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I wrote, "I would not bet that open carry is going to be legal in South Carolina in the foreseeable future."

That's as definite an answer as you'll get out of me. If I could predict the future with certainty, I would bet on the trifecta at Churchhill Downs and retire.

I asked you some questions about the legislative strategy behind H. 3003 in South Carolina. Do you know the answers?

- Jim

Conagher wrote:Come September 1st, do you believe SC will be exercising their newly regained freedom while us Texans are still squabbling over the who’s, what’s and how’s?

I would not bet that open carry is going to be legal in South Carolina in the foreseeable future.

Do you know the current status of H. 3003? Do you know which committee has to approve it, and who the chairman of that committee is? What is his position on this bill? What support does it have in the Senate? What is the governor's position?

If you don't have a legislative strategy, a bill disappears like a rock dropped in a well. It is an empty gesture at best. At worst, it mobilizes and strengthens the opposition.

- Jim

Let me try to explain a few facts about the Texas legislature.

Every bill that becomes law in Texas must have at least one "author" or sponsor in each house. The bill must be approved by a committee in each house, passed in identical form by each house, and finally signed by the governor.

The Texas legislative process makes it difficult to pass a bill and easy to kill it.

The following individuals can effectively veto a bill:

• the Speaker of the House
• the chairman of the House committee that has to approve the bill
• the Lieutenant Governor (who controls the Senate calendar)
• the chairman of the Senate committee that has to approve the bill
• the Governor

Furthermore, a majority of either committee can kill a bill regardless of what the Chairman wants. One-third of the Senators can also bottle up legislation.

The Texas Legislature has only 60 days every two years when it can consider new legislation.

So if you want a bill to become law, you have to lobby all the people who can kill it, including the committee members, and you need majority support in each house.

If you don't line up that support in advance, you are just whistling in the wind.

Here is a more detailed explanation of the process: http://www.hro.house.state.tx.us/focus/hwbill80.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BTW, Illinois is no way an open carry state. The only circumstances where you can open carry are hunting and events such as cavalry re-enactments. Even on private property, you can be prosecuted for Illinois's version of brandishing.

- Jim