Open Carry Texas Statement on Gun Control Amendments in Congress

Open Carry Texas
Open Carry Texas
Open Carry Texas
Open Carry Texas

Temple, TX -(AmmoLand.com)- For more than 15 hours yesterday, Democrats took to the Senate floor to filibuster in an effort to force votes on amendments designed to restrict the rights of Americans to keep and bear arms.

Open Carry Texas (OCT) vehemently, categorically, and whole-heartedly opposes every proposed measure, including the NRA-backed amendment sponsored by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) requiring a mandatory wait period.

When the People give the government the ability to determine who is “eligible” to exercise a right, what’s to stop the government from determining no one is “eligible?” While we also oppose the current background check (BGC) system, broadening it will do nothing to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. Extended BGCs do nothing more than inconvenience and interfere with the rights of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms in the manner protected by the constitution: uninfringed. We oppose the so-called “universal BGC” proposals as infringements upon our rights.

The terrorist watchlist and “no-fly” list are both objective, arbitrary lists that also do nothing to ensure the safety or security of the American people. As a gun rights organization who is dedicated to the safe and legal carry of firearms, we do not want killers having the ability to take the lives of innocent people.

However, we also recognize, as Benjamin Franklin did, that, “those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

The process by which the government determines one to be ineligible to fly is a secret. There is no notification process to an individual placed on the no-fly list, meaning that Americans frequently don’t find out until they’re already trying to board a plane. There is no appeals process for being removed from the list and – other than politically connected individuals – it is nearly impossible to do so. Due to the complete lack of due process involved in the “no-fly” list, OCT condemns and opposes any effort to prevent law abiding citizens who have not been adjudicated by a court from exercising their right to keep and bear arms, including the right to purchase them, based on such a list.

The terrorist watchlist is an even more egregious and constitutionally offensive strategy to undermining our civil rights. While the word “terrorist” is surely intended to conjure up images of body counts, grotesque violence, Muslim extremists, and wholesale fear. The problem is in who gets to decide what constitutes a “terrorist.” The suggested amendment to deny gun rights to individuals on the terrorist watchlist does not seek to deny guns to terrorists, but to people suspected of being terrorists. Anti-liberty politicians want to use this broad and ominous term to deny rights to a category of people that has no baseline definition other than “the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.” Once the government is given permission to bar individuals deemed to be potentially engaging in or planning to engage in “terrorist” activities, there is no stopping the government from deeming anyone a “terrorist” that opposes its will. In fact, both Open Carry Texas and the National Rifle Association have been accused of being terrorist organizations and its members “domestic terrorists.” The Founding Fathers would have been labeled terrorists in the late 18th Century.

Due to the lack of due process involved in every amendment being proposed, we cannot support, endorse, or accept any of them. We will not condone the destruction of any aspect of our constitution under the guise of public safety. Senator Cornyn’s bill would treat people adjudicated without due process as criminals just for being placed a list without warrant, affidavit or cause. “Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have” and we can’t allow fear-mongering to alter, abolish or infringe upon it no matter how feel-good it may sound. The shooting in Orlando was a government failure, not a failure of our constitution.

OCT is an organization dedicated to the safe and legal carry of firearms in the State of Texas in accordance with the United States and Texas Constitution and applicable laws.

About Open Carry Texas:

Our purpose is to 1) educate all Texans about their right to carry in a safe Page | 2 manner; 2) to condition Texans to feel safe around law-abiding citizens that choose to carry them; 3) encourage our elected officials to pass constitutional carry legislation for all firearms; and (4) foster a cooperative relationship with local law enforcement in the furtherance of these goals with an eye towards preventing negative encounters.

For more information, contact CJ Grisham at [email protected] 254-383-8238.

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Joe

Everyone should have the right to self protection and family, even non violent felons. Texas and U.S constitution say “EVERYONE” and does not give exemptions(felons) And shall not b infringed .. The power and authority is in the ppl not in a form (government)that was created by the people. How is a servant going to have more power than its creator and master. Texas bill of rights In part states Sec. 29. PROVISIONS OF BILL OF RIGHTS EXCEPTED FROM POWERS OF GOVERNMENT; TO FOREVER REMAIN INVIOLATE. To guard against transgressions of the high powers herein delegated, we declare that everything… Read more »

PBJ

The United States of America…You mean Texas and it’s other 49 bitches!

Danny Willard

Cornyn is not a conservative since he has given the dims and particularly ovomit virtually everything they asked for. It is unfortunate that he was re-elected last time since he votes more with dims than the conservatives who put him in office want he to.

Jim Macklin

Waiting periods presume that a terrorist planning an attack will wait to buy A GUN until the last moment. Or maybe a gun will drive a person mad with lust and killer instinct. But that just isn’t true. The Orlando killer bought his guns days before the attack. He bought them after two in-depth FBI investigations and the NICS point of sale Brady Check. How did that happen? Because his ex-wife did not dial 911 and report being beaten up. A DV conviction would have put the killer on the prohibited list I’m surprised that Senator Cornyn would try to… Read more »

Wild Bill

I am so disappointed in Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), who is very poor on protecting the American public from the immigration invasion, too! I am beginning to think that he is a party first hack.

Darren

‘The terrorist watchlist and “no-fly” list are both objective, arbitrary lists that also do nothing to ensure the safety or security of the American people.’

Shouldn’t it read “…are both SUBJECTIVE, arbitrary lists…” ?

TEX

‘No man shall be deprived of life,liberty,or property without due process of law’ That’s written real plain in the 5’th and 14’th amendments to the U.S. Constitution ! It’s written out so plain that even a liberal should be able to understand it ! I think they understand it just fine,I just don’t think them son of a bit*ches like what it says ! They will find that out ‘again’ on Monday 6-20-16

TEX

‘TEXAS,LIKE A WHOLE OTHER COUNTRY’ !