Texas Republican Party Supports Restoring Full Right to Bear Arms

Gun Watch ^ | 17 November, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Texans marching in support of the right to keep and bear arms

Some people may not know that the Texas revolution for independence against dictatorial rule, like the American revolution, started with an attempt to disarm the citizens.  It is not surprising that when Texas became a state, they had written the right to to keep and bear arms into their constitution.

Prior to the losing the Civil War, or if you prefer, the War Between the States, Texas had one of the strongest right to keep and bear arms protections in its 1845 constitution.  It was:

 "Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defence of himself and the State."

Texas sided with the Confederacy in the War between the States, or Civil War, if you prefer.  They lost, and the carpetbagger government created a new Texas Constitution in 1869.    That Constitution gutted the right to keep and bear arms.

 "Every person shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the state, under such regulations as the legislature may prescribe."

 In 1872  and 1873, Texas voted out the carpetbagger government.  The Governor begged the federal government for troops to keep him in power, but none were sent.  He fled the governor's mansion as an impromptu militia of armed citizens advanced on it.

The post reconstruction Texas approved of a new Constitution in 1876.  It had stronger protection of the right to keep and bear arms, but left in a crucial loophole for the legislature.  It provided that the legislature could regulate the wearing of arms with respect to fighting crime.

"Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defence of himself or the State; but the Legislature shall have power by law to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime."

The legislature did not repeal the reconstruction ban on the carrying of arms, and the courts refused to invalidate the law under the 1876 Constitution.   The law was widely used to disarm former slaves and others out of favor with the local authorities.   Democrats would control Texas for over a century.


Republicans have controlled the state since 1999.  They have reformed Texas' restrictive gun laws with many incremental improvements.   Now the Republican Party is calling for fully restoring the constitutional protections lost in 1869 and 1876.  Here is the resolution, from the Texas Republican Party Platform, page 40 (pdf):

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF PRIORITIZING CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY LEGISLATION 

We call upon the 84th Texas Legislature to propose to the people of Texas a constitutional amendment to strike “; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime” from Article I, Section 23 of the Texas Constitution. Further, we request the State Party Chair and the State Republican Executive Committee consider adoption of such an amendment and other legislation necessary to remove restrictions on Texans' right to own and bear arms a legislative priority for the Republican Party of Texas for the 2015 legislative session and to utilize reasonable Party resources necessary to promote and support their passage.

The platform was released in June, 2014.  This is a strong statement of support for the right to keep and bear arms in Texas.  Notably, several nearby states have been on the same path.   Louisiana strengthened their constitutional protections in 2012.   Oklahoma narrowly missed putting a stronger protection of the right to keep and bear arms on the ballot this year; it died in legislative maneuvers after getting strong support.  Missouri passed a strengthened amendment in 2014, and Alabama did the same.   These amendments to strengthen the right to keep and bear arms passed by overwhelming majorities of the electorate.  

Governor elect Greg Abbott has said that he will sign constitutional carry legislation if it reaches his desk.

Texas Republicans now have strong majorities in both houses and control all the statewide offices.   The state Senate has 20 Republicans to 11 Democrats.  The State House has 98 Republicans and 52 Democrats.   To put a constitutional amendment on the ballot, a joint resolution of both houses of the Texas legislature is required.   It needs 100 votes in the House, and 21 votes in the Senate.   If all Republicans vote for this measure, it would require them to convince one Democrat state Senator, and two Democrat state Representatives.

That does not sound like an impossible task.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.    Link to Gun Watch

[wardaddy]

Dam

[itsahoot]

Do you see any FIGHT EMERGING FROM THIS MAN???

He is not heartless. :)

[GeronL]

did any other Texans get the anti-Strauss booklet from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility today?

[JRandomFreeper]

No, but I don't really trust 'Texans for Fiscal Responsibility'. They smack of the same BS that was tried on behalf of Dewhurst.

Straus has to go because he's a liberal Republican, but I don't trust that group at all.

/johnny

[GeronL]

OK, I am not familiar with them but on this issue they seem 100% right

It contains a long list of stuff that Strauss and his peeps delayed and stopped in the legislature. Also quotes from several leftists/orgs praising Strauss.

Planned Parenthood thanked him for his “tireless effort”

in 2007 he got a 100% rating from NARAL - (oddly enough they admit in 2007 their own org gave him a 71%.)

it quotes leftwing Joaquin Castro saying he can’t think of a better person to lead us... from January of 2009

....................

Is Texans for Fiscal Responsibility trying to change their name... because they are promoting a website called empowertexans.com??

[JRandomFreeper]

The President of 'Texans for Fiscal Responsibility' is Austin journalist Michael Sullivan, who used to be a staffer for Ron Paul.

I knew something reeked about that organization.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

'Texans for Fiscal Responsibility' is a spin off of 'Empower Texans'. As I said, it is run by Paulbot Michael Sullivan.

Even if they get the issue right on Straus, I don't trust them at all.

/johnny

[Jane Long]

I’ve never heard of them, either, but I found this when I searched for ‘Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’...

Empower Texans Foundation Board of Directors
Tim Dunn, Chairman
Jeff Sandefer
Joel Trammell
Lee Dunn
Luke Dunn
Michael Quinn Sullivan

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Board of Directors
Tim Dunn, Chairman
Lee Dunn
Luke Dunn
Michael Quinn Sullivan

Empower Texans PAC
Michael Quinn Sullivan, Treasurer

http://www.empowertexans.com/about/

---

Anyone familiar with any of the above?

[JRandomFreeper]

Sullivan used to be a staffer for Ron Paul. I don't need to know much more.

/johnny

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

I live in Maine and I agree, “THAT GUY ROCKS!”

The guy in question is Paul LePage, our TEA Party governor, and he doesn’t take crap from anyone.

Within days of being sworn in as governor in January 2011, he ended Maine’s status as a sanctuary state. He also cut off all welfare to illegal aliens. Gov. LePage was re-elected on November 4th.

So, Greg Abbott is weak on illegal immigration? Is that true?

[magna carta]

he will defend but not a LePage bone in his body.
To me issuing a statement re OPEN CARRY as Gov. Elect of a Border State that has been pelted relentlessly with IA’s is BIZARRE beyond words.
Where is his promise to pass a sanctuary bill, E-Verify...anything?
He serves the construction industry just like Perry did.

[JRandomFreeper]

That's the lie being presented. Dewhurst tried floating that rumor, too, and Dewhurst got booted from Texas Politics.

Lots of lying liars and bareknuckle politics in Texas State politics. You need a good BS detector.

/johnny

[Jane Long]

So, Greg Abbott is weak on illegal immigration? Is that true?

---

Time will tell.

*******

....Paul LePage, our TEA Party governor, and he doesn’t take crap from anyone.

Within days of being sworn in as governor in January 2011, he ended Maine’s status as a sanctuary state. He also cut off all welfare to illegal aliens. Gov. LePage was re-elected on November 4th.

---

By the way...your Gov is doing EXACTLY what should be done by EVERY Republican Governor.

[Jane Long]

Thanks....I thought you might know ;-)

[JRandomFreeper]

You sound like you swallowed the Dewhurst book on sliming conservatives.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

Its hard keeping up with the lying liars and dirtbags coming out of Texas politics these days.

/johnny

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

Oh, I have a good BS detector. That’s why I asked the question.

Viewing Texas from afar, I always perceived your Govenor-Elect as a stand-up guy and a strong conservative. I always sensed that he was the kind of guy who would defend the borders of The Lone Star State come hell or high water.

Would you Texans mind sharing your senator with the rest of the country in 2016? (And I’m NOT talking about Cornyn)!

[magna carta]

He is an elite...not a conservative.
I block walked for Abbott I’m not stupid but I am watching him closely on this issue.
He gives an open carry cheer up the base in the midst of an invasion...what are you smoking?
The Governor of Maine is a CONSERVATIVE...ABBOTT is a FAKER

[JRandomFreeper]

Abbott has filed over 30 lawsuits against the Feds as AG. He's already been quietly working to protect Texas.

Some liars keep trying to recirculate the Dewhurst lies.

I'd be fine with Cruz as President. He meets my criteria to vote for. ;)

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

Then haul ass to Maine.

You don't have a clue what Abbott will do. And just because some media picked up the story about open carry doesn't mean he's been doing nothing about immigration.

It does prove that you have very limited knowledge of Texas politics.

Sell your defeatist BS elsewhere, troll.

/johnny