Joe Straus

[mojo84]

Here's an interesting article. http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics ... lature.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[joe817]

Interesting indeed. Thanks for posting!

[chasfm11]

While some Second Amendment proponents want to repeal Texas’ ban on open carrying of handguns, Jones of Rice University said GOP leaders may find it easier to pass long-stalled legislation to allow concealed-handgun permit holders to bring their weapons onto college campuses.

To reach a deal, such legislation would probably have to let private colleges opt in and state universities opt out, he said.

I'm not sure what the value would be with the op-out option. I cannot imagine one of the state universities that wouldn't.

[Pawpaw]

While some Second Amendment proponents want to repeal Texas’ ban on open carrying of handguns, Jones of Rice University said GOP leaders may find it easier to pass long-stalled legislation to allow concealed-handgun permit holders to bring their weapons onto college campuses.

To reach a deal, such legislation would probably have to let private colleges opt in and state universities opt out, he said.

I'm not sure what the value would be with the op-out option. I cannot imagine one of the state universities that wouldn't.

They've had opt in for years now. How many have?

[mojo84]

He's asking for he legislature to play a shell game in order to appease the "gun nuts" by passing a law that is easily circumvemted using built in loopholes. Make us think we are making 2nd Amendment progress when in practicality, nothing is being done.

The citizens and voters are too stupid to know any difference.

[chasfm11]

He's asking for he legislature to play a shell game in order to appease the "gun nuts" by passing a law that is easily circumvented using built in loopholes. Make us think we are making 2nd Amendment progress when in practicality, nothing is being done.

The citizens and voters are too stupid to know any difference.

That is the exact problem with Strauss' control. Most of the stuff that the Dems don't want passed, he kills in committee. Sometimes, I wondered if it wasn't to provide cover for many of his cronies who were elected in Conservative areas. But as the article points out, his corny list was gutted in the last couple of elections (I'm proud to say that I was a participant in a couple of those)

I'm hoping that Charles' new full time effort is enough to prevent Strauss from gutting or compromising in ways that leave us worse off than today. I remain fearful about the impact to CC that some of the proposed bills might have and about the amendments that could be proposed to even the good bills that would neutralize them the way that a broad opt out provision would likely geld campus carry. I don't think that it is a matter of the citizens being to stupid as much as it is the Strauss controlled representatives that they elected not following their wishes. The pressure not to elect Strauss is very strong and yet all of this area's "Conservative" leaders have openly come out for Strauss this time. His power is not to be underestimated.

[The Annoyed Man]

While some Second Amendment proponents want to repeal Texas’ ban on open carrying of handguns, Jones of Rice University said GOP leaders may find it easier to pass long-stalled legislation to allow concealed-handgun permit holders to bring their weapons onto college campuses.

To reach a deal, such legislation would probably have to let private colleges opt in and state universities opt out, he said.

I'm not sure what the value would be with the op-out option. I cannot imagine one of the state universities that wouldn't.

Exactly. A toothless campus carry bill is a waste of political capital. Campus Carry should be mandated for public universities, with an opt-in provision for private schools. Then the market can decide which is the better model - carry on campus in public schools, or maybe carry on campus at private schools - with the market demonstrating the public's preference. If private schools which opt out begin to experience a decrease in applications offset by increases at private schools which opt in, then they might change their minds......or accept the fact that their student bodies will become less diverse and more homogenous—which will begin to affect their brand.

By the way, we would also find out if campus carry causes parents to send their kids to private schools that opt out, instead of public schools where campus carry is mandated.

[baldeagle]

Here's something I've thought about, and I think more Texans should think about. The legislative session in Texas is 140 days. In a typical session about 5000 bills are introduced. That means a legislator would have to read and understand 35 bills every day for the entire 140 days! But the legislature doesn't work that way. There are deadlines, after which a bill cannot even be brought up on the floor. So that compresses the time to read even further. Perhaps 50 bills a day for the first 100 days? Yet they have to meet in committees and subcommittees, they have to attend the floor sessions, they have other duties, so they don't even have full days to read the bills. Assume for the moment that a hard-working ethical legislator is determined to at least review every bill introduced. He or she would first have to prioritize the readings so the bills he really cares about are read first. He has perhaps six hours per day for reading, so he has to read (and understand) 8 bills per hour.

It doesn't take long to realize the absolute absurdity of the process. Even with 8 staff members, each reading one bill an hour, the legislator would still have to be briefed on all 8. Or, the legislator simply chooses those subjects he cares about, reviews all the related bills, and relies on other legislators, who care about other subjects, to inform him on those subjects.

The chances that a legislator will actually understand ALL the ramifications of a particular bill are between slim and none.

Now you know why the law of unintended consequences so frequently bites legislators in the posterior regions. And why they may not care about a bill you care about nearly as much as you wish they would.

So, be polite and courteous when dealing with your legislator. They have an impossible job to do, and your honey will attract a lot more flies than someone else's vinegar.

[Pawpaw]

While some Second Amendment proponents want to repeal Texas’ ban on open carrying of handguns, Jones of Rice University said GOP leaders may find it easier to pass long-stalled legislation to allow concealed-handgun permit holders to bring their weapons onto college campuses.

To reach a deal, such legislation would probably have to let private colleges opt in and state universities opt out, he said.

I'm not sure what the value would be with the op-out option. I cannot imagine one of the state universities that wouldn't.

Exactly. A toothless campus carry bill is a waste of political capital. Campus Carry should be mandated for public universities, with an opt-in provision for private schools. Then the market can decide which is the better model - carry on campus in public schools, or maybe carry on campus at private schools - with the market demonstrating the public's preference. If private schools which opt out begin to experience a decrease in applications offset by increases at private schools which opt in, then they might change their minds......or accept the fact that their student bodies will become less diverse and more homogenous—which will begin to affect their brand.

By the way, we would also find out if campus carry causes parents to send their kids to private schools that opt out, instead of public schools where campus carry is mandated.

I disagree on this one point. If a private school wants to prohibit carry, they should have to put the "big ugly sign" at each entrance.

[Charles L. Cotton]

While some Second Amendment proponents want to repeal Texas’ ban on open carrying of handguns, Jones of Rice University said GOP leaders may find it easier to pass long-stalled legislation to allow concealed-handgun permit holders to bring their weapons onto college campuses.

To reach a deal, such legislation would probably have to let private colleges opt in and state universities opt out, he said.

I'm not sure what the value would be with the op-out option. I cannot imagine one of the state universities that wouldn't.

Exactly. A toothless campus carry bill is a waste of political capital. Campus Carry should be mandated for public universities, with an opt-in provision for private schools. Then the market can decide which is the better model - carry on campus in public schools, or maybe carry on campus at private schools - with the market demonstrating the public's preference. If private schools which opt out begin to experience a decrease in applications offset by increases at private schools which opt in, then they might change their minds......or accept the fact that their student bodies will become less diverse and more homogenous—which will begin to affect their brand.

By the way, we would also find out if campus carry causes parents to send their kids to private schools that opt out, instead of public schools where campus carry is mandated.

I disagree on this one point. If a private school wants to prohibit carry, they should have to put the "big ugly sign" at each entrance.

I am against an opt out provision for private schools, primarily because there's no such thing as a truly private school. I could accept an opt-out provision, if we define a private school to be one that does not 1) receive one dime of public money in any form; 2) receive any tax benefits from any taxing authority; 3) receive any property or benefits from any governmental agency; 4) have a police force (gives a private school governmental authority); 5) receive any tuition or fee payments made from a governmental grant or a school loan that is backed by any state or federal agency; or 6) anything else I can dream up later.

Chas.

[Keith B]

I am against an opt out provision for private schools, primarily because there's no such thing as a truly private school. I could accept an opt-out provision, if we define a private school to be one that does not 1) receive one dime of public money in any form; 2) receive any tax benefits from any taxing authority; 3) receive any property or benefits from any governmental agency; 4) have a police force (gives a private school governmental authority); 5) receive any tuition or fee payments made from a governmental grant or a school loan that is backed by any state or federal agency; or 6) anything else I can dream up later.

Chas.

I will go one step further and state that any business, such as a big box retailer or even factory, that gets a tax break from the state or a municipality for building in thier community should not be allowed to prohibit concealed carry either.

[baldeagle]

I lived long enough to no longer care about campus carry. Friday is my last day. I'm retiring. I no longer have to drive to work, disarm and then enter the building. I'm very disappointed that Texas couldn't get campus carry passed, and I doubt seriously it will pass this session either.

[The Annoyed Man]

While some Second Amendment proponents want to repeal Texas’ ban on open carrying of handguns, Jones of Rice University said GOP leaders may find it easier to pass long-stalled legislation to allow concealed-handgun permit holders to bring their weapons onto college campuses.

To reach a deal, such legislation would probably have to let private colleges opt in and state universities opt out, he said.

I'm not sure what the value would be with the op-out option. I cannot imagine one of the state universities that wouldn't.

Exactly. A toothless campus carry bill is a waste of political capital. Campus Carry should be mandated for public universities, with an opt-in provision for private schools. Then the market can decide which is the better model - carry on campus in public schools, or maybe carry on campus at private schools - with the market demonstrating the public's preference. If private schools which opt out begin to experience a decrease in applications offset by increases at private schools which opt in, then they might change their minds......or accept the fact that their student bodies will become less diverse and more homogenous—which will begin to affect their brand.

By the way, we would also find out if campus carry causes parents to send their kids to private schools that opt out, instead of public schools where campus carry is mandated.

I disagree on this one point. If a private school wants to prohibit carry, they should have to put the "big ugly sign" at each entrance.

I am against an opt out provision for private schools, primarily because there's no such thing as a truly private school. I could accept an opt-out provision, if we define a private school to be one that does not 1) receive one dime of public money in any form; 2) receive any tax benefits from any taxing authority; 3) receive any property or benefits from any governmental agency; 4) have a police force (gives a private school governmental authority); 5) receive any tuition or fee payments made from a governmental grant or a school loan that is backed by any state or federal agency; or 6) anything else I can dream up later.

Chas.

Well, I admit that I hadn't considered public funding of private schools, and I can see your point.

[anygunanywhere]

I lived long enough to no longer care about campus carry. Friday is my last day. I'm retiring. I no longer have to drive to work, disarm and then enter the building. I'm very disappointed that Texas couldn't get campus carry passed, and I doubt seriously it will pass this session either.

Congratulations!!

Every day is Saturday.

[RogueUSMC]

My daughter is using my Hazelwood Act benefits for nursing school. For folks that don't know (especially if you are a veteran who enlisted in Texas) the Hazelwood act kicks in after GI Bill benefits are no longer available. The state of Texas doesn't pay for the school...the school doesn't get compensates for tuition. But the school is REQUIRED to take Hazelwood Act covered students tuition free. This is part of the deal when they accept state funding. They can't turn Hazelwood students away.

Attach campus carry to this and they have to allow it just like they have to take Hazelwood students...ooooor they can turn down the state funding.