DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS

The old guy here is about to finish four days in one of my favorite states, Texas.  The first was spent in Fort Worth with friends, and the second at the Texas State Bar Association’s Firearms Law Seminar in the same city.  The third was in Houston at the 28th Annual Gun Rights Policy Conference, as will be the fourth.

Some 180 attorneys, with a few firearms instructors, attended the TBA event. I learned from every speaker I heard.  Many of those lawyers were gun-owners and pistol-packers, and enough of the speakers were into competitive shooting on their own time to form a kick-ass gun team at the range.  We learned that, thanks largely to the Texas State Rifle Association, the Lone Star state has made some great strides in legislation that’s friendly to firearms owners’ civil rights.

330 or so stalwarts attended the GRPC.  We heard from top lawyers like Alan Gura about what’s going on at the point of the spear on the Federal level, and from Julianne Versnel and others on the state of the UN small arms treaty.  (Short report: the heavy hitters on the inside are concerned about the UN treaty, but not terribly worried about it.) From the state level, we learned of the travails of the states which have had losses recently in this respect, such as California, Colorado, and New York, and from the states where our side is winning.  We got the inside scoop on the Colorado Recall, where our side was outspent five to one by the prohibitionists and still kicked out two powerful state legislators who had ignored the mandate of their constituents.  And much more…and more to come tomorrow, when the conference closes.

I was leaving tonight when I chatted with an attendee from British Columbia. (Canadians don’t suffer under the Obama administration, and we were told they can buy imported American M-1 Garands for $350.  Almost made me want to shoot a maple leaf just out of jealousy.)  The brother from BC told me how good it felt to be in the presence of like-minded people, and to be authoritatively reminded that we are winning on many fronts.  We persecuted minorities need to hear that, especially when it’s true.  I have tried over the years to get to the GRPC whenever possible. It’s a recharging of the batteries of the spirit for us “gun people.”

Ace trial lawyer (and skilled pistolero) John LeVick lectures on how insurance ties in with shooting cases at TBA seminar.

Sean Healy supervises the Firearms Law Seminar in Fort Worth.

Emily Miller talks about the travails of armed citizens in DC.  Check out her new book, “Emily GetsHer Gun” at GRPC.

Valinda and Mike Rowe of IllinoisCarry.com received kudos at GRPC for their work in getting concealed carry in their state.

Alan Gura, the master lawyer who won the landmark Heller and McDonald decisions, tells the GRPC audience what’s next in pro-gun litigation.

Some old guy talks to attorneys about trial tactics in self defense cases for continuing legal education class…

…and to gun owners’ civil rights activists about Stand Your Ground laws at Gun Rights Policy Conference.

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