Greg Abbott and OC

[RoyGBiv]

I'll fight along side you, but not under the same leadership. Not until the tactics stop scaring my neighbors.

What leadership am I under? I am my own man.

I made the assumption (possibly incorrectly) that you were/are an OCT member.
I am not a fan of OCT's tactics.

Please accept my apologies if this is not the case.

[paxton25]

I'll fight along side you, but not under the same leadership. Not until the tactics stop scaring my neighbors.

What leadership am I under? I am my own man.

I made the assumption (possibly incorrectly) that you were/are an OCT member.
I am not a fan of OCT's tactics.

Please accept my apologies if this is not the case.

No biggie, just curious why you and someone else kept talking about starbucks when addressing me.

[gdanaher]

Constitutional carry may or may not exist in those terms, but I believe that it far more defensible to require anyone carrying in a public location to have experienced the minimal training offered by the CHL class. Even if you required non-CHL folks to read a book, take a test, and pass it prior to open carry was allowed, it would be an improvement over no training whatsoever.

[MeMelYup]

Constitutional carry may or may not exist in those terms, but I believe that it far more defensible to require anyone carrying in a public location to have experienced the minimal training offered by the CHL class. Even if you required non-CHL folks to read a book, take a test, and pass it prior to open carry was allowed, it would be an improvement over no training whatsoever.

This is why they need to teach and have firearms training in high school.

[paxton25]

Constitutional carry may or may not exist in those terms, but I believe that it far more defensible to require anyone carrying in a public location to have experienced the minimal training offered by the CHL class. Even if you required non-CHL folks to read a book, take a test, and pass it prior to open carry was allowed, it would be an improvement over no training whatsoever.

This is why they need to teach and have firearms training in high school.

Do they not do hunter safety education in school anymore? I had that in Junior High and I think it was required. Did the liberals get rid of that or what? The class was great, I still remember a lot of what I was taught. That plus the amount of training I received from my father and Uncle is far better than any required class.

[gdanaher]

Hunter education might be taught in small districts in the hill country, but in the large cities it is unheard of. Even if taught, you can't presume that everyone allowed to carry in Texas also attended a Texas high school where gun safety was taught. I believe that the second amendment should apply to everyone eligible, but owning a weapon and carrying it in public are different matters. Some people just need to stick with the gun range if you know what I mean. Carrying in public presumes a higher level of knowledge and responsibility that not all gun owners share equally. OCT may have its roots in a well meaning and directed effort, but it has like a magnet, pulled the fringe elements in allowing the rest of us to see what could happen. They have some scary folks there, and having some in their group carrying openly without any sort of licensing or standardized training simply scares the bejeebers out of me.

[paxton25]

Hunter education might be taught in small districts in the hill country, but in the large cities it is unheard of. Even if taught, you can't presume that everyone allowed to carry in Texas also attended a Texas high school where gun safety was taught. I believe that the second amendment should apply to everyone eligible, but owning a weapon and carrying it in public are different matters. Some people just need to stick with the gun range if you know what I mean. Carrying in public presumes a higher level of knowledge and responsibility that not all gun owners share equally. OCT may have its roots in a well meaning and directed effort, but it has like a magnet, pulled the fringe elements in allowing the rest of us to see what could happen. They have some scary folks there, and having some in their group carrying openly without any sort of licensing or standardized training simply scares the bejeebers out of me.

I have been at ranges and seen enough people finishing their CHL class scare me to where there is no way I believe a license grant is anything other than at best a marginal improvement over handing out guns at random to strangers in the street. Too often I have seen a CHL lead to a dirty harry complex where someone that hasn't fired off many more shots than their CHL class required is walking around hoping a guy in a ski mask will jump out at them. I have also seen inadvertant mag drops at the shooting qualifier for a CHL class, the instructor move the target closer than what I thought would be required so a lady could actually get enough rounds on paper to qualify, even saw someone look down the barrel of their gun after a malfunction and yet all of those people are walking around with a gun and a CHL and we are supposed to think they are superior to the average Schmoe on the street? I am not buying it. Plus we all know that some unscrupulous instructors will go ahead and pass their buddies without going to the class, I know I was offered that before and I know several people who have. I was trained from youth by military veterans, I put in hundreds of hours in range time to practice proper and accurate shooting, have read numerous books and been to several classes I opted for and not because the government said I had to.

[MeMelYup]

Hunter education might be taught in small districts in the hill country, but in the large cities it is unheard of. Even if taught, you can't presume that everyone allowed to carry in Texas also attended a Texas high school where gun safety was taught. I believe that the second amendment should apply to everyone eligible, but owning a weapon and carrying it in public are different matters. Some people just need to stick with the gun range if you know what I mean. Carrying in public presumes a higher level of knowledge and responsibility that not all gun owners share equally. OCT may have its roots in a well meaning and directed effort, but it has like a magnet, pulled the fringe elements in allowing the rest of us to see what could happen. They have some scary folks there, and having some in their group carrying openly without any sort of licensing or standardized training simply scares the bejeebers out of me.

I have been at ranges and seen enough people finishing their CHL class scare me to where there is no way I believe a license grant is anything other than at best a marginal improvement over handing out guns at random to strangers in the street. Too often I have seen a CHL lead to a dirty harry complex where someone that hasn't fired off many more shots than their CHL class required is walking around hoping a guy in a ski mask will jump out at them. I have also seen inadvertant mag drops at the shooting qualifier for a CHL class, the instructor move the target closer than what I thought would be required so a lady could actually get enough rounds on paper to qualify, even saw someone look down the barrel of their gun after a malfunction and yet all of those people are walking around with a gun and a CHL and we are supposed to think they are superior to the average Schmoe on the street? I am not buying it. Plus we all know that some unscrupulous instructors will go ahead and pass their buddies without going to the class, I know I was offered that before and I know several people who have. I was trained from youth by military veterans, I put in hundreds of hours in range time to practice proper and accurate shooting, have read numerous books and been to several classes I opted for and not because the government said I had to.

Are you implying that it would be to our benefit to have firearm training in high school?

[paxton25]

Hunter education might be taught in small districts in the hill country, but in the large cities it is unheard of. Even if taught, you can't presume that everyone allowed to carry in Texas also attended a Texas high school where gun safety was taught. I believe that the second amendment should apply to everyone eligible, but owning a weapon and carrying it in public are different matters. Some people just need to stick with the gun range if you know what I mean. Carrying in public presumes a higher level of knowledge and responsibility that not all gun owners share equally. OCT may have its roots in a well meaning and directed effort, but it has like a magnet, pulled the fringe elements in allowing the rest of us to see what could happen. They have some scary folks there, and having some in their group carrying openly without any sort of licensing or standardized training simply scares the bejeebers out of me.

I have been at ranges and seen enough people finishing their CHL class scare me to where there is no way I believe a license grant is anything other than at best a marginal improvement over handing out guns at random to strangers in the street. Too often I have seen a CHL lead to a dirty harry complex where someone that hasn't fired off many more shots than their CHL class required is walking around hoping a guy in a ski mask will jump out at them. I have also seen inadvertant mag drops at the shooting qualifier for a CHL class, the instructor move the target closer than what I thought would be required so a lady could actually get enough rounds on paper to qualify, even saw someone look down the barrel of their gun after a malfunction and yet all of those people are walking around with a gun and a CHL and we are supposed to think they are superior to the average Schmoe on the street? I am not buying it. Plus we all know that some unscrupulous instructors will go ahead and pass their buddies without going to the class, I know I was offered that before and I know several people who have. I was trained from youth by military veterans, I put in hundreds of hours in range time to practice proper and accurate shooting, have read numerous books and been to several classes I opted for and not because the government said I had to.

Are you implying that it would be to our benefit to have firearm training in high school?

I think offering more training to young people would be great. There used to be rifle clubs all over the country. More exposure to proper firearm training at younger ages would be a great thing for sure.

[gljjt]

Governor Elect Greg Abbott is clearly, strongly in the pro RKBA camp. I think he may become the best Governor ever. A sample of his views, actions, proposals:

*****In a November 2013 speech, Abbott proposed licensed OC.
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/11/26/ ... pen-carry/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

*****From Greg Abbott's website;
Greg Abbott believes the right to keep and bear arms was settled in 1791 when the 2nd Amendment was adopted to the U.S. Constitution. On behalf of 31 states, Attorney General Abbott championed a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision (District of Columbia v. Heller) that struck down a handgun ban and protected an individual’s right to bear arms.

Greg Abbott continues to protect 2nd Amendment rights by preparing to challenge potential federal laws that limit gun rights. He was also one of the first Attorneys General in America to challenge the Obama Administration’s efforts to use the United Nations to regulate guns in the United States.

As an avid hunter and member of the Texas State Rifle Association and National Rifle Association, Greg Abbott will continue to fight any federal government overreach that aims to disrupt the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Texans.

*****From the Daily Texan, http://www.dailytexanonline.com/person/greg-abbott" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
In December 2013, Abbott created a “We the People” petition, proposing legislation that would allow Concealed Handgun Licensing (CHL) holders to, at a minimum, openly carry holstered weapons, as well as allow concealed weapons on college campuses.

*****Greg Abbott open carry support statement, http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/ ... 873367.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, it's good enough for the state of Texas,” Abbott said. “If an open carry bill is passed by the House and Senate and arrives at my desk I will sign it into law.”

*****In response to a 'yes' or 'no' interview question in January 2013: "Do you support Open Carry?", Attorney General Abbott replied 'yes'. In the same interview he made it clear Chicago style gun control laws don't work. http://mattsdowling.com/attorney-genera ... alks-guns/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

*****From gregabbott.com
Recommendations
1. The Texas Government should not pass any ban of any particular type of firearm.
2. The Texas Government should not be allowed to establish a state gun ownership registry.
3. Instant background checks should be conducted only to prevent individuals who are currently prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, such as convicted felons and individuals who have been adjudicated to be mentally ill, from purchasing firearms from commercial dealers.
4. The ability of citizens to engage in otherwise lawful private sales of their firearms should not be restricted.
5. Texas should allow citizens to obtain concealed-carry permits with no requirement of demonstrating to government officials “good cause” or overly expensive training.
6. A concealed-carry permit granted by any state should be given full faith and credit by Texas.
7. Texas should accept firearms purchased in another state by its Citizens as they are able to purchase other products regardless of the state of their residence.
8. The Texas Legislature, the Governor, and the Texas Attorney General should not consent to U.S. ratification of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty by any and all means.

*****News release from the Attorney General's website, dated February 2008:
AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court Monday defending Americans’ constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Writing on behalf of 31 states, Attorney General Abbott urged the Supreme Court to uphold a federal appeals court decision striking down Washington D.C.’s handgun ban. In District of Columbia v. Heller, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit struck down the District’s handgun ban as unconstitutional.

[Saffron]

Are you implying that it would be to our benefit to have firearm training in high school?

I think it's irresponsible for schools not to teach firearm safety at the very least.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Are you implying that it would be to our benefit to have firearm training in high school?

I think it's irresponsible for schools not to teach firearm safety at the very least.

Chas.

[paxton25]

Are you implying that it would be to our benefit to have firearm training in high school?

I think it's irresponsible for schools not to teach firearm safety at the very least.

Chas.

Mr. Cotton any plans in the future for implementing legislation to accomplish firearm safety training in Texas schools? Has that ever been discussed? I could see a pilot program to start as a possibility.

[pcgizzmo]

I'm wondering why the schools don't have shooting teams as a sport?. I would think maybe the TSRA might be able to work with some schools to start some type of 3 gun or rifle competition at the High school levels. Obviously there would be a lot of planning, politics and hurdles because of the sensitivity to shootings and violence at schools but I would think that schools that are in close proximity to an outdoor or large indoor range might work something out. Students could store guns at the range instead of bringing them to school etc.

Sorry, I know this is OT but was in response to the above post. Just making an observation.

[G.A. Heath]

I'm wondering why the schools don't have shooting teams as a sport?. I would think maybe the TSRA might be able to work with some schools to start some type of 3 gun or rifle competition at the High school levels. Obviously there would be a lot of planning, politics and hurdles because of the sensitivity to shootings and violence at schools but I would think that schools that are in close proximity to an outdoor or large indoor range might work something out. Students could store guns at the range instead of bringing them to school etc.

Sorry, I know this is OT but was in response to the above post. Just making an observation.

Many do under the 4H program.