When we're talking about our rights, like we do money...RoyGBiv wrote:I'm struggling a bit to understand the TFC position on this Bill. Maybe I'm missing something?
The Bill would exempt "Volunteer emergency services personnel" from most 30.06, 46.01 and 46.035 restrictions during call-outs.
Here's the text: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84 ... 00353I.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I completely understand and agree with the TFC objection to creating yet another new privileged class of CHL holders and I agree that we should, as a higher priority, be working towards removing these same restrictions from all CHL's, ala HB 308. I also agree that an arbitrary cutoff of 50,000 population is, well, arbitrary and should be removed from the Bill as well.
Where I get stuck is this.... The Bill as is stands seems to me to represent a step forward. Recognizing that in times of emergency, responders with CHL's should be relieved of having to worry about things like entering a disaster site, command post or shelter that's been set up in a school building, for example. While the arbitrary limit of 50,000 population should be eliminated and HB 308 should be the far greater priority, if we don't get HB 308 this session, it seems to me that opposing HB 353 outright (rather than working to fix the 50K provision) would be counterproductive.
If we don't get what we want (HB 308), we should oppose an incremental Bill such as HB 353?
What is the downside to supporting HB 353 with a fix to the 50K problem? Or even as-is if the 50K issue cannot be remedied?
Does supporting HB 353 lessen the chances of passing HB 308?
Full disclosure: I do have some skin in this one, as I would fall under the description "and other individuals who, as a volunteer, provide services for the benefit of the general public during emergency situations.". My county is well over 50K, but if the Bill could not be improved, I would still support it, albeit as a lower priority than HB 308.
Say you have so much in your bank account. You're trying to get several different checks cashed. Some add a big ammount, some break even, some add little, and some take away. I believe that all of us would accept positive gains, whether it be $50, or $10,000... I won't throw out the $50 check just because I'm taking some big checks to the bank, they might bounce.
That's my analogy for the day.
Any gain is a big gain in my opinion. Hold the line, don't give in an inch, but lets take every millimeter we can! A low geared truck might not get you and your cargo to your destination as quickly, but it's much more likely to go up those steep grades without stopping or stalling out and rolling back. Big wheels keep on rollin'!
(My Detroit Diesel with 4.56 gears made me think of that one. I might top out at sixty, but steep grades don't bother me!) I was wrong, I did two analogies today...
