Texas Senate Bill 664 - Very Bad Bill!

C

Charles L. Cotton

Inactive
This Senate Bill by Rodney Ellis was filed on 2/22/05 and has not yet been assigned to a committee. This is a very bad, very dangerous bill! It is grossly over-broad and the language used is far more dangerous than it appears on the surface.

In a rare response to a bill at this early stage, please contact your Senator and let him/her know that you strongly oppose this bill. Call, fax, send emails and if you're in Austin, visit their office and leave a message if they are out. There are only 31 Senators and we must let all of them know this bill must not pass.

At first glance, it appears that all Sen. Ellis is trying to do is keep guns of out of police stations, so the bill will get the support of people who routinely support our position on firearms. In truth, the bill is one of the more cunning traps I've seen in years, with a scope far broader than anyone other than it's author would imagine.

Please make those contacts now!

Regards,
Chas.

SB664 http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-...&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=00664&VERSION=1&TYPE=B
 
i agree with you

That is very clever.
"any portion" of a building used for or by law enforcement means that any shopping mall with a security booth, or a special parking place for peace officers, etc. How about the roads and highways? Police work on and use the whole thing!

You're right, I could see where that would be construed to prohibit ccw in ALL places!

I'm calling!
C-
 
Why am I not suprised? Rodney Ellis was a slimeball back when I was last living in Tx, in '99. It appears that he hasn't changed one little bitty bit.

Too bad I'm not registered to vote in Tx any more. At least I got the chance to vote against Shiela Jackson-Lee every couple of years, I don't get the chance to vote against her equally evil twin over here in Ga -- Cynthia McKinney -- I'm in the wrong district.
 
Yeah

BTW I am no longer in MD, but TX- Thank the Good Lord.

I know its not as effective, but I did send a message thru the nra-ila webpage to my senator.

every little bit helps
C-
 
Thanks guys, make those calls!

Senator Ellis wants everyone to think SB664 will merely prevent CHL’s from carrying guns into police stations. The true scope of this bill is far broader. It will render off-limits entire buildings if any portion of it is used “for” official business of a covered agency or peace officer, not merely buildings used “by” peace officers.

For example, if an independent DNA testing lab doing DNA testing for a covered agency has a single office in a Houston high-rise office building, the entire building will be off-limits to CHL’s. I am sure Sen. Ellis will deny this, but that is how the bill is written.

Another example of the sneaky language is the inclusion of part of the definition of “premises” in the definition of “Law Enforcement Facility.” This does two things. First, it does not exclude parking garages, which are buildings. Secondly, if the definition of “premises” is ever changed (i.e. clarified), then this bill/statute will not be effected since “Law Enforcement Facility” will be separately defined.

The bill also includes within its scope literally every peace officer/agency listed in over 35 sections of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. For example, it will include railroad cops, investigators for the Texas Board of Medical Examiners and even certain “security” personnel!

When you combine the broad definition of “Law Enforcement Facility” with the huge number of agencies covered, the result will be a staggering increase in the number of off-limit locations in Texas.

Senator Ellis has always vehemently opposed to the CHL statute and I’m sure it’s no accident that he is carrying this bill. In my opinion, this is the one of the most dangerous bills CHL’ers have faced in years. And one of the biggest dangers is the fact that it was crafted in such a way as to truly camouflage its true effect and many people may support it erroneously thinking it merely covers police stations an sheriff’s offices.

Regards,
Chas.
 
While I'm not in Texas, this bill and others crafted in the same fashion can appear in any state. Thank God for people like Charles L. Cotton who go through these trap-door bills with a fine-tooth comb to sort the wheat from the chaf. Everyone needs to be vigilant when these bills come along.

THANKS!!
 
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