Texas Gun Owners ,,Gun Bill on the Call for Special Session? 6-23-09
 

Texas State Rifle Association PAC
Gun Bill on the Call for Special Session?


http://img.constantcontact.com/lette..._flag_hdr1.jpg June 23, 2009 - Gun Bill on the Call for Special Session?


Dear Mr.Rambo,



TSRA Members, Family, and Friends:

During the recently-adjourned session of the Texas Legislature, the Texas House failed to vote on any significant piece of pro-Second Amendment legislation -- including the TSRA-backed bill that would allow hard-working Texans to transport and store lawfully-owned firearms in their private vehicles while parked at work. The bill would have prohibited enforcement of corporate "No Firearms" policies that extend beyond the physical workplace to include employee parking lots; these policies effectively prohibit workers from protecting themselves during their commute, as they have no way of storing the guns in their cars and trucks once they park at work without risking being fired.


This important legislation passed the Senate unanimously, with over two months left in session. However, House leaders failed to set the bill for House floor action in a timely manner, and the bill died on the House Calendar without even a vote.

The Governor will call a special session of the Legislature in the coming weeks to address state agency re-authorization bills that also failed to pass during the regular session. While the Governor has ultimate control over what is considered during any special session, it's unlikely that any issue will be placed on the agenda which doesn't have the support of both Senate and House leaders. We already know where the Governor and Senate leaders stand on this issue.

That's why its critical that you contact House Speaker Joe Straus at (512) 463-1000 and ask him where he stands on this issue: with corporate honchos, or with hard-working Texas gun owners and sportsmen who are prohibited from protecting themselves during their commutes to and from work every day?

Let Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) know that you are disappointed that House leaders did not set the employee/parking lot issue for House floor action in a timely manner, so that House members could vote on it while there was still time in the regular session. And urge him to work with Governor Perry to get the bill on the call for the upcoming special session.

You may also send an email to Speaker Straus by visiting his website.


Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) is the key element to getting this job done!

Please call and email and share the information with friends and family.

The time to act is NOW!

Thank You!





Sincerely,

Alice Tripp
Texas State Rifle Association Legislative Director
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Attention: TSRA members and Texas gun owners!

We need your support in Austin!!!

Re: Texas Gun Owners ,,Gun Bill on the Call for Special Session? 6-23-09
 

I kinda disagreed when Florida passed a similar law. We all want smaller, less intrusive gov't. Expansion, even in ways that may seem "good" is bad. If a private employer doesn't "like" guns they should have the right to prohibit them. (Along the same lines, a private employer should not be forced to hire less-qualified employees because of government quotas.)

An alternative is that employers who ban guns in parking lots should then bear responsibility for employees' safety on the trip to/from work. Perhaps the provision of armed escorts would adequately address the issue.:sarc: At the least, employers should be held fiscally responsible. While physical loss, pain & suffering can never be recompensed for, a million dollar insurance policy or bond for each employee should provide sufficient coverage to help make amends should any ill come to an employee on his/her commute.

Re: Texas Gun Owners ,,Gun Bill on the Call for Special Session? 6-23-09
 

I am torn, as leadfoot is on this issue. i don't like the fact that my company disallows us to have firearms in our vehicles. (although i have personally witnessed coworkers and my boss showing off their skeet guns in the parking lot!) However, being forced by the state gov seems an intrusion. Of course, since i work at a gov contractor, and therefore am funded indirectly by the state funds, i can see them having to comply with regulation such as this.....
i dunno...
even leadfoots suggestion of them being liable for your welfare while traveling seems undue. the employee isn't forced to work at any given place, sooo....

Re: Texas Gun Owners ,,Gun Bill on the Call for Special Session? 6-23-09
 

I was debating that too. Maybe the only thing that could be promoted, and be true to our convictions, is to make those employers w/ gun bans legally liable. Put the law on the side of the victims (along the lines of castle doctrine laws) if/when they chose to sue - ie a presumption that the employer's actions rendered the employee defenseless. A few big lawsuits would change peoples' minds real quick.