TexasCHLforum.com

Working with NRA-ILA and the Texas State Rifle Association, State Representative Joe Driver (R-Garland) has garnered seventy-eight co-authors to House Bill 284, the NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine"/self-defense reform bill.



The proposed measure is modeled after Florida's landmark law, creating presumptions of reasonable use of defensive force in your home, vehicle, or place of business. The bill will codify that you have "no duty to retreat" from a violent attack if you are in a place where you have a right to be, if you are not the initial aggressor, and if you are not engaged in criminal activity. HB 284 also establishes protection from civil lawsuits if you lawfully protect yourself or your family.



You can find out whether your State Representative has signed onto this important measure by visiting: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup ... Bill=HB284.



If your State Representative is already a co-author, please be sure to thank him or her for the support!



If your State Representative has not yet signed on, please contact them next week and urge him or her to co-author HB 284. You can find contact information for your state officials at
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.php

I thanked my Rep. , now I need to go make sure he votes against that wacked out one.

Mine is co-authoring as well. Looks like this one is a solid "Go"

My Rep helped "Co-Author" the bill...He already knows I am a happy camper...

I think I counted 82 author/co-authors. If there are 150 representatives then it looks just fine.

How does this letter sound? I want your feedback, additions, or deletions before sending. (And if you like it, feel free to C&P.) Diode, I took one of your paragraphs and worked with it.



Dear Representative Crabb,

I write to solicit your support in voting for HB 284 authored by Representative Joe Driver of Garland.

The bill is modeled after Florida's landmark law, creating presumptions of reasonable use of defensive force in one’s home, vehicle, or place of business. The bill will declare that a citizen has "no duty to retreat" from a violent attack if the citizen is in a place where he or she has a right to be, and is not the initial aggressor nor engaged in criminal activity. HB 284 also establishes protection from civil lawsuits if a citizen is lawfully protecting self or family.

I appreciate your service to the citizens of Crosby and Harris County. Again, I would like to ask that you support and vote in favor of HB 284.


Sincerely,

I think that I'd add something about how it would directly benefit Joe Citizen....."When this law is passed homeowners can defend their homes and loved ones without having to second guess their legal options." or something like that....

nicely done, all.

Here is the letter I sent a few days ago


Senator Jackson:

These bills protect something I hold very dear, My 2nd Amendment rights. As a young boy growing up in Texas we were free to hunt and fish without fear of loosing our rights. We didn’t lock car doors or even our homes. There are far too few areas like this left in Texas. I am reminded of this when I pass gang signs while taking my daughter to school. It is unfortunate that she will not know this serene existence where we don’t have to worry about the convicted child molester that lives 3 houses down. Much less the 100+ convicted sexual offenders that live in our city. We also cannot leave out the assorted robbers, drug dealers and gang members.

I hold a valid Concealed Handgun License (CHL) from our great state. I am a registered voter who goes to the polls on each and every election. I work hard and live an honest life. It is sad to think that I could loose it all because I might be forced to defend my family and then sued in court.


I would also like to see legislation easing restrictions on where CHL holders are prohibited from carrying a weapon. As a whole, those of us who carry concealed weapons take the responsibility very seriously. We do not abuse the right that we hold dear.

I am writing you to ask for your support for these bills...........

My rep (Stephen Frost) is also a co-author. I sent him a nice message thanking him, and telling him I'd support him on every RKBA bill.

I don't agree with him on other issues, and I'll happily duel him on those. Doesn't mean I can't support him where he's supporting me.

Kevin

Here is what I just sent...

Dear Representative McCall,

I write to solicit your support in voting for HB 284 (Relating to the use of force or deadly force in defense of a person) authored by Representative Joe Driver of Garland.

The bill is modeled after Florida's landmark law, creating presumptions of reasonable use of defensive force in one’s home, vehicle, or place of business. The bill will declare that a citizen has "no duty to retreat" from a violent attack if the citizen is in a place where he or she has a right to be, and is not the initial aggressor nor engaged in criminal activity. HB 284 also establishes protection from civil lawsuits if a citizen is lawfully protecting self or family.

When this law is passed citizens can defend their and their loved ones lives without having to second guess their legal options because of the possibility of losing everything they’ve worked for their entire adult life in a civil action. The similar legislation in Florida has been quite successful, bringing benefits to Florida citizens with no negative impacts to the good citizens of that state.

I appreciate your service to the citizens of Collin County. Again, I would like to ask that you support and vote in favor of HB 284.

My represenative (Bill Zedler) is also a co-author of HB 284. I will send him a thank you.

GMC, I borrowed one of your paragraphs, then corrected mechanics on the whole:

Here goes:

Dear Representative Crabb,

I write to gain your support in voting for HB 284 authored by Representative Joe Driver of Garland.

The bill is modeled after Florida's landmark law, creating presumptions of reasonable use of defensive force in one’s home, vehicle, or place of business. The bill will declare that a citizen has "no duty to retreat" from a violent attack if the citizen is in a place where he or she has a right to be, and is not the initial aggressor nor engaged in criminal activity.
HB 284 also establishes protection from civil lawsuits if a citizen is lawfully protecting self or family.

When this law is passed, citizens can defend themselves and their loved ones’ lives without having to second guess their legal options, facing the possibility of losing everything they’ve worked for their entire adult lives in a civil action. The similar legislation in Florida has been quite successful, bringing benefits to Florida citizens with no negative impacts to the good citizens of that state.

I appreciate your service to the citizens of Crosby and Harris County. Again, I would like to ask that you support and vote in favor of HB 284.


Sincerely,

Mine has been thanked!

It's nice to live in an area that has good representation like mine does.

Lovin' these letters this year!!!