-- Texas State Rifle Association Email ---
Texas State Rifle Association..the NRA State affiliate with over 37,000
members in Texas...September 21, 1999.
Bush, Cornyn Announce Texas Exile
Governor grants $1.6 million to prosecute criminals who use guns
Austin:- Governor George W. Bush today announced a grant to Texas Attorney
General John Cornyn for $1.6 million to kick off Texas Exile. From this
grant, $1.28 million will fund eight prosecutors to crack down on criminals
who use guns, and $360,000 will fund a public awareness campaign.
"The best way to protect our citizens is to vigorously enforce the tough laws
we have on the books. This program gives law enforcement the opportunity to
combat gun violence by enforcing the toughest laws on the books--whether
federal or state," said Governor George W. Bush.
"Texas Exile sends a clear message to convicted felons and rug dealers. If
you carry a weapon in Texas, you'll do hard time in federal or state prison,"
said Attorney General John Cornyn. "I want to thank Governor Bush, federal
and state prosecutors and local law enforcement for their participation in
this important effort," added Cornyn.
Texas Exile is based on Project Exile a program first developed in Richmond,
Virginia to reduce gun crime. In 1997, Richmond had the second highest
murder rate in the nation. To make their streets safe again, law enforcement
began in intense effort to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
When local law enforcement caught a criminal using a weapon while committing
a crime, they would refer the criminal to specialized prosecutors. These
prosecutors used a federal gun statute to see the longest possible sentence
for these criminals. The effect was not only keeping criminals off the
street, but also keeping them in jail longer.
By taking advantage of these same stiff federal sentencing guidelines, any
convicted felon or drug trafficker caught with a gun will be sentenced to
five years in federal prison. These sentences increase if the felon was
involved in any criminal activity when arrested. Habitual violent offenders
are essentially exiled from city streets, and potential offenders are
discouraged by the threat of harsh prison terms.
Since the beginning of the program in Richmond, over 300 criminals have been
convicted and removed from the streets. The murder rate has dropped by 33
percent and the rate of violent crime has decreased by almost 50 percent.
All four Assistant U. S. Attorneys in Texas are participating along with
several urban District Attorneys to create a successful Texas Exile based
upon the Richmond model.
Texas Exile also has another component--a public awareness campaign targeted
at criminals. The attorney General plans to take the slogan "Gun Crime Means
Hard Time" to the streets through billboards, posters on public transit and
newspaper ads. This slogan was developed by the City of Ft. Worth which is
on the forefront of this initiative. The public awareness campaign tells
criminals that if they commit a crime with a gun, they will serve at least
five years in jail. The public awareness campaign will also have a toll-free
hotline for tips on illegal guns.
The two-year Texas Exile grant comes from the Governor's Criminal Justice
Division. Texas Exile will be evaluated after two years, and if successful,
a request may be made to the legislature to fund the program in the future.
The public awareness campaign grant is for one year, and if successful,
future efforts may be made to secure funding through the private sector.
#####
from Texas Department of Public Safety public information office
512-424-2080
September 15, 1999
Texas, Arizona Establish Concealed Handgun License Reciprocity
Arizonan with concealed handgun licenses issued by their home state now can
legally carry concealed handguns in Texas, and vice versa.
Col. Dudley M. Thomas, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety,
signed a reciprocity agreement with the State of Arizona through which
licensees can legally cross the state line with their concealed handguns.
"This agreement will allow licensed Texans to travel freely in the state of
Arizona while enjoying the same or similar privileges their licenses give
them at home," Thomas said.
This reciprocity agreement-- the fourth Texas has reached with another state
-- was made possible by 1997 changes to the state's concealed handgun law.
Texas also has reciprocity agreements with Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
When the law first was passed in 1995, reciprocity would have been allowed
only with states whose standards for receiving a license was at least as
stringent as Texas'. Since Texas' law requires more extensive training and
background checks than most others, no reciprocity agreements were negotiated.
However, the Texas Legislature revised the law in 1997, making reciprocity
agreements possible as long as other states' laws meet the federal
requirements for purchasing a handgun.
"We are working with several other states--especially our close neighbors--to
establish more reciprocity agreements," Thomas said. "But Texans should
remember that weapons laws vary from state to state."
Before traveling, licensed holders should educate themselves about laws in
other states that govern where and when they can legally carry their
concealed handguns.
Information available at: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_information/pr091599.htm
Please visit the Texas State Rifle Association website: http://www.tsra.com/
Joe's Second Amendment Message Board
Texas State Rifle Association..the NRA State affiliate with over 37,000
members in Texas...September 21, 1999.
Bush, Cornyn Announce Texas Exile
Governor grants $1.6 million to prosecute criminals who use guns
Austin:- Governor George W. Bush today announced a grant to Texas Attorney
General John Cornyn for $1.6 million to kick off Texas Exile. From this
grant, $1.28 million will fund eight prosecutors to crack down on criminals
who use guns, and $360,000 will fund a public awareness campaign.
"The best way to protect our citizens is to vigorously enforce the tough laws
we have on the books. This program gives law enforcement the opportunity to
combat gun violence by enforcing the toughest laws on the books--whether
federal or state," said Governor George W. Bush.
"Texas Exile sends a clear message to convicted felons and rug dealers. If
you carry a weapon in Texas, you'll do hard time in federal or state prison,"
said Attorney General John Cornyn. "I want to thank Governor Bush, federal
and state prosecutors and local law enforcement for their participation in
this important effort," added Cornyn.
Texas Exile is based on Project Exile a program first developed in Richmond,
Virginia to reduce gun crime. In 1997, Richmond had the second highest
murder rate in the nation. To make their streets safe again, law enforcement
began in intense effort to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
When local law enforcement caught a criminal using a weapon while committing
a crime, they would refer the criminal to specialized prosecutors. These
prosecutors used a federal gun statute to see the longest possible sentence
for these criminals. The effect was not only keeping criminals off the
street, but also keeping them in jail longer.
By taking advantage of these same stiff federal sentencing guidelines, any
convicted felon or drug trafficker caught with a gun will be sentenced to
five years in federal prison. These sentences increase if the felon was
involved in any criminal activity when arrested. Habitual violent offenders
are essentially exiled from city streets, and potential offenders are
discouraged by the threat of harsh prison terms.
Since the beginning of the program in Richmond, over 300 criminals have been
convicted and removed from the streets. The murder rate has dropped by 33
percent and the rate of violent crime has decreased by almost 50 percent.
All four Assistant U. S. Attorneys in Texas are participating along with
several urban District Attorneys to create a successful Texas Exile based
upon the Richmond model.
Texas Exile also has another component--a public awareness campaign targeted
at criminals. The attorney General plans to take the slogan "Gun Crime Means
Hard Time" to the streets through billboards, posters on public transit and
newspaper ads. This slogan was developed by the City of Ft. Worth which is
on the forefront of this initiative. The public awareness campaign tells
criminals that if they commit a crime with a gun, they will serve at least
five years in jail. The public awareness campaign will also have a toll-free
hotline for tips on illegal guns.
The two-year Texas Exile grant comes from the Governor's Criminal Justice
Division. Texas Exile will be evaluated after two years, and if successful,
a request may be made to the legislature to fund the program in the future.
The public awareness campaign grant is for one year, and if successful,
future efforts may be made to secure funding through the private sector.
#####
from Texas Department of Public Safety public information office
512-424-2080
September 15, 1999
Texas, Arizona Establish Concealed Handgun License Reciprocity
Arizonan with concealed handgun licenses issued by their home state now can
legally carry concealed handguns in Texas, and vice versa.
Col. Dudley M. Thomas, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety,
signed a reciprocity agreement with the State of Arizona through which
licensees can legally cross the state line with their concealed handguns.
"This agreement will allow licensed Texans to travel freely in the state of
Arizona while enjoying the same or similar privileges their licenses give
them at home," Thomas said.
This reciprocity agreement-- the fourth Texas has reached with another state
-- was made possible by 1997 changes to the state's concealed handgun law.
Texas also has reciprocity agreements with Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
When the law first was passed in 1995, reciprocity would have been allowed
only with states whose standards for receiving a license was at least as
stringent as Texas'. Since Texas' law requires more extensive training and
background checks than most others, no reciprocity agreements were negotiated.
However, the Texas Legislature revised the law in 1997, making reciprocity
agreements possible as long as other states' laws meet the federal
requirements for purchasing a handgun.
"We are working with several other states--especially our close neighbors--to
establish more reciprocity agreements," Thomas said. "But Texans should
remember that weapons laws vary from state to state."
Before traveling, licensed holders should educate themselves about laws in
other states that govern where and when they can legally carry their
concealed handguns.
Information available at: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_information/pr091599.htm
Please visit the Texas State Rifle Association website: http://www.tsra.com/
Joe's Second Amendment Message Board
