amtank wrote:I don't have a problem with Charles I never have had one. While the analysis of the posted article is generally correct I find factual issue with The notion that the TSRA has done even the majority of the leg work on this issue. Yes, I am well aware that between Charles and Alice they have personal long standing relationships with the majority of the long standing legislators.
That being said I am a TSRA member and was previously a NRA member. Up until late last year it seemed that the TSRA, how was it put, open carry is not a priority. Campus carry was always the goal of this session and as one of the original campus coordinators for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus it is something I care deeply about especially due to the fact my mother is a professor.
I find it a bitter pill receiving an email this afternoon with a news flash that Texas house passed NRA backed open carry. What does that mean? As I said Charles you do a great job and I respect your honesty and commitment. It however seems the larger organization attempts to hitch itself to any winning horse and throws losing ones under the bus.
My former representative went out there last week and kept every promise he made fighting to get Constitutional Carry at least voted on so we as Texans know where our representatives stand. He was thwarted by the house leadership through actions so egregious that at one point a extremely liberal democrat came to his defense Friday.
It is my viewpoint that the grassroots activists and small organizations are doing more to advance gun rights and overall freedom in this state than either the TSRA or NRA and its a darn shame that I could even feel that way even if my outlook is slightly flawed. At the Republican State Convention I did not see any professional lobbyists, for gun rights, during the week when platform was really being fought over and decided. It was literally the individuals who make up Texas Firearms Freedom, Texas Carry, OCT, and even yes the hated OCTC as delegates fighting for language to extend our rights. We made changes not only to platform but also extensive changes to the makeup of the SREC. While you can clearly still argue quite legitimately that the legislator pays no attention to the party or platform. I assure you this will change in the next four years.
The people that have been pushing political change inside of the Republican party are winning and the Republican lawmakers that all the organizations have to fight with to do what is right will not be in office much longer. I know things along those lines of have been stated before but I assure you it will be true.
The mere fact my representation was not even present in the capitol on Friday during the important vote speaks volumes on his commitment to the cause.
Disclaimer: I am a former active member of OCTC. I was at the time of the 2014 state convention. I am a current regional co-coordinator for OCT. I hold a Texas CHL. I am a member of the TSRA If you missed that above. I am even a member of the Texas State Militia. I am a Constitutional Conservative who is involved in multiple causes beyond guns. I also have four legislators personal cell numbers in my phone and another three chiefs of staff. I have been known from time to time go for a walk with a rifle or shotgun.
I don't agree with everything you posted but I do agree with many of your opinions. I have long argued that there should be a cost to any Republican that does not follow the Party Platform, but those arguments have fallen on deaf ears. Years ago, I strongly believed that attending the Party Convention was vital, but I quickly learned otherwise.
I agree that grassroots activity is crucial in many ways and that's why the NRA has a very active, very successful grassroots division. A successful grassroots organization and campaign is one that uses proven techniques to win the public, and the critically important media, to its side of an issue. Again, that's what the NRA does so well to the dismay of anti-gunners. Organizations like OCT and OCTC are not interested in building a viable, respected coalition. They want firebrand types who are confrontational, caustic and intimidating. I think I know who you are and OCT would have been far better off if Grisham had stepped down and let others take over the organization. If I am correct as to your identity, then I believe you would have taken OCT down the same philosophical and operational path taken by Students for Concealed Carry, an organization that enjoys an excellent reputation.
Open-carry passed because of the NRA and in spite of OCT/OCTC. We have been working on it since 2013 and as I've said many times, the fact that we asked about open-carry in the NRA candidate questionnaire sent a strong signal to candidates that it was a priority bill. The NRA/TSRA are responsible for the Interim Study in April 2014 that included open-carry and each of their lobbyists testified in favor of it. This too was a clear sign to elected officials that we wanted open-carry to pass. Those efforts are why HB910 has 84 co-sponsors and Stickland's HB195 has only eleven. SB17 has 14 co-sponsors while SB342 has four. OCT/OCTC/CATI/Grisham/Watkins all supported HB195 and SB17, while the NRA and TSRA supported HB910/SB17. The NRA/TSRA bills have passed while the OCT/OCTC bills didn't get a hearing in the House or Senate. The efforts of OCT/OCTC clearly had no impact on the legislative process. As G.A. Heath pointed out, OCT and Grisham blasted licensed open-carry right up to the point that it was clear the OCT Bills were going nowhere. Now, OCT has make two posts on its Facebook page just a few hours apart, with one condemning the Legislative process with lies and one praising the passage of HB910. OCT clearly wants to claim victory when all they achieved was a dismal failure.
I'm sure you're pretty steamed up at my comments, but let's switch to "my Bill," HB308. In my view, HB3218 last session and HB308 this session are the two most important bills filed on behalf of Texas gun owners in 20 years. We've passed many great bills and have made great strides in expanding Second Amendment rights, but I believe that HB308 should have been the cornerstone of the 2015 Texas Legislative Session -- but it wasn't. I'm mad and I'm sick that HB308 went nowhere; it is no better off than HB195 or SB342 and I'm not happy. However, I understand why neither the NRA nor TSRA put their political muscle behind HB308. To say it was a controversial bill would be an understatement. The media would have had a field day with "guns everywhere, guns everywhere!" It's right up there with "the British are coming, the British are coming!" The primary reason HB308 was not a priority bill is NRA and TSRA were using huge amounts of political capitol to pass open-carry and to a lesser degree, campus-carry. I still believe we should pass campus-carry because it is the right thing to do even though it differs from our standard procedure of supporting bills that provide the most benefits to most people. At this point in time, HB308 would have worked to the extreme benefit of 846,000+ Texas CHLs and this number will continue to grow. That's how strongly I feel about removing off-limits areas for CHLs, but you haven't heard me lash out at NRA/TSRA for not making MY priority their priority. That's not how you build strong and effective relationships; you don't abandon friends who share your goals but not your priority list. Contrast this approach with the OCT approach of attacking, condemning and lying about anyone and everyone who does not share both their goals and their tactics.
OCT has made the critical mistake surrounding itself with people who will not challenge the leader's opinions. The term "echo chamber" has been used to describe OCT and from what I've seen, it a very accurate description. If any OCT member expresses concern or, God forbid, disagreement with Grisham's "official" position or opinion, they are attacked. There's no room in the Grisham/OCT tent for rational and respectful debate, much less loyal opposition. This can change, but only if there really is an OCT leadership other than Grisham and if that leadership gets Grisham out of the public eye.
If people could sit in on some of our meetings and phone calls, at times they would believe that Alice, Tara and I hate each other. We discuss, sometimes quite forcefully, issues, bills, potential bills, amendments and everything else that goes into the process. We share our opinions and beliefs and we come to a consensus. We are free to give our opinions without being attacked or lied about, then go do what each of us does well. None of us gets everything we want precisely when we want it, but the process insures valuable input that has allowed the NRA and TSRA to build a successful track record that has not been matched by any other organization. One who cannot accept criticism or the opposing opinions of loyal allies will never be an effective advocate for anyone, any organization or any cause.
amtank wrote:My former representative went out there last week and kept every promise he made fighting to get Constitutional Carry at least voted on so we as Texans know where our representatives stand. He was thwarted by the house leadership through actions so egregious that at one point a extremely liberal democrat came to his defense Friday.
I saw the OCT post on this subject and the link to the equally erroneous article engaging in the same witch hunt. The article even lied and claimed that Gov. Abbott was campaigning against unlicensed open-carry behind the scenes. Of course, the author quoted an unnamed source. Yeah, right.
The simple fact is this: Rep. Stickland's proposed amendment to HB910 that would have removed the requirement for a CHL was not germane. He made himself look foolish by repeatedly saying that it was pre-filed. Prefiling an amendment does not render the germane rule void and he should have known that. HB910's caption reads:
HB910 Caption wrote:relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun; creating a criminal offense; providing penalties; amending provisions subject to a criminal penalty.
Only amendments that dealt with the authority of a license holder (CHL) would be germane and not even all such amendments. I worked on proposed amendments that we ultimately didn't try to pass because they would have endangered the Bill, even though they referenced licensees. If I were consulting with those opposed to open-carry in the House, I would have told them not to call a point-of-order against the Stickland amendment and hope that it was adopted. Then get one of the Senate Democrats to assert a point-of-order to kill it in the Senate.
There was no conspiracy, no "lawlessness" as OCT claimed. Instead of silently gritting their teeth when they didn't get their way (like I do,) OCT and Grisham lashed out with lies against the Legislature, Speaker Straus, and even the Governor! That does not build a viable and effective political and legislative coalition. It earns one the reputation of being dishonest, ineffective, confrontational and, more importantly, a political pariah.
Chas.
