Texas State Rifle Assoc. complaint

[CentralTexas]

Members of TSRA- doesn't it seem it's far more about keeping the hunting issues going at the expense of pro 2A legislation?
The latest issue of our member rag had an article from James Dark that was over a page of ranting against tofu (no kidding) and the value of hunting. Our lobbyist column was about all in the whole mag on RKBA stuff and it wasn't really in depth and didn't mention an anti- chl bill being submitted from a fomer A rated by TSRA legislator.
Not sure if I want to stay a member it seems they just mimic what the NRA does already.
CT

 

[Standing Wolf]

I like tofu.

 

[mcmoyer]

Our lobbyist column was about all in the whole mag on RKBA stuff and it wasn't really in depth and didn't mention an anti- chl bill being submitted from a fomer A rated by TSRA legislator.

Which bill are you referring to? I've only been involved with the TSRA for a short time, but I did notice that they supported some pretty off the wall (IMHO) candidates during the last election.

They are real fond of junior & women getting out hunting stories, aren't they??

 

[CentralTexas]

See my thread here-

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=120120

 

[junyor]

Normally a lurker, but since I am a TSRA member.

If I read it correctly the bill was filed on 01/11/05. The TSRA Sportsman was already in the mail on 01/07/05, the date it was published on the TSRA website. Alice Tripp normally catches these things and puts them in her legislative report. However, I am a little surpised that they haven't sent out an Alert email.

As for whether or not they are biased towards hunters...in the Nov/Dec issue James Dark spoke to CHL rights in his examination of British vs. American views on Guns...so I am not so sure.

 

[aerod1]

I am a proud member of Texas State Rifle Association. I feel they have kept us pretty well informed through the years. True, occasionally they slip up. I am an avid supporter of the 2nd Amendment as well as a hunter. I'll have to agree our magazine is a little anemic.
What really upsets me is the number of hunters who are not pro 2nd.

Jim Hall

 

[DigMe]

What's the anti-CHL bill? I haven't heard about it.

brad cook

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Well boo. I was over by their office this afternoon. I guess I should have dropped by for a chat.

Tomorrow I'll be sure to do so.

Maybe I should remind them I have a checkbook.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[jsalcedo]

I joined a couple of years ago.

When I started getting their magazine it was just pics of old dudes getting awards for being some muckety muck in 1975 and lots of pictures of guys in camo holding up the heads of white tail deer.

No useful info in two years. By the end I was just tossing the monthly issue of Playdeer away with the rest of the junkmail.

I guess since RKBA is mostly a given here in Texas there is no edge to the
TSRA unlike the NRA that at least gets me fired up now and again.

No offense to anyone, just my casual observation.

 

[Drizzt]

I find some useful stuff in there every now and then. The legislative report is usually pretty good, and Ted Nugent had a column last issue and this one.

In regard to hunting? Well, that's BIG business here in Texas, and I guess they're kow-towing to where the money is. I think it can be a good thing, if done right, as hunting can be a way to bring some of the casual gun-owners deeper into the fight to preserve their rights. Now has TSRA done this? Well, no.

 

[DigMe]

By the end I was just tossing the monthly issue of Playdeer away with the rest of the junkmail.

brad cook

 

[basil]

TX State Rifle Assoc complaint

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that has complaints about the TSRA. I joined several years ago, and so far, I think it's wasted money.

As some of you may know, I am one of the founders of Second Amendment Sisters. The thrust of our organization this year is going to be to take on the lesgislators in the various states to get bad gun laws taken off the books, and to get good gun laws passed.

I contacted TSRA to try to get them to come on board with our efforts, and was met with lukewarm reactions, to say the least.

TX is close to the top when it comes to the cost of being able to exercise your Second Amendment rights in this state. We need to get these fees way down, so that more people can afford the license to be able to defend themselves. This is going to be our #1 focus. (Of course, just the idea of having to have a license to exercise your Constitutional rights is ludicrous--but that's another discussion and task for another day!)

Anyone in Texas interested in getting on board with us, (men and women) please let me know.

basil

 

[duckslayer]

I sent them email about getting on VCDL's petetion to change the rule about allowing firearms in national parks, and haven't heard a peep from anyone acknowledging the even received it.

 

[Jax]

JSalcedo,

"Playdeer" Cute, I'll have to remember that.

Duckslayer,

So did I... And neither have I...

Jax

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

You didn't find the lobbyist column in-depth?

As I recall, they addressed several bills they were looking into - these included allowing active duty military who were deployed to renew their CHL at the $70 renewal rate instead of making them pay the $140 fee after it expired. They also mentioned extending the renewal period from 4yrs to 5yrs. They mentioned reducing the CHL address change fees to match those for the driver's license and also proposals to change it where those fees could be paid for with credit card or personal check. They also discussed eliminating the vague definition in the "travelling" exemption for non-CHL holders so that people would know what they had to do to comply with the law. All of this was just in this one issue - if you read the articles and discussions regularly over the past two years, you would see even more discussion and support for CHl and non-hunting issues.

The hunting issues may not seem relevant to you; but they definitely do have relevance. One of the reasons RKBA is so strong in Texas is because of a strong tradition of hunting and the associated firearms ownership. Right now that very solid base is being attacked by land use regulations, annexing and other issues as many suburbs expand into formerly rural land.

The demographics of Texas are changing and if we do not act now to preserve the culture that represents the largest demographic of gunowners in Texas, we have about zero chance of holding on to more controversial rights surrounding semi-autos, CHL, and other RKBA issues.

Personally, I've never regretted a single dollar I've sent to TSRA. I also think Alice Tripp does a tremendous job covering the legislative action. I don't see how TSRAs extremely wise decision to preserve the future by keeping the traditions of hunting and firearms ownership in Texas alive and growing as the state becomes more urbanized has somehow come at the expense of our other Second Amendment rights. If anything, it is that effort that is the foundation for the others.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Twice in the last year I have called on the TSRA as a member, to help me with municipalities posting 30.06 signs illegally. Both times the signs were taken down within days of my contacting TSRA. That there is enough for me to renew my membership.

Also, membership in TSRA qualifies one to participate in the CMP Garand purchase programs. That also is enough reason for me to renew this year, since I want one of the bargain Greek M1s before they are gone.

So that's a tiny bit of what TSRA offers that I personally have direct benefit from. That's more than I get DIRECTLY from the NRA.

The other benefits can be argued one way or another but these impacted me directly and immediately.

 

[Drizzt]

Dang, Basil, you neve told me you'd made it over here....

Good to have you here.

 

[Art Eatman]

It's Texas State Rifle Association, not the Texas State Second Amendment Association.

TheTSRA worked like crazy, along with others, to influence passage of Texas' CHL law. They've done darned good, through the years, on RKBA issues. Certainly, they've learned from the earlier years' efforts, and have become a good lobbying force for RKBA.

And if you're not all that pleased with their efforts, get on board with them and work for improvements. Thre's an awful lot of donated time put into that organization.

But there's more to the world of guns than the Second Amendment, after all...