If you're with the Brady Campaign, CSGV, Million Mom March, or someone similar, I beg your indulgence for one minute - this could have been really serious.
Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis (District 13) tried to sneak a virulent gun-grabbing measure into another bill last year.
Senate Bill 734 by Sen. Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) prohibits municipalities from restricting the discharge of firearms on large tracts of land they annex, as long as the shooters comply with safety and distance regulations. But Sen. Ellis tried to amend the bill with a measure that would not only ban semi-automatics in Texas - it would completely
outlaw them.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/legislature/entries/2005/03/index.htmlSen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, tried to amend the bill to include a ban on assault weapons, explaining, "All I’m doing is making a good bill better. This is not an anti-gun amendment, it’s a pro-hunter amendment."
No thanks, said Williams. And the Senate agreed, rejecting Ellis’ amendment 19-8.Good thing, too. Have you ever seen this anti-freedom bill? Here it is in PDF format:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=79&SESS=R&CHAMBER=S&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=01386&VERSION=1&TYPE=BHere's the part that really set off alarm bells in my head:
Sec. 46.055. SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPONS PROHIBITED. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly possesses,
manufactures, transports, repairs, sells, or offers to sell a semiautomatic assault weapon...
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that:
(1) the semiautomatic assault weapon is a firearm manufactured before Janurary 1, 1899;
(2) the person lawfully possessed the weapon on August 31, 2005;
(3) the person's conduct was incidental to the performance of an official duty by the armed forces or national guard, a governmental law enforcement agency, or a correctional facility; or
(4) the weapon is one sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting and is used solely for competitive target shooting purposes.JANUARY 1, 1899?!?!? Are you freakin'
kidding me, Sen. Ellis? That just blows my mind.
"Not an anti-gun amendment," my eye. We've got to watch this turkey
carefully. Unfortunately, he's running unopposed for District 13 Senator this year in the primaries. Youtch.