Only in Texas...

     On April 5, 2011, the "One for all and all for Texas" blog posted up an article titled "Danger, Danger" by lupita89, also known as Sandra Rangel. The blog talks about how Texas lawmakers are considering passing a law allowing people to carry a concealed handgun inside school, bars, and churches. It talks about how it seems that lawmakers are only looking out for themselves since they use what happened to Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford as a scare tactic. Rangel also talks about how bill is shocking since it even considers allowing people to take a firearm to church, which is a very sacred place to many people.
     Rangel's intended audience are all of the people in Texas since everybody will be affected if this law is passed. She seems very credible since she states what the requirements will be to carry a concealed weapon and even goes into detail about how these requirements are flawed. She makes a claim about how it seems that the author is not thinking about your every day people since the article does not mention how a citizen will be protected with this new bill or about any restrictions this bill will have.
     I agree with Ms. Rangel's arguments since I think this bill would end up doing more damage than good. Considering this bill will allow people to carry a handgun into a bar, where people often drink pass their limit, worries me greatly. A place of worship should never be compromised with a weapon so it honestly disgusts me that it might be legal in the future. I think the lawmakers should really think long and hard about the negative outcomes this bill will have if passed.

Cut the 911 Budget!

     I just read an article titled "State budget bill amendment includes money to save 911-answering services" written by Suzannah Gonzalez on April 5, 2011, and I liked what I read. Finally, a budget cut that does not involve schools! Rep. Paul Workman, R-Austin, proposes cutting the budget for 911 answering services  which would especially affect services in Lago Vista, Lakeway, West Lake Hills, Leander, Taylor, Elgin, Luling and Smithville since officials say they have the slowest call traffic. The budget would be lowered twenty-seven percent to $15.3 million, but of course it would have to be evaluated to see how exactly this budget cut would affect their performance.
     I say yes! All this talk about cutting our teaching staff and shutting down schools is horrible, especially if we can cut in other areas where there is margin to cut. This proposal is asking to shutter the 911 answering services in slow cities, which that alone would save the state $814,000 in just two years and since it is going to be evaluated, people should not worry about response time being slower. There are other parts to this bill since, in total, it would save the state a total of $5.6 million in proposed cuts. I have to say that the fact that law enforcement agencies oppose this bill worries me, but since it is going to be evaluated by intelligent people, calms me down quite a bit. The article also briefly mentioned that two currently vacant positions were also proposed to be cut. As long as our education is not being hurt and it does not greatly affect our safety, I'm all for it!