TX Attny General 9-24-02 Letter to TSRA

Greybeard · September 25, 2002, 07:13 AM

The following was in my "inbox" this morning from TSRA. Did anyone catch the referenced article (editorial?) in Dallas Morning News? If so, please post.

I got a phone call last Saturday from Rep. Gracia/Hupp reguesting CHL holder support for Dewhurst and Patterson in upcoming elections. She said they will be needed to help get the situation (regarding some municipalities posting signs) fixed in next session. This letter looks like a step in the right direction! Regards, Greybeard.

Below is a letter from John Cornyn to the Texas State Rifle Association that totally
explains and reverses his intentions as stated in the DMN.

- - - - - - - - -

September 24, 2002

Dr. James T. Brown
Texas State Rifle Association
1131 Rockingham Lane, Suite 130
Richardson, TX 75080

Dear Doc:

I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss the Second Amendment right of law-abiding citizens to
possess firearms with you and correct some misconceptions in a newspaper story.

Gun shows are a legitimate venue for hundreds of thousands of law-abiding Texans to buy,
sell, and trade firearms every year, and they should be preserved. While I support the
federal requirement that licensed gun dealers must perform background checks on buyers no
matter where the sale takes place, I oppose forcing private individuals - those who are
not in the business of selling guns and therefore not required to be licensed - to perform
bureaucratic and burdensome checks.

On another subject, I know there has been frustration concerning Attorney General's
Opinion Number JC-0325 dealing with the ability of local governments to prohibit the
holder of a concealed handgun license from carrying a handgun onto property controlled by
local government. As Attorney General of Texas, of course, it is my duty to interpret and
enforce existing law regardless of my personal views.

An attempt was made by the Texas Legislature to prevent local governments from prohibiting
holders of a concealed handgun license from carrying a handgun onto government property.
Despite the intentions of the bill supporters, the legislation signed into law did not
have the desired affect. As a result, my office had no choice but to determine that local
governments still had the authority to ban holders of a concealed handgun license from
possessing a handgun on local government property under some circumstances.

I will not be serving in the next session of the Texas Legislature, but I support an
amendment to the current law that would accomplish what you and other Second Amendment
supporters intended, but which legislators did not accomplish under the current law -
preventing local governments from interfering with a state-conferred, concealed carry
license holder's rights.

I look forward to working with you on Second Amendment rights in the future.

Sincerely,

John Cornyn
Attorney General of Texas

**tyme** · September 25, 2002, 08:46 AM

WHAT IS HIS STANCE ON THE AWB?! (sorry for the yelling... I'm just a little fed up)

At least it sounds like he won't vote to close the "gun show loophole."

Libertarian · September 25, 2002, 10:00 AM

What worries me is that he was quoted in the papers as saying he'd close the "loophole". Now this letter saying he won't leaves me wondering where he really stands. I hope that the letter is the truth.

slick slidestop · September 25, 2002, 06:04 PM

Well, I had been procrastinating for a couple of weeks now, but I just joined TSRA

Now I guess I should join GOA, NRA, and a couple more organizations.

Sam Adams · September 26, 2002, 12:44 AM

Tyme,

I've tried and failed (3 times) to get a response from Cornyn's staff on the AWB issue. It is REALLY frustrating.

Still, he's better than that SOB Kirk, and we need to relieve the Democraps of majority control of the Senate (and the Judiciary Committee). Losing Phil Gramm's seat won't help that prospect.

September 25, 2002, 07:13 AM	#1
Greybeard Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2002 Location: Denton County Texas Posts: 686	TX Attny General 9-24-02 Letter to TSRA The following was in my "inbox" this morning from TSRA. Did anyone catch the referenced article (editorial?) in Dallas Morning News? If so, please post. I got a phone call last Saturday from Rep. Gracia/Hupp reguesting CHL holder support for Dewhurst and Patterson in upcoming elections. She said they will be needed to help get the situation (regarding some municipalities posting signs) fixed in next session. This letter looks like a step in the right direction! Regards, Greybeard. Below is a letter from John Cornyn to the Texas State Rifle Association that totally explains and reverses his intentions as stated in the DMN. - - - - - - - - - September 24, 2002 Dr. James T. Brown Texas State Rifle Association 1131 Rockingham Lane, Suite 130 Richardson, TX 75080 Dear Doc: I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss the Second Amendment right of law-abiding citizens to possess firearms with you and correct some misconceptions in a newspaper story. Gun shows are a legitimate venue for hundreds of thousands of law-abiding Texans to buy, sell, and trade firearms every year, and they should be preserved. While I support the federal requirement that licensed gun dealers must perform background checks on buyers no matter where the sale takes place, I oppose forcing private individuals - those who are not in the business of selling guns and therefore not required to be licensed - to perform bureaucratic and burdensome checks. On another subject, I know there has been frustration concerning Attorney General's Opinion Number JC-0325 dealing with the ability of local governments to prohibit the holder of a concealed handgun license from carrying a handgun onto property controlled by local government. As Attorney General of Texas, of course, it is my duty to interpret and enforce existing law regardless of my personal views. An attempt was made by the Texas Legislature to prevent local governments from prohibiting holders of a concealed handgun license from carrying a handgun onto government property. Despite the intentions of the bill supporters, the legislation signed into law did not have the desired affect. As a result, my office had no choice but to determine that local governments still had the authority to ban holders of a concealed handgun license from possessing a handgun on local government property under some circumstances. I will not be serving in the next session of the Texas Legislature, but I support an amendment to the current law that would accomplish what you and other Second Amendment supporters intended, but which legislators did not accomplish under the current law - preventing local governments from interfering with a state-conferred, concealed carry license holder's rights. I look forward to working with you on Second Amendment rights in the future. Sincerely, John Cornyn Attorney General of Texas __________________ www.dentoncountysports.com A Private Palace for Pistol Proficiency

September 25, 2002, 08:46 AM	#2
tyme Staff Join Date: October 13, 2001 Posts: 3,355	WHAT IS HIS STANCE ON THE AWB?! (sorry for the yelling... I'm just a little fed up) At least it sounds like he won't vote to close the "gun show loophole." __________________ “The egg hatched...” “...the egg hatched... and a hundred baby spiders came out...” (blade runner) “Who are you?” “A friend. I'm here to prevent you from making a mistake.” “You have no idea what I'm doing here, friend.” “In specific terms, no, but I swore an oath to protect the world...” (continuum) “It's a goal you won't understand until later. Your job is to make sure he doesn't achieve the goal.” (bsg)

September 25, 2002, 10:00 AM	#3
Libertarian Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 1999 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 2,117	What worries me is that he was quoted in the papers as saying he'd close the "loophole". Now this letter saying he won't leaves me wondering where he really stands. I hope that the letter is the truth. __________________ "Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." JFK My other favorite forum is The Armed Citizen My PGP key is 0x780B7C0A

September 25, 2002, 06:04 PM	#4
slick slidestop Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 394	Well, I had been procrastinating for a couple of weeks now, but I just joined TSRA Now I guess I should join GOA, NRA, and a couple more organizations.

September 26, 2002, 12:44 AM	#5
Sam Adams Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2001 Location: Somewhere in the Republic of Texas Posts: 250	Tyme, I've tried and failed (3 times) to get a response from Cornyn's staff on the AWB issue. It is REALLY frustrating. Still, he's better than that SOB Kirk, and we need to relieve the Democraps of majority control of the Senate (and the Judiciary Committee). Losing Phil Gramm's seat won't help that prospect.