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Earlier in the evening, members of the self-labeled Freedom Caucus signaled their intent to do damage with an impromptu news conference where they announced they would use a procedural maneuver to kill more than 100 bills set for Friday morning.

They said the time had come to strike back against House leaders after what they're calling a session of routine obstruction of key anti-abortion, 2nd Amendment and property rights bills.

A recent poll released by two organizations — the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and Everytown for Gun Safety — found that 91 percent of Texans support the permitting system, including 90 percent of gun owners and 94 percent of current permit holders. This isn’t surprising. Texas has a long and proud history of responsible gun ownership, thanks in part to common-sense gun laws like the LTC system.

I’m disappointed that our lawmakers are attempting to push this reckless policy. My opposition to these bills is not a matter of being partisan or anti-Second Amendment; it is matter of being concerned for the public safety and welfare of our communities.

I urge everyone to join me in persuading our lawmakers to reject House Bills 375 and 1911. Our laws have real repercussions, not only for us but for our children. As a police chief, I have spoken with too many grieving families and seen too many traumatized communities. The time to speak up is now.

Ruark wrote:Another thing about this whole fiasco is that it shows the relative powerlessness of the governor's office. Here we have perhaps the most pro-gun governor in Texas history, yet he has no influence whatsover on this whole process, except to sign a bill when the lege is done with it.

But with a web of procedural deadlines fast approaching, it's unclear if the Legislature is prepared to pull the trigger and bring the measure to the floor.

"If you really feel passionate about something, you keep talking to your colleagues and keep making changes. That's what we're doing," said bill author Rep. James White, R-Hillister. "I'm always confident, but confidence doesn't amount much to probability."

House rules create a number of avenues for those in leadership to kill bills without ever putting them to a vote. Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, said it looks like White's unlicensed carry bill could run the risk of getting lost in the calendar shuffle. Thursday is the last day the House can give preliminary approval to bills that originated in the lower chamber.

"This is the time of the year where Todd Hunter does that voodoo he does so well," Jones said, referring to the chairman of the powerful Calendars Committee that sets the House schedule. "Since there doesn't seem to be a real groundswell of either public support or even party support to push it through, that Representative Hunter may just never schedule it to be considered on the floor. In which case, when the clock strikes midnight on May 11th, it will be dead."

HB375 and HB1911 are stalled in various committees. Neither bill is likely to advance to House or Senate floor votes before session ends

ArtAcevedo on unlicensed carry legislation: "It's not about constitutional carry...it's about being an irresponsible gun owner."

Nevárez kicks off presser: "I question the motives of reps that continually invoke the power of the shield to benefit politically."

Houston PD Chief @ArtAcevedo says HB 1911 (sometimes called "constitutional carry") has "nothing to do w/ Constitution, w/ peoples' rights."

HB 1911 was sent to House Calendars Committee 4/26 -- Kevin L. w/ TMPA calls on committee to not schedule the bill for a vote on House floor

Acevedo: "We're not just talking about HB 1911.. We know how [#txlege] works, and we're talking about any effort to amend any bill..."

"No one is saying you shouldn't be allowed to carry a gun," says Ray H. w/ Houston Police Officers Union. "All you should have is a license"

Acevedo says Schaefer amendment needs "peeled off" #SB4, the "sanctuary" bill: "We have to have the trust of immigrant community."

Acevedo focused last 1/2 of presser on #SB4: Current version = danger to Texans, he said, adding he's confident cmte will change the bill.

Several law enforcement agencies and organizations testified against the bill.

“It will make their jobs harder and more dangerous because they will not be able to tell who should have a gun and who shouldn’t have a gun, they will have no way to know,” explained State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin.

Public safety officials are set to meet at the Capitol Tuesday to speak out against the bill.

White said those same police groups made similar arguments against licensed concealed carry and campus carry before those were passed into law.

“And we have not seen those situations played out,” White said, “Time and time and time again the Texas Police Chiefs Association has been wrong and they are wrong about House Bill 1911.”

The bill was passed out of the House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety in a 6-2 party line vote.

Now in the hands of the Calendar Committee, awaiting scheduling to go to the House floor for debate and final vote, HB 1911 is the first bill of its kind of advance this far in the legislative process.

Hinojosa: "With a month left in session, there is ample time for this bill to become law."

Hinojosa says "the House is not our salvation," referencing last week's sanctuary cities convo and passage of harsher bill.

Hinojosa tells activists here today: "It's always important to weigh in come election time as well."

Camacho says you need a license and ID to vote, "it should be no different to carry a gun."

TXlaw1 wrote:Is it possible that the Democrat White from Travis County introduced this bill

The bill has generated so much concern with some critics — including Texas Gun Sense, Moms Demand Action and The Voice of Texas Law Enforcement — that they have joined together to hold a press conference Monday to outline some of their concerns.