This is primarily a travel blog in which I write about traveling in our motorhome. Our travels have

Nacogdoches, TX, United States
I began this blog as a vehicle for reporting on a 47-day trip made by my wife and me in our motorhome down to the Yucatan Peninsula and back. I continued writing about our post-Yucatan travels and gradually began including non-travel related topics. I often rant about things that piss me off, such as gun violence, fracking, healthcare, education, and anything else that pushes my button. I have a photography gallery on my Smugmug site (http://rbmartiniv.smugmug.com).

Saturday, May 4, 2013

"Gun Day" in Texas

The Texas State House of Representatives welcomed the NRA convention to Texas on "Gun Day" by approving 12 bills aimed (no pun intended) at further relaxing what little gun control is left in this wild west state.  However, these bills will still have to be approved by the Texas Senate before becoming law.  Hopefully, the senators aren't quite as stupid as the representatives.  Here are a few of the bills that the House is hoping will become state law:

*  College students with concealed carry permits will be allowed to take their guns to class.  I don't know whether or not that includes football games.  Can you imagine?  It begs a whole new meaning to the term  "sore losers."  Scary, isn't it.

*  Any federal laws banning assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, or expanding background checks for gun owners will be declared null and void within the state's borders.  Why don't they go ahead and nullify more of the federal laws that are unpopular in Texas?

*  Any police officers or government officials who try to enforce federal firearms laws in Texas could be sentenced to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.  Again, why just the firearms laws?  Hell, there must be a lot more federal laws that we could prevent the police from enforcing.

*  Schools will be able to appoint employees with concealed carry permits as "marshals," who will respond to emergencies with their guns.  I hope the students don't get caught in the cross-fire.

*  There will be a reduction in the penalties for concealed carry permit holders who "accidentally" show their guns.  Oh, I'm sorry.  I thought that was my pee-pee I was pulling out.

*  People who want a concealed carry permit won't be bothered by a whole day of that silly training.  They will only be required to spend 6 hours learning everything they need to know about gun safety.

*  It will be unlawful for business owners to post "no carry" signs in cases where carrying a gun is not illegal.  Just because you own the place doesn't mean you may ask people to leave their guns outside.

You have to realize that this is TEXAS.  One of the last states to outlaw open containers in vehicles!  Texas, the state whose citizens own more guns and pickups and drink more beer than any other state in the union.  Lord, help us.

1 comment :

Bill said...

Well said Robert.