Texas just passed a law allowing concealed carry licensees to carry openly
though for the life of me I can't understand why they'd want to. They did, however pass on a bill to allow "constitutional carry" which lets any idiot with a gun carry it out in the open. That was SB 342 which my Senator sponsored. I let her know how I felt about it and she replied:
Thank you so much for contacting Senator Konni Burton about your concerns with Senate Bill 342 regarding Constitutional Carry. As you may know, SB 342 was held in the Senate State Affairs Committee and was not brought to the Senate floor for a vote. Consequently, SB 342 was not passed this legislative session. You can track the bill history and details by clicking here:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB342
Constituent input is a big part of making the democratic process work. Thank you again for taking the time to keep a close eye on the Legislature and for sharing your thoughts. We value your position and are grateful for your involvement and your willingness to keep us informed. As always, our office welcomes public comment on legislative business and the needs of the people living in Senate District 10.
I replied:
Thank you for the reply re SB 342. Expect to hear from me on gun violence at every opportunity.
Gun violence is more than just a personal freedom issue. It is a fiscal issue that is a major hindrance to economic growth. The cost of gun violence to the economy of Texas is almost $18 billion a year, more than $680 per person. That cost includes police, prison, medical care, rehabilitation, lost productivity and litigation. If, like most Republicans, you are a fiscal conservative I urge you to consider the cost of gun violence in Texas when you have an opportunity to pass legislation.
Hey, it's worth a try. If you can't make them see common sense on a humanitarian issue try for the "no new taxes" approach.