CHL voice but more so we need school officials, LEOs, Legislators and most importantly the parents of children in school. There is nothing that cannot be done for the positive if we are willing to stir the pot long enough to educate those who need to be educated.

It is my opinion that Texas needs a "Marion Hammer" type personality to embody easing the restrictions on school carry as well as getting the courthouse carry problem fixed and other things. Where is S.G. Hupp and can she be effective with the average Joe as well as the powers that be? We need a voice that unites CHLs with others so that the average CHL holder can work with the masses in standing up for this needed change. That way, I would feel better about openly supporting it without everyone knowing I am a CHL holder. I could be looked upon as just another supporter of safer schools and all.

I cannot expect a special session to be called so, that gives us some time to organize and educate. Again, this average nobody asks those with the connections to do all the leg work while I can only lend my voice. Thanks to all those that have, do, and will do the work that allows our voices to be heard.

[lrb111]

The recent event in Illinois has me thinking the same thing. I think it is time to allow CHLs in public schools and universities. It was the Virginia Tech incident last year that convinced me to get my CHL. Prior to that I had carried when I traveled but I was always worried about being found out.

I'm assuming this is a decision for each state legislature. If so, just how close are we in Texas to allowing CHL in schools? Anyone?

It is currently legal in Utah. That's a good example for all states.

Texas probably has as good a chance as any, and better than some. It has been recognized since G.W.Bush, when running for governor, promised to sign a concealed carry law if elected, that progun politics are a necessity in Texas. It's becoming that way everywhere.
We have an openly progun governor, that has stated his support. We have a legislature that should be seeing the light. That puts us a leg up.

Then we have folks like Charles Cotton. We're good to go.

[Kalrog]

One thing I think you might be wrong regarding - Charles:

The number of such shootings though small are increasing.

The stats I keep hearing say that the number of shootings in schools and the like has been cut in half in the past 10 years. Far from increasing, it is decreasing.

[jimlongley]

Chas,

Would you consider submitting that to the various newspapers?

[seamusTX]

The stats I keep hearing say that the number of shootings in schools and the like has been cut in half in the past 10 years. Far from increasing, it is decreasing.

The last 10 months have broken any trend. Cho killed more than in the previous three years put together.

- Jim

[Charles L. Cotton]

....If so, just how close are we in Texas to allowing CHL in schools? Anyone?

It is my opinion that we are as close as the number of voices that are raised. We need a massive CHL voice but more so we need school officials, LEOs, Legislators and most importantly the parents of children in school. There is nothing that cannot be done for the positive if we are willing to stir the pot long enough to educate those who need to be educated.

It is my opinion that Texas needs a "Marion Hammer" type personality to embody easing the restrictions on school carry as well as getting the courthouse carry problem fixed and other things. Where is S.G. Hupp and can she be effective with the average Joe as well as the powers that be? We need a voice that unites CHLs with others so that the average CHL holder can work with the masses in standing up for this needed change. That way, I would feel better about openly supporting it without everyone knowing I am a CHL holder. I could be looked upon as just another supporter of safer schools and all.

I cannot expect a special session to be called so, that gives us some time to organize and educate. Again, this average nobody asks those with the connections to do all the leg work while I can only lend my voice. Thanks to all those that have, do, and will do the work that allows our voices to be heard.

Things are already being done, but I can't say more at this time. When the time comes to "motivate" elected officials, the word will go out. The last thing we need now is uncoordinated activity, but I know that's not what you are advocating. AS much as I'd like to discuss everything in detail, some efforts must be done quietly.

Chas.

[Charles L. Cotton]

One thing I think you might be wrong regarding - Charles:

The number of such shootings though small are increasing.

The stats I keep hearing say that the number of shootings in schools and the like has been cut in half in the past 10 years. Far from increasing, it is decreasing.

If you're keeping stats, you may be right, but it sure seems like the frequency is increasing over a relatively short period of time. Have you plotted the school shootings by time?

Chas.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Chas,

Would you consider submitting that to the various newspapers?

I'm thinking about doing just that, but I need to make sure I'm not breaking any protocol first.

Chas.

[Keith B]

Beautiful job Charles, very well said. I salute you!

[Charles L. Cotton]

One thing I think you might be wrong regarding - Charles:

The number of such shootings though small are increasing.

The stats I keep hearing say that the number of shootings in schools and the like has been cut in half in the past 10 years. Far from increasing, it is decreasing.

From a peak in 1999 with 6 incidents leaving 16 dead and 46 wounded, the trend was declining to a low in 2002 with 1 incident resulting in 2 dead. However, from 2003 on, the trend was increasing in both the number of incidents and the resulting casualty count. From 1996 to 2002 (6 years), there were 27 incidents leaving 49 dead and 117 wounded. From 2003 when the trend started up again, until 2007, (4 years) there were 16 incidents leaving 71 dead and 61 wounded.

While the number of incidents since 2002 are lower than the peak years of 1997 through 2001, the number of incidences are on the increase and the number of deaths are at least 50% higher. I don't see that the school shootings are half what they were 10 years ago. I got the information from this website http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777958.html I counted only shootings in the United States.

Here is a chart based upon the information on the above-referenced website.

Chas.

School Shootings in the U.S.

YEAR No. Killed Wounded
1996 1 3 1
1997 5 7 16
1998 5 9 36
1999 6 16 46
2000 5 7 0
2001 5 4 18
2002 1 3 0
2003 3 4 3
2004 1 3 6
2005 2 8 2
2006 4 9 18
2007 5 40 17
2008 1 7 15