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Could Guns Be a Key Issue in the Texas Governor’s Race?
kfyo ^ | Sept 11, 2013 | Chad Hasty

Posted on 09/12/2013 7:00:00 AM PDT by 11th_VA

Texas State Senator Wendy Davis hasn’t announced whether or not she will run for Governor. Is she does though, you can bet that the 2nd Amendment will be one of the key issues of debate. According to the Texas Tribune, Davis did vote to allow student to leave guns in their cars while attending college, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t for restrictions.

The topic of gun restrictions will spice things up, too.

Davis, who became an instant political celebrity after filibustering a restrictive abortion bill in June, voted in favor of allowing students to carry guns in their vehicles on college campuses. She is a gun owner and has said she believes the Second Amendment guarantees Americans that right. In a lot of states, that would probably put her in the pro-gun camp.

But this is Texas, where licensed gun toters are allowed to bypass the metal detectors at the state Capitol and the sitting governor once shot a coyote to death while jogging. Ann Richards, the last Democratic governor, found out the hard way that getting between Texans and their guns can be politically dangerous. She opposed concealed handgun legislation and vetoed a referendum on it, handing George W. Bush a great campaign issue in 1994. Texans got a concealed carry law in Bush’s first session as governor.

Despite the risks, Davis, known for waging sometimes lonely political battles, has not been afraid to pick a fight over guns — in particular over gun shows.

As a member of the Fort Worth City Council, Davis tried to impose restrictions on guns shows held at municipal facilities. She wanted to ensure that people were buying from licensed dealers or otherwise faced background checks.

Under current law, nothing prevents people at gun shows from buying guns from other people attending them. Critics say evil-doers exploit this loophole by buying and selling firearms at gun shows, often in large quantities, that later show up at crime scenes. According to a recent reportin the Dallas Observer, for example, a Texas man went to numerous gun shows around the state to purchase dozens of assault rifles that authorities say were sold at a high profit to buyers who sent them to Mexico.

According to the report, one of his gun show stops was the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, which would have been regulated by the restrictions Davis unsuccessfully sought.

In a recent interview, Davis didn’t back down from her position on gun shows, though she acknowledged it’s not a politically popular one. She said that if she were governor, she would leave the issue to the will of the Legislature but would happily sign gun show regulations into law.

“I haven’t pursued it as a senator because I know it’s like spitting in the wind,” she said. “But I still believe it’s the right thing. And if I were governor and a bill came to my desk that provided for background checks at gun shows, I would sign that.”

That position puts her at odds with the front-running GOP candidate for governor, Attorney General Greg Abbott. When Travis County and the city of Austin were mulling gun show restrictions several months ago, Abbott warned on Twitter that they better start preparing for “a double-barreled lawsuit.”

We still wait to see if Wendy Davis decides to run for Governor, but I can’t trust her when it comes to standing up for the 2nd Amendment. Personally I’d like to hear more from the candidates about guns and Campus/Open Carry.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: banglist; elections; guncontrol; secondamendment
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The TV spot is already being made:

“I haven’t pursued it as a senator because I know it’s like spitting in the wind,” she said. “But I still believe it’s the right thing. And if I were governor and a bill came to my desk that provided for background checks at gun shows, I would sign that.”

1 posted on 09/12/2013 7:00:00 AM PDT by 11th_VA
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To: 11th_VA

Guns won’t be an issue because anyone who opposes the Bill Of Rights in Texas can’t get elected.


2 posted on 09/12/2013 7:04:49 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Why haven't we heard from the 30 Benghazi survivors?)
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To: 11th_VA
The only people that support Abortion Barbie are New York and Los Angeles liberals. Inside Texas, other than a couple liberal strongholds like Austin, she has little draw. She doesn't even get any traction with independents and moderate Latino voters, which a Democrat MUST win to have a chance in heavily Republican Texas. She will be lucky to get 30% in a general election, but if out of state liberals won't to waste millions on her campaign, more power to them....
3 posted on 09/12/2013 7:06:13 AM PDT by apillar
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To: 11th_VA

Wendy Davis is all for guns, provided they are used to perform abortions, with just a bit of collateral damage.


4 posted on 09/12/2013 7:06:19 AM PDT by calico_thompson
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To: Uncle Miltie

Greg Abbott will most likely be the next governor & he’s pro2A, so it probably won’t be a big issue.


5 posted on 09/12/2013 7:08:29 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( ==> sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: 11th_VA
I really hope that Wendy Davis runs for governor. Bozo the Clown could run against her, and Bozo would win in a landslide.

The chattering classes can fawn all over her, and it won't make a bit of difference. But, maybe -- just maybe -- if she goes down in flames they will finally get a clue.

6 posted on 09/12/2013 7:08:32 AM PDT by justlurking (tagline removed, as demanded by Admin Moderator)
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To: 11th_VA

So the brave, intrepid soul who hasn’t pursued it as a state legislator because it’s like spitting in the wind, plans to leave it to the will of the legislature if she becomes governor. Now that’s commitment!

OTOH, she does seem to have a better grasp of the duties of the executive branch than your average liberal.


7 posted on 09/12/2013 7:08:34 AM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: 11th_VA

Governor Perry may be able to make Texas attractive to some manufacturing companies from other states....but part of the new-comers contract from office to home should read...When Living in Texas, I/we will adopt the Ways of Texas. We Promise To Leave Our Anti-war, and Anti-Gun laws back where we came from.......or words to that affect. Perry overlooked this piece of human nature...Texans will have to be very vigilant of their churches, school boards, and new-to-Texas politicians.


8 posted on 09/12/2013 7:11:31 AM PDT by yoe ("They Come To America" order it now: http://www.theycometoamerica.com/buy-dvd/)
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To: 11th_VA

But but but,, Wendy from Rhode Island went to HARVARD! People are supposed to understand how she knows best!/


9 posted on 09/12/2013 7:14:00 AM PDT by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: Uncle Miltie

Um... Isn’t Sheila Jackson Lee from Texas?


10 posted on 09/12/2013 7:14:27 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (I will not comply.)
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To: 11th_VA

I’m sure she won’t get my vote if she decides to run-—LOL!


11 posted on 09/12/2013 7:14:47 AM PDT by basil (2ASisters.org)
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To: 11th_VA
And if I were governor and a bill came to my desk that provided for background checks at gun shows, I would sign that.”

You stupid cow, we already have background checks at gun shows.

12 posted on 09/12/2013 7:19:05 AM PDT by humblegunner
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To: 11th_VA

She’s the abortion rights hero, she’ll hang her hat on that.


13 posted on 09/12/2013 7:20:36 AM PDT by Farnsworth ("The people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness...This and no)
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To: 11th_VA

Let her eat cake, or whatever dog owners happen to have handy...


14 posted on 09/12/2013 7:21:21 AM PDT by donozark (Putin ain't scootin')
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To: 11th_VA

I have seen a Wendy Davis bumper sticker. It reads “We Want Wendy!” and is being peddled by Battleground Texas. Nuke her (politcally speaking) and bleed Battleground Texas dry.


15 posted on 09/12/2013 7:21:55 AM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: Dead Corpse

Texas has ghettos of course.


16 posted on 09/12/2013 7:24:00 AM PDT by Monty22002
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To: smokingfrog

He has an impressive war chest from the usual suspects in need of labor cheap and free-flowing. Abbott supports Comprehensive Immigration Reform and hopes DC will get’ur done so he doesn’t have to discuss it much. He can rally conservatives around the 2nd amendment.


17 posted on 09/12/2013 7:24:52 AM PDT by magna carta
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To: 11th_VA
If Davis makes guns an issue she will loss by a landslide, it would be nice to have a Texas governor in favor of open carry.
18 posted on 09/12/2013 7:29:44 AM PDT by 2001convSVT (Going Galt as fast as I can.)
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To: DesertRhino

“But but but,, Wendy from Rhode Island went to HARVARD! People are supposed to understand how she knows best!”

The rest of the country was too slow in recognizing the “infection” that was heading outward from New England starting fifty years ago or more. We should have prevented them from moving to new places after they had successfully filled their NE nests with their own $hit and needed to find places to start over. Now they’ve infected the nicest parts of our country (CA and FL) to the point where they are unrecognizable, and have taken a real stab at CO and a few other states. Texas had better amputate Austin or they will succumb sooner or later too. “Free $hit for all” is an easy sell to the idiots who pass for voters in this country today.


19 posted on 09/12/2013 7:29:46 AM PDT by vette6387
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To: Dead Corpse

There are pockets of liberal stupidity even in Texas.

Her particular pocket is somewhere in Houston.


20 posted on 09/12/2013 7:31:34 AM PDT by green iguana
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