Urgent Action Item: HB1301 Parking Lot Bill

[Charles L. Cotton]

HB1301, the House version of the employer parking lot bill that passed the Senate (SB730) needs your help!!

Freshman Representative Tryon Lewis (R, C+, Odessa) needs to hear from one heck of a lot of people, especially people from his district in Odessa. Please call him and politely tell him to vote for HB1301 as filed and without any amendments for chemical companies. It would be great to send a follow up fax as well.

Also call Houston Representative Hubert Vo (D, A-, Houston) and ask him to do likewise.

We need at least one of these two Representatives to vote with us to get it out of committee. The chemical companies were stunned by their loss in the Senate (SB730) and they are making a strong press on the two swing votes. We must counter this pressure, so please call and fax now!

Chas.

[TrueFlog]

I called them both about 15 minutes ago. As it turns out, they were actually in the Public Safety committee meeting at the time. Both aides took a record of my opinion but neither offered an indication of how the rep might vote (and I didn't ask).

[Charles L. Cotton]

I called them both about 15 minutes ago. As it turns out, they were actually in the Public Safety committee meeting at the time. Both aides took a record of my opinion but neither offered an indication of how the rep might vote (and I didn't ask).

Yeah, they had a "special" meeting of the Public Safety Committee today to vote on several bills previously heard, and more importantly, to take care of some "procedural" matters.

Chas.

[RHenriksen]

Emailed both offices.

[ELB]

Just came across this and called both offices. Both call-takers said their bosses were still essentially "non-committal, weighing the factors" etc etc. Politely asked them to pass the bill w/o amendment.

elb

[tllstaco]

I sent the following to both representatives:

I am writing to request your positive support of HB 1301 to allow law abiding citizens to provide for their own self-protection by legally leaving a firearm in their vehicles. A firearm does not magically make a law abiding person use it in a heinous act of violence. Furthermore, voting against HB1301 will not improve the safety of a chemical plant or any other business. People who are inclined to break the law, bring a firearm to work and use it to commit an act of violence, will do this irregardless of the law. Not passing HB1301 only impacts the safety of law abiding people.
Contrary to what chemical plant representatives (I work at one) tell you, they do not provide for the safety of their employees in parking lots. In fact, my plant has a disclaimer that they are not liable for theft from our vehicle in their parking lots. Many of the plants do not have parking on the road available. This means law abiding people who went through the time, effort and expense of meeting the background and testing requirements of a CHL will have to provide for their own protection.
Most chemical plants are not surrounded by the most crime-free environment. Limiting my right to self defense on my way to and from work does not make me feel comfortable and could leave my family without a parent/spouse if something does go horribly wrong. The police officers in our great state do a wonderful job, but they can not be in all locations all the time.
I appreciate your efforts and look forward to your support.

[artx]

called both today. Both folks acted like they were tired of taking phone calls!

[Mike1951]

called both today. Both folks acted like they were tired of taking phone calls!

I have always felt that contacting other than your own reps does no good and can become bothersome to them.

[DoubleJ]

called both today. Both folks acted like they were tired of taking phone calls!

I have always felt that contacting other than your own reps does no good and can become bothersome to them.

I understand your feeling in that, but these two Reps are on a committee, so that's why we're calling them in spite of not living in their districts.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Thanks folks for the calls/faxes to Rep. Vo!

Now it would be nice to call him and thank him for his support of HB1301. Yeah, it worked!

Chas.

[seamusTX]

Charles, are you implying that Mr. Lewis did note vote in favor of the bill? (The House web site has not been updated since March 23.)

If so, I wonder why.

- Jim

[Charles L. Cotton]

Charles, are you implying that Mr. Lewis did note vote in favor of the bill? (The House web site has not been updated since March 23.)

If so, I wonder why.

- Jim

It didn't come up for a vote in the "special" meeting held in Public Safety yesterday. It should come up for a vote soon. My post about Rep. Vo is based upon his comment to Alice. We've had no feedback from Rep. Lewis.

Chas.

[DoubleJ]

so, it's still in committee?

[mikeintexas]

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup ... ill=HB1301" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes, it is in committee. I signed up at the above link and get automatic updates. The companion bill (SB730) passed the Senate.

[Kyle Brown]

Susan King's office responded today and stated she will support the bill as written. This is a hugh shock because, as I understand it, Hendrix Medical Center (one of the area's largest employers) opposes the bill.