Free Republic

The Texas Senate has approved allowing concealed carry permit holders to have guns in their locked cars parked outside schools... It is aimed at teachers who have licenses to carry concealed handguns and want to keep guns in their cars while at work. State law bans guns on school grounds.

Maybe the Texas Legislature really has gone to the dogs. Or maybe state lawmakers are just looking out for their furry friends. Dozens of bills protecting animals — measures that range from getting them out of locked hot cars to preventing bestiality — are weaving through the Texas Capitol in a race to the governor’s desk before the session ends May 29.

Parents seeking to adopt children in Texas could soon be rejected by state-funded or private agencies with religious objections to them being Jewish, Muslim, gay, single, or interfaith couples, under a proposal in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Five other states have passed similar laws protecting faith-based adoption organizations that refuse to place children with gay parents or other households on religious grounds — but Texas’ rule would extend to state-funded agencies. Only South Dakota’s is similarly sweepingly. […] Republican sponsors of Texas’ bill say it is designed to support the religious freedom of adoption agencies and foster care providers. Many of...

The fired Balch Springs police officer who shot and killed a 15-year-old in a car leaving a party has been charged with murder, law enforcement officials confirmed to FOX4. The murder warrant for Roy Oliver was signed Friday afternoon by a Dallas judge. Oliver turned himself in late Friday evening.

Federal issues tend to suck up the news cycle, thus, readers likely know more about federal debt than state and local debt, even though state and local debt drag the economy down at least as effectively. This is all the more ironic because local debt should be easier to control. In theory, local voters should have more knowledge and could have more say in state and local budgets.Alas, the ratings draw to national news wins. Local issues should get most of our attention but do not. In the case of public debt, politicians are able to make promises without...

A concealed carry holder is being heralded as a hero by Arlington police for preventing mass murder by killing an "incoherent" gunman at a sports bar Wednesday evening. Before he was shot about 6:15 p.m., the gunman killed the manager of Zona Caliente in the 6500 block of South Cooper Street, police spokesman Christopher Cook said.

women state they’ve been grabbed, groped or even spanked before the suspect runs away on foot. Some said the man would do it while the women were walking with someone, their dogs or even their children. “Maybe not have headphones on or looking at a phone, know who’s behind you, who’s around you. Just be safe,” said Remeza. If charged and convicted of sexual assault, the suspect could be looking at jail time and $10,000.

House Bill 1911 passed with a vote of 6-2 in the House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety, allowing for the carry of handguns without a permit. Often called “Constitutional carry”, permitless carry is one of the eight priorities outlined by the Republican Party of Texas and is currently legal in fourteen states... HB 1911 will now move to the Calendars Committee where it will await scheduling for debate on the floor of the Texas House. Text of the legislation along with a record of actions taken can be found at www.capitol.state.tx.us.

<p>The man reported to police as an “active shooter” was 48-year-old James Jones. He allegedly walked into Zona Caliente, began arguing with the manager — 37-year-old Cesar Perez — and then pulled out a gun and killed Perez. At that moment a concealed carry permit holder responded by pulling his own gun and killing Jones.</p>

The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature passed a Convention of States Resolution, becoming the eleventh. Article V of the U.S. Constitution allows for a Convention of States to restrict the power of the federal government. Texas State Representative Rick Miller (R-Sugar Land), one of the authors of the measure, told Breitbart Texas there were 12 other states in the country waiting to see what Texas was going to do. He says North Carolina is poised to be the next state to pass a resolution. Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted after the House vote, “BOOM. Texas has now passed a Convention of States...

In a 20-11 party line vote, Republican state senators adopted the House version of a bill that prescribes tough penalties for local officials who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Senate Bill 4 also gives police the power to inquire about the immigration status of anyone they detain or arrest, including the subjects of traffic stops.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday signed a law prohibiting state agencies from contracting with companies that boycott Israel, The Forward reports. “You can always count on Texas,” Abbott said at the signing ceremony at the Austin Jewish Community Center, adding, “Any anti-Israel policy is an anti-Texas policy.” The law, known as HB 89, charges the Texas Comptroller’s Office with making a list of “all companies that boycott Israel” and provide the list to state agencies. Those agencies will then be barred from contracting with those companies. State pension funds are also prohibited from being invested in firms involved in...

The FBI had an open investigation on the leader of a black nationalist group who shot a Dallas paramedic on Monday and killed another man. Derick Lamont Brown was under investigation for his ties to the New Black Panther Party and an associated group, the Huey P. Newton Gun Club, NBC DFW reports. Dallas police say Brown killed his 67-year-old roommate and shot a neighbor Monday morning. He shot a paramedic responding to the scene of the shooting and then opened fire on police as they arrived. A police robot found Brown and his roommate dead inside their home.

North Lake College was placed on lockdown just before noon Wednesday after reports of a shooter on the Irving campus. The college sent out its first alert at 11:43 a.m., and Irving police later confirmed that shots had been fired at the school in the 5001 N. MacArthur Blvd. Those on campus were urged to go to the nearest room and take shelter. Irving police said people should avoid the area. [-- end excerpt --]

BALCH SPRINGS -- The officer who shot and killed 15-year-old Jordan Edwards has been fired. In a news conference, Balch Springs Police Chief Jonathan Haber said the officer, Roy Oliver, violated department policies, but won't elaborate which policies. Oliver has been with the department since 2011. He has 10 days to appeal. Jordan Edwards was killed in front of his brother as they were leaving a party over the weekend. Neighbors said a large house party was underway at the time. Balch Springs police said officers responded to a report of intoxicated teenagers on a residential street in the 12300...

Authorities say the man suspected of fatally stabbing one student and wounding three others at the University of Texas was suffering from mental health troubles. University Police Chief David Carter says that 21-year-old Kendrex J. White was recently involuntarily committed in another city. Carter says the suspect was "obviously" suffering from some kind of mental difficulties. He did not elaborate.White, who was enrolled at the Austin campus, was described by former classmates as intelligent and easygoing and was active in a student group for black professionals. Witnesses described a sudden and seemingly random assault on strangers the middle of the...

Anti-African-American flyers containing a racist slogan and imagery have been found at the University of Texas at Austin, according to reports on social media Tuesday. The flyers depict a racist caricature of a black man holding a knife and bear the words “Around blacks ... never relax.” UT student Kim Nguyen said she found a flyer on an yellow emergency call machine near the Littlefield Fountain.

Editor’s Note: A wave of vandalism has broken out at the University of Texas in Austin. Various frats have been vandalized with the words “racist” and “rapist” among other slogans. One of the frats targeted held a controversial “border patrol” party in 2015 which garnished some media attention. A study published in March of 2017 found that 15% of undergraduate women on UT campus reported being raped. Actual statistics are believed to be much higher. The following anonymous transmission was sent to IGD from a group of people claiming to take credit for the vandalism and in this essay they...

Austin police found the body of a man believed to be in his 20s inside of a West Campus apartment Monday evening, Austin-Travis County EMS officials confirmed Tuesday morning. Paramedics were called to 2700 block of Nueces Street around 8:15 p.m. and declared the man dead around 8:30 p.m., EMS Capt. Rick Rutledge said. The man appeared to be too far gone to be resuscitate, Rutledge said. Rutledge had no further details on the case. Austin police also did not provide additional details or say whether this was an isolated incident.

<p>A standoff with a gunman who shot a neighbor and critically wounded a Dallas firefighter-paramedic who came to his rescue ended Monday afternoon when a police robot entered an Old East Dallas home to find the shooter and a second victim dead. Derick Lamont Brown from an October 2016 mugshot. Derick Lamont Brown from an October 2016 mugshot.</p>