U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- On Wednesday, we reported to you on House Bill 2249 and Senate Bill 18, NRA-backed bills which establish that firearms and ammunition manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, suppliers, and retailers are essential businesses that shall not be prohibited by state or local officials from operating during a declared disaster or emergency.
Since then, several more measures with this NRA-supported language have been filed: House Bill 3, by Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), a comprehensive bill relating to the emergency powers of state and local officials specifically during a pandemic, and House Bill 1500, by Rep. Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant), identical to House Bill 2249 but assigned a lower bill number so it can be referred to, and be eligible for, committee action sooner. We appreciate Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) and Rep. Burrows for ensuring that this critical language is included in one of the House priority bills, HB 3, and for granting HB 2249 a lower bill number, now HB 1500.
COVID-19 and uncivil disorder have illustrated that in times of crisis or uncertainty, Americans buy guns. Last year, as concerned citizens across the country lined up outside gun stores to exercise their constitutional right to purchase and own firearms, state and local officials – including those in a number of Texas cities and counties – refused to designate firearms retailers as “essential businesses” and shut them down. Fortunately, Texas’ current statewide leaders acted quickly, such as here and here, so that Texans’ Second Amendment rights were protected. Now, with the Texas Legislature in session, state lawmakers must ensure that this will always be the case during a declared disaster or emergency, regardless of any statewide or local officeholder’s politics.
Members, please contact your state representative and urge them to CO-AUTHOR HB 1500.
About NRA-ILA:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess, and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
Hey, NRA, why don’t you tell everyone about your refusal to support constitutional carry last session? If you and the Republicans (yes, Republicans) actually supported the 2A then you wouldn’t work to kill constitutional carry every time it has come up in the Texas legislature!
Don’t know why you feel the need to say anything is NRA supported, that means sh*t these days!!!
The bigger threat I see all across the nation is the APATHY of those of us that do not immediately and aggressively seek to enjoin in IMMEDIATE REMOVAL FROM OFFICE each and every elected or appointed official that dare abbrogate.the LAW, the founding documents or rights of the citizens? WHERE is the massive VOCAL and moral outrage of the citizens? WHERE is the coalition of well funded associations and organizations poised to readily combat these ever raging threats? WHY do we continue to think we are a free.people while we ALLOW these atrocities and tyranny to occur, thinking “someone will… Read more »
USMC0351GRUNT,
I couldn’t agree more. Where are all the veterans groups? Where is the Fraternal Order of Police? Why haven’t more veterans and LEOs created organizations and loudly proclaimed the orders they will not follow (such as enforcing new firearm registration laws or laws banning further categories of firearms)?