President's Message
from Janet Imhoff |
Gun Bills and the Legislature
In the very tragic aftermath of a mass shooting occurring right here in Allen on May 6, so many are asking why the lawmakers seem to be unresponsive to the need to deal with common-sense gun legislation. Why do people with hateful, evil intent seem to be able to get guns so easily? Why are so many innocent adults and children victims of gun violence?
Among the gun safety bills filed in the Texas House, about 10 are still active, and the League is supporting eight of them and opposing two. In general, bill movement is slow and it is probable that there will not be time for any of them to pass both the House and Senate. Bottom line – nothing will be done.
Four bills have passed the House and were sent to the Senate:
- HB 544 (J. Johnson) SUPPORT: reporting certain orders and convictions to the Texas DPS and the FBI for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Passed House on May 8.
- HB 2454 (Guillen) SUPPORT: creating a criminal offense for procuring a firearm for a person prohibited from possessing one. Scheduled for Senate Committee hearing on May 9.
- HB 636 (Patterson) OPPOSE: allowing election judges to carry a handgun at a polling place. Sent to Senate on May 8. League Action Alert
- HB 1229 (Harris, C.) OPPOSE: relating to weapons in foster homes. Passed the House on May 3, sent to Senate.
Put on House Calendar for debate:
- HB 2242 (Howard) SUPPORT: relating to the Keep ‘Em Safe Texas Gun Storage Campaign.
In House Committee:
- HB 2744 (King) SUPPORT: to raise the age to 21 to buy a semi-automatic weapon. Voted out of committee on May 8, sent to House Calendars. League Action Alert
- HB 165 (Johnson, A.) FOR: increasing penalty for mass shooting. Scheduled for committee hearing on May 9.
Three more had a Committee Hearing but were not voted out (left pending):
- HB 902 (Moody) SUPPORT: establishing penalties for giving/selling a firearm to someone who should not have one.
- HB 2076 (Goodwin) SUPPORT: prohibiting a person convicted of family violence from having a firearm.
- HB 2780 (Leach) SUPPORT: reporting mental health or intellectual disability information for federal firearm background check.
What you can do:
If you are concerned about any of these bills, please call or email your Texas Representative or Senator, give them the bill information, tell them why you are concerned, and ask them to vote for the bill or help move it along. To find the contact information for your representative and senator, click here.
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Thanks for Being a Voter!
Congratulations to the 81,811 Collin County voters whose voices were heard in the May 6 city and school elections! Unfortunately, this was only 11.86% of registered voters in the county, so almost 88% of the 689,552 registered voters had no voice.
Many Collin County voters used LWV-CC’s nonpartisan resources to compare candidates:
Upcoming Runoff Election
Even if you didn’t vote in the May 6 elections, you can vote in the runoffs on June 10 for the top two candidates in races where no candidate received more than 50% of the votes cast, including Anna City Council and Collin College. Check Vote411.org for a sample ballot with the runoff races, and click here to view our Collin College Trustee candidate forum.
Voter Registration
We provide year-round voter registration at community events. Recently we registered voters at AsiaFest in Plano. Our Volunteer Deputy Registrars also register new citizens at monthly naturalization ceremonies. If you would like us to assist with your nonpartisan voter registration event, contact lwvcollin@gmail.com.
|  | All League Members are Invited!
Meg was the founder of the Collin County League in 1974 and was President from 1980-'84. Prior to that she was a member of LWV Dallas and on the board of LWV Texas. She is a Lifetime member of the League, having joined in 1955 in Waterloo, Iowa. Let's celebrate her!
Sunday, June 4, 2:00 - 5:00PM
The Atria Canyon Creek
440 Independence Parkway, Plano
| Lunch With The League
All are welcome at a buy-your-own social lunch with LWV-CC on Tuesday, June 20, 11:30-1:00, at Ellen's, 210 S Central Expy, Allen 75013. Please register by June 15 so that we know how many seats to reserve. Click here to register.
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All are invited to the League of Women Voters of Collin County Book Club! On July 12 6:30-7:30 pm, we will meet on Zoom to discuss 'American Carnage: Shattering the Myths That Fuel Violence' by Fred Guttenberg, who lost his daughter in the Parkland Shooting, and Thomas Gabor, a gun policy consultant. We will share our thoughts on the book as well as various discussion questions.
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Save the date for September 16, from 3:00 - 5:00PM. League of Women Voters of Collin County will be hosting a fundraiser at The ArtCentre of Plano. The theme will be "The Art of Democracy." More information will be forthcoming!
| Empowering voters. Defending democracy.
www.lwvcollin.org | The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan 501C3 organization. We do not support or oppose any political party or candidate. We encourage informed and active participation in government, and we influence public policy through education and advocacy.
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