BASTARD UNION OF THE NRA AND ACLU WIN VICTORY FOR TEXAS GUN OWNERS

Commentary by Bill Pickle

On September 1, 2007 House Bill 1815 went into effect without much fanfare. The bill is an amendment to Texas’ “traveling rule” in regards to concealed handguns. House Bill 1815, which was supported by both the National Rifle Association and the Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union clears up the 2005 law that allows Texas residents to carry a concealed weapon in their privately owned vehicles without a concealed carry permit. This is a big step toward liberty for Texas gun owners.

Texas has a long tradition of being able to posses a gun while traveling but what traveling meant has not always been clearly defined. In most cases the burden of proof was on the driver of the vehicle. The State legislature tried to clear things up in 1997 by removing unlicensed carrying of a weapon as an offense while traveling but what exactly was considered traveling was still vague. Most people believe the urban legend that you had to be traveling across two or more counties to be considered traveling. This was never the case.

Lawmakers sought to remove the haziness in 2005 by stating that anyone in a private vehicle who was not engaged in criminal activity or otherwise barred from possessing a firearm was “presumed to be traveling,” and thus exempt from restrictions on concealed handguns. However, District Attorneys and police officers continued to make arrests because the burden was still on the driver to prove that he was traveling. There was no presumption of innocence for Texas gun owners.

Hopefully House Bill 1815 will be the final word. The new bill states that a person cannot be charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon (UCW) in their personal vehicle unless the hand gun is in plain view, the person is engaged in criminal activity other than traffic violations, the person is legally not allowed to own a weapon, or the person's name is in the state of Texas' criminal street gang database.

District attorneys can no longer pickup criminals for small offenses and then add a gun charge to force a quick plea bargain. Average citizens who want to protect themselves and their families will no longer be treated like hardened criminals. It is worth letting a few criminals go to protect the rights of honest citizens.


http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB01815I.htm


http://www.reason.com/blog/show/119544.html

State Legislater Indicted in Dallas Public Curruption Case

Here is a story I found that details a federal investigation of bribery, extortion, and kickbacks involving state Rep. Terri Hodge and numerous past and present Dallas city officials. Federal prosecutors claim that Hodge, D-Dallas, used her office to clear red tape for a Dallas area development company. She has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, five counts of fraud and false statements in connection with federal income tax returns, and eight counts of bribery. She turned down a plea deal and keep her seat until the case is decided.

Along with state Rep. Terri Hodge, the 31-count main indictment named real estate developer Brian L. Potashnik, his wife, Cheryl L. Potashnik, and former City Council Member and one-time mayoral candidate Donald W. Hill and his wife, Sheila D. Farrington.

It is a decent article but fails to capture the intrigue and drama that often surrounds these types of cases. The article is informative but boring. It was like reading the Cliff Notes for The Old Man and The Sea. The article lists the plot, the characters, and the analysis but ultimately has no soul. The case involves 14 people but we don’t get a comprehensive story. What kind of evidence do we have against these people? The article reads more like an outline. It is like the 30 second blurbs you see on CNN.

I also think the article spends too much time on information that I believe is designed to make readers sympathize with Terri Hodge. Why does the reader need to know that Rep. Hodge is a retired single mother? The fact that she has been an outspoken defender of prisoner’s rights is ironic but it does nothing to address the issue. A more conspiratorial person might suggest that the writer is playing the race card. I find it interesting that the article ends with this quote from activist Joan Covici, "If these details are correct, this must be what it takes to get first-class, low-cost housing in Dallas — a city that has never been friendly to minorities — especially blacks and Hispanics. It is almost like the article is suggesting that Rep. Hodge is being brought up on charges because she is black.

You can read the article by following the link below.


http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/10/02/1002dallas.html