From the InBox:
Dear Texas Republican,
I’m sure you know the importance of protecting gun rights in Texas. I don’t even have to tell you that the 2nd Amendment is the one that preserves all other rights. We are our own first responders, and safeguarding our God-given right to own and carry firearms is not only critical to our everyday safety but is also the foundation of protecting liberty. As a Republican, you realize this.
What you may not realize is that Texas stands significantly behind other states on firearms freedom. While well over half of the other states have been enjoying forms of unlicensed carry for years now, it was only in 2015 that it became legal to carry a handgun openly in Texas. Even so, a license is still required.
I’m determined to work with our Texas legislature to change all of that. Our convention delegates in both 2014 and 2016 have asked that Constitutional Carry be a legislative priority, so that anyone who owns a handgun may carry it, open or concealed, no permit required.
We, the delegates of the 2016 Republican Party of Texas State Convention, call upon the 85th Texas Legislature to pass constitutional carry while maintaining licensing as optional for reciprocity purposes. Delegate vote at convention: Yes: 6,295. No: 724.9. (89.67{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} approval rate) (Read more about constitutional carry)
Will you help us make this legislative priority a reality?
This weekend I will be at the Gun Rights Policy Conference in North Texas to promote Constitutional Carry on behalf of the Republican Party of Texas and on behalf of the grassroots who have worked so diligently on this vital issue. (Come see me there!) I promise you that RPT will continue to work to advance constitutional carry as long as it is our delegates’ priority, until we see it recognized in Texas.
Help us make constitutional carry a reality. Donate $15 today and receive one of these complimentary bumper stickers that you can use to show your support for this important legislative priority.
Thank you for your support on this vital issue. As we continue to work together with the Texas Legislature, I am confident that we will see Constitutional Carry recognized in Texas.
Rachel Malone
Operations Director
Republican Party of TexasP.S. I am committed to working for constitutional carry in Texas so that anyone who owns a handgun may carry it, open or concealed, no permit required. Will you help me make this a reality? Please donate $15 today — you’ll support my work and receive a complimentary bumper sticker!
Paid for by the Republican Party of Texas and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. www.Texasgop.org
(no emphasis added)
And they are serious. Anyone. Doesn’t matter if you are a convicted, escaped murderer – you own a gun, you carry it. Because, you know, it’s your ‘right’. If you don’t believe me, just read the above.
No, no, no, don’t tell me that the gun the convicted, escaped murderer is carrying is exempted. Nope. Read again. You own it, you carry it, concealed, open, whatever. No restrictions because, 2nd Amendment.
Oh, and BTW, this is a ‘God-given right’. Huh. I’m no theologian but I did stay at a Holiday Inn a while back. And somehow I missed that passage in the Gideon Bible that was in the nightstand. Although I did read something about a slingshot.
Good grief, this is what the RPT has become?
Ironically, I received a call a few days ago saying that the RPT was in financial trouble now that James Dickey was the Chair. I wouldn’t have a clue. I don’t know Mr. Dickey and I think the RPT is irrelevant.
But to send out a hyperventilating email urging me to give them $15 to make sure that anyone that owns a gun (notice that they didn’t bother to talk about ‘legally’ owning a gun) is allowed to carry it openly (or hidden) in public without any sort of government intervention whatsoever makes me think that perhaps the rumors are true.
If so, Greg Abbott better cough up some of that campaign fortune and help them out. Because I surely won’t.
Constitutional Carry? Fine for me, I guess. Lord knows I own too many guns and have a fairly nice stockpile of ammo. But what about that other dude? You know, the ‘other’ dude. Sorry, Republican Party of Texas, I’m not buying (or giving) this one.