TEXAS

From the NRA:

This week, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee reported out HB 225 by Representative Joe Driver (R-Garland) and Senator Bob Deuell (R-Greenville). HB 225 extends the term of a renewed Concealed Handgun License (CHL) from four to five years. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for consideration, where anti-gun Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) is expected to try and amend several anti-gun provisions onto the bill. Please contact your Senators and urge them to SUPPORT HB 225 and to OPPOSE Senator Ellis' amendments to the bill. You can reach the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee at (512) 463-0345. Also, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee will consider HB 823 by Representative Terry Keel (R-Austin) and Senator Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen) on Tuesday, May 10, at 1:30 p.m. or upon Senate adjournment, in Room E1.016 of the State Capitol in Austin. HB 823 takes important steps toward clarifying that law-abiding Texans may carry a handgun for protection in their vehicles without a CHL. Please contact committee members and urge them to support HB 823. For a list of committee members and their contact information, visit www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Commit.htm

This week, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee reported out the following NRA-backed bills: HB 823 by Representative Terry Keel (R-Austin) and Senator Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen), which takes important steps toward clarifying that law-abiding Texans may carry a handgun for protection in their vehicles without a Concealed Handgun License (CHL); HB 1038 by Representative Carl Isett (R-Lubbock) and Senator Kim Brimer (R-Fort Worth), which reduces CHL renewal fees for senior citizens by 50% (to $35); and HB 1483 by Representative Stephen Frost (D-Atlanta) and Senator Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler), which expands the methods of payments for CHL applicants and lowers fees for duplicate, modified, or replacement licenses from $25 to $10. All three bills move to the Senate floor for consideration in the final week of session. Please contact your State Senators and urge them to support HB 823, HB 1038, & HB 1483! Also this week, the Senate approved HB 322 by Representative Suzanna Hupp (R-Lampasas) and Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls), which lowers the minimum age requirement for a CHL from 21 to 18 for active military personnel and also lowers CHL application fees for our soldiers. HB 322 has been sent back to the House for concurrence with Senate amendments. Finally, Please join TX-19 Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC) Robert Pratt and the Lubbock County Republican Party for a special viewing of "The Great U.N. Gun Debate." This debate was recently held between NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and Rebecca Peters of the International Action Network on Small Arms. This historic debate will be shown on a large screen on Monday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m., and is completely FREE OF CHARGE! The event will be held at 4601 South Loop 289, Second Floor, in the Salem Village Shopping Center, behind McDougal Realtors. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Robert Pratt at (806) 791-3923, or visit http://www.lubbockgop.org/.