By Nile Copeland

www.americanguntrust.com

Texas –-(Ammoland.com)- The 83rd Legislature Regular Session is mostly wrapped up but is back in a special session.

What follows is some helpful information and discussion of the firearms legislation that passed and some points to note for the special session as well as some additional information.

Currently no gun control legislation passed during the regular session – including proposals that were introduced to restrict private firearm transfers at gun shows, ban standard capacity magazines, gut the state firearms preemption law and require drug testing for CHL applicants.

The Texas Legislature adjourned its regular session on Memorial Day after passing fifteen pro-Second Amendment measures, and was immediately called back into special session by Governor Rick Perry to address the drawing of district lines in which Federal and State lawmakers will run for re-election next year.

The Governor can add issue items to the agenda (known as “the call”) as the special session progresses. As such it should be noted that under Senate rules in place during the regular session, a 2/3 vote is necessary to bring a measure up for debate in the legislative chamber – (Seats held: 12 D and 19 R)

However, rules can change in the special session, where only a majority vote could be necessary to consider and pass measures placed on the call.

Concealed Carry on Campus

For the last three sessions, this topic has been debated and discussed. During that time, there has been four shooting/stabbing incidents on or in the immediate vicinity of the campuses of the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University-College Station and two branches of the Lone Star College System. This special session could see this added in the “call”. Contact your legislator and let them know you and your family’s thoughts on this topic.

Supremes say militia isn’t the issue:

The Supreme Court ruled in D.C. v. Heller, that the Second Amendment “codified a pre-existing right” and that it “protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home” but also stated that “the right is not unlimited.

NOTE: It’s not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose”. They also clarified that many longstanding prohibitions and restrictions on firearms possession listed by the Court are consistent with the Second Amendment.

TEXAS PASSED BILLS

This following bills have been signed into law by Gov. Perry:

They want what?

HB 508 Intended to add clarification to existing CHL law, got twisted in to extending special privileges to lawmakers to carry in locations where ordinary CHLs cannot legally protect themselves. Lawmakers objected to the hypocrisy of the proposal and since the amendment could not be separated from the underlying bill at that stage of the process, the measure was voted down.

TX CITIES’ ACHILLES HEEL ON GUN LAWS

TX Firearms Preemption Statute states that a municipality may not adopt regulations relating to the transfer, private ownership, keeping, transportation, licensing, or registration of firearms, ammunition, or firearm supplies…