Late Thursday night, the House approved House Bill 1815 by State Representative Carl Isett (R-84), NRA-backed legislation to clarify once and for all that law-abiding Texans have the right to transport handguns for personal protection in their private vehicles without needing a Concealed Handgun License. The bill now moves to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee for consideration. Please contact the committee members and urge them to support HB 1815.
HB 1815 is not to be confused with Senate Bill 534, by State Senator Glenn Hegar (R-18), another NRA-supported bill that would allow employees who are CHLs to transport and store handguns in their locked motor vehicles while parked on their employers' property. SB 534 would ensure that CHLs have the ability to protect themselves during their commute to and from work each day. SB 534 has been pending in the House Calendars committee for several weeks and has still not been set for a vote by the full House. Industry lobbyists and business groups are pulling out all the stops to defeat the measure this session. Here's what you need to do to help pass SB 534:
* Call and email House Speaker Tom Craddick's (R-82) office, thank him for his past support of Texas' concealed carry law, and urge him to allow SB 534 to come to the full House for a vote.
* Call and email State Representative Beverly Woolley (R-136), chair of the House Calendars Committee, thank her for her past support of Texas' concealed carry law, and urge her to allow SB 534 to come to the full House for a vote.
* Call and email your State Representative and urge him or her to ask Speaker Craddick and Representative Woolley to set SB 534 for a House floor vote this session.
Contact information for your state lawmakers can be found at http://www.house.state.tx.us/.