Free Republic

Atkinson’s letter comes after Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill that made it legal to carry a firearm openly in Texas. The law, which gives private property owners the right to prohibit open carry, was hailed as a victory for gun rights advocates who have staged high-profile rallies at the Alamo and Texas Capitol over the past couple of years. Some even brought military-style assault rifles into businesses as part of their demonstrations, prompting the Chipotle restaurant chain to discourage firearms on their premises.

...Southwestern Bell has re-upped its $$ sponsorship of the annual Texas-Oklahoma showdown in Dallas. And it has changed the name slightly of what used to be the SBC Red River Shootout. For the next three years, the game will be called the SBC Red River Rivalry.

<p>U.S. cities and businesses have been coming up with a variety of ways to deal with homelessness – and advocates for the homeless apparently don't like any of them.</p> <p>Work for food, panhandler registration, homes at sea. ... Officials and business reps say these solutions help the homeless – and get them out of the public's way. But advocates for the homeless say these so-called "creative" solutions miss the point about homelessness: that it is an economic and political problem.</p>