Please Contact Your State Legislators Today!

By an overwhelming 133-13 vote, the Texas State House gave final approval this week to Senate Bill 378, the NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" self-defense bill sponsored by State Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) and carried by State Representative Joe Driver (R-Garland) in the House.  This important legislation offers protection from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits to victims who lawfully use force to protect themselves and their families.  SB 378 has been sent to Governor Rick Perry (R) for his expected signature.

Thanks to the hard work of our bill sponsors and all the calls and emails in support of this measure from NRA members, Texas became the first state to pass a "Castle Doctrine" bill this year!  Be sure to thank your State Representative if he or she supported SB 378 - a list of those House members who voted FOR the bill can be found at http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/hjrnl/80r/pdf/80RDAY40FINAL.PDF#page=5.

Also, NRA-backed legislation allowing employees who are Concealed Handgun Licensees to transport and store handguns in their private vehicles while parked on their employer's property, advanced out of both House and Senate committees this week.  House Bill 220 by State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) and House Bill 992 by State Representative Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs) were reported out of the House Law Enforcement Committee on Monday.  The bills now move to the House Calendars Committee that determines if and when bills will be considered on the House floor.  These bills face unprecedented opposition from big corporate interests and state agency lobbyists. 

Please contact the members of the House Law Enforcement Committee who supported these bills and thank them, and please also contact the members of the House Calendars Committee and urge them to set HB 220 and HB 992 for House floor action!

House Law Enforcement Committee Members Who Supported HB 220 and HB 992 - Thank You!

State Representative Joe Driver (Chair)

512-463-0574; joe.driver@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Thomas Latham (Vice-Chair)

512-463-0464; thomas.latham@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Stephen Frost

512-463-0692; stephen.frost@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Solomon Ortiz, Jr.

512-463-0484; solomon.ortiz@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Buddy West

512-463-0546; george.west@house.state.tx.us

House Calendars Committee Members - Ask Them To Please Set HB 220 and HB 992 for House Floor Consideration!

State Representative Beverly Woolley (Chair)

512-463-0696; beverly.woolley@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Norma Chavez (Vice-Chair)

512-463-0622; norma.chavez@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Dan Branch

512-463-0367; dan.branch@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Myra Crownover

512-463-0582; myra.crownover@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Gary Elkins

512-463-0722; gary.elkins@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Ryan Guillen

512-463-0416; ryan.guillen@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton

512-463-0412; mike.hamilton@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Larry Taylor

512-463-0729; larry.taylor@house.state.tx.us

State Representative Corbin Van Arsdale

512-463-0661; corbin.van_arsdale@house.state.tx.us

Finally, Senate Bill 534, which is sponsored by State Senator Glenn Hegar (R-Katy), and is similar to HB 992, was approved by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday.  The bill now moves to the full Senate, but 21 out of 31 Senators must agree to suspend the regular order of business and bring the bill to the floor for consideration - that's a 2/3 vote!  As we said before, industry lobbyists will be pulling out all the stops to prevent this bill from coming to the full Senate for a vote. 

Please contact the members of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee who were present and who supported SB 534 and thank them.  Then, please contact your State Senators and urge them to support SB 534.

Senate Criminal Justice Committee Members Who Supported SB 534 - Thank You!

(Note: Pro-Gun Senators John Carona and Bob Deuell were presenting legislation in other committees when the vote was taken)

State Senator John Whitmire (Chair)

512-463-0115; john.whitmire@senate.state.tx.us

State Senator Kel Seliger

512-463-0131; kel.seliger@senate.state.tx.us

State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa

512-463-0120; juan.hinojosa@senate.state.tx.us

State Senator Glenn Hegar (the sponsor of HB 534)

512-463-0118; glenn.hegar@senate.state.tx.us

State Senator Contact Information - Urge Them To Support SB 534!

http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Members.htm

To find further contact information or help identifying your legislators
please use the "Write Your Representative" feature found at www.NRAILA.org.