A long-overdue update

Like many of you, I too am still reeling from the drubbing that Texas Democrats across the state took at the ballot box this month. We had a lot of great candidates on the slate, and many of them were very supportive of our Second Amendment rights. The best advice I can offer is that after the holiday season, we immediately concentrate all of our available efforts on 2012.

Speaking of available efforts, I have been absent from this blog for way too long. There are several reasons for this, chief among them the aftermath of my wife's death and the loss of my job. I'm having to adjust to a lot of life changes, but some changes are easier to take than others. Please bear with me - as long as the Gun Owners Caucus can stand to have me at the helm, I'll be here.

US Supreme Court rules on MCDONALD V. CHICAGO, strikes down Chicago handgun ban

You can download the PDF of the McDonald ruling here.

In a nutshell, today's ruling extends protection of Second Amendment rights to state law instead of just Federal law as decided in 2008's Heller case.

This is a landmark decision in the annals of gun legislation in America, and it has strengthened the position of gun owners all across our nation.

More to come as the details unfold. I was on the beach in Port Aransas when the Supreme Court issued their ruling, so I'm playing a little catch-up at this point. Please bear with me.

Gun Owners Caucus 2010 Election Meeting and Convention Post-Mortem

Wow.

The 2010 TDP State Convention in Corpus Christi has been adjourned, and what an experience it was.

First, the bad news. We did not get our Firearms plank into the 2010 party platform. I think it would have been a big help for our Democratic candidates, but let's try again in 2012. The good news is that the Firearms plank was adopted on the convention floor as a resolution for the second convention in a row, so that's something to build on.

Now for the Election Meeting on Friday morning. Great turnout - I counted some 60 people in attendance. We had so many candidates come to address the Gun Owners Caucus that I lost track of them all. Most of them wound up on videotape, and I'll try to get them on YouTube as soon as I can.

We have a new Executive Committee to serve the Caucus until the 2012 convention. Here are your new officers:

Chair: Daniel Barnett
Vice-Chair: Glenda Bailey
Secretary: Glenda McCray
Treasurer: Kit Carson
At-Large Committeeperson: Rhonda Phillips

I sincerely thank all of our new officers for stepping up to support the Caucus.

Take another look at the list. With the sole exception of yours truly, the Executive Committee is all-female! This is a most welcome development that should mollify some of our critics while promoting true diversity in our Caucus. I look forward to working with all of them - and I know they'll keep me on my toes.

I also got elected to the Resolutions Committee at the 2010 convention, and I am truly grateful to the folks at SD16 for the honor of serving them.

Will share more later. Right now, I'm pooped even after getting some sleep. Thanks to all of you who showed up at the Election Meeting!

PS: I'll post a complete list of candidates who visited the Caucus either tonight or tomorrow.

TDP 2010 State Convention - Complete Caucus Schedule

In just two weeks, this year's state Democratic Convention will be held in Corpus Christi (June 24-26). We finally have the complete list of caucuses for the convention, starting with the Senatorial District Caucuses and moving to the Issue/Organization Caucuses:

SENATORIAL DISTRICT CAUCUSES
Friday, June 25

3:00-5:00 pm
SD 1: Exhibit Hall B (1), 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 2: Riviera 1, Lobby Level, Omni Marina
SD 3: Room 225C, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 4: Riviera 2 & 3, Lobby Level, Omni Marina
SD 5: Room 226, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 6: Room 227, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 7: Padre Island Ballroom A-B-C-D, Lobby Level, Omni Marina
SD 8: Watergarden A (1), 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 9: Room 103, 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 10: Bayview Ballroom D, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 11: Corpus Christi Ballroom A, 3rd Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 12: Nueces Ballroom B, Third Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 13: Bayview Ballroom B, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 14: Bayview Ballroom A, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 15: Room 225 DE, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 16: Bayview Meeting Room, 1st Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 17: Marina View, Lobby Level, Omni Marina
SD 18: Corpus Christi Ballroom C, 3rd Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 19: Selena Auditorium, Rehearsal Hall, American Bank Center
SD 20: Bayview Ballroom C, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 21: Room 105, 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 22: Nueces Ballroom A, 3rd Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 23: Watergarden B, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 24: Watergarden A (2), 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 25: Corpus Christi Ballroom B, 3rd Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 26: Room 225 A-B, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 27: Room 101-102, 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 28: Riviera 4 & 5, Lobby Level, Omni Marina
SD 29: Room 104, 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 30: Exhibit Hall B (2), 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 31: Aransas Room, 3rd Floor, Omni Bayfront

ISSUE/ORGANIZATION CAUCUSES
Friday, June 25

9:00 - 10:00am
Progressive Hispanic Caucus, Bayview Ballroom B

9:00 - 11:00am
Democrats with Disabilities, Bayview Ballroom D
Democrats for Life, 225 C
Gun Owners Caucus, Room 104
Non-Urban Caucus, Room 226
Reform the TDP Caucus/Primary Process, Room 225 D-E

10:00 - 11:00am
Mexican American Democrats, Bayview Ballroom B
Tejano Democrats, Arena

10:30 - 11:30am
UAW Caucus, Bayview Ballroom A

11:00 - 12:00pm
Hispanic Caucus, Arena
Local Communications and Outreach Coordination, Room 103

11:00 - 12:30pm
Small Business Caucus, Room 106

11:00 - 1:00pm
Clean, Fair, Public, Voter-Owned Elections, Room 225 C
Coalition of Black Democrats, Watergarden B
East Texas Democratic Caucus, Room 226
Texas Democratic Veterans Association, Bayview Ballroom C
Texas Democratic Women, Bayview Ballroom D
Texas Environmental Democrats, Room 101-102
West Texas Coalition of Democrats, Room 227

11:45 - 1:00pm
TX AFL-CIO Labor Caucus, Bayview Ballroom A

12:00 - 1:00pm
#TDPSC Tweet-Up, Room 104

12:00 - 2:00pm
Education Transformation with State Representative Mike Villarreal, Room 103
Muslim Democratic Caucus, Room 105
Technology Caucus: Democratic Caucus on Computers and Communications, Rehearsal Hall
Texas Blue Dog Coalition, Bayview Ballroom B

12:30 - 2:30pm
Texas Stonewall Democrats, Watergarden A

1:00 - 2:00pm
Energy Caucus, Room 101-102
State House District 17, Room 227
Jewish Caucus, Room 226

1:00 - 2:30pm
Democrats Against the Death Penalty, Room 225 D-E
Texas State Teachers Association, Room 225 A-B

5:00 - 6:00pm
Asian American Democrats, Watergarden B

Bill White's candidacy and the gun question

Here's an interesting article from Saturday's Washington Examiner about Bill White's gubernatorial campaign and his history on gun issues.

Once again, if Bill is interested in dropping by the Gun Owners Caucus Election Meeting this month in Corpus Christi, he is most definitely welcome.

Gun Owners Caucus Election Meeting - Friday, June 25 in Corpus Christi

I am happy to share the details of the upcoming Election Meeting for our Caucus at the TDP 2010 State Convention:

Gun Owners Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party - Election Meeting
Friday, June 25, 9am - 11am
Room 104, American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, TX

All elected positions in the Caucus will be up for grabs at the meeting, the current holders of which are listed here:

Chair: Daniel Barnett
Vice-Chair: Tracee Larson
Secretary: Vacant
Treasurer: Daniel Barnett

If you're interested in running for any of these positions, come on down. If you just want to vote for the new crop of officers, come on down. Due to our extended time allotment for this year's Election Meeting, we will try to hold the elections at 10am. I realize that there are other caucuses many of you wish to participate in, but I also want to make sure our guest speakers have plenty of time to drop by.

We will also vote on a proposed change to the Bylaws regarding the manner in which Caucus meetings are conducted. Details to come soon.

Democratic candidates for the Texas legislature are welcome to pay us a visit and share a few words with us. Staffers for Bill White, this includes your boss. Don't be shy. I'll try to get the word out as much as I can, but if you want to poke your local Democratic candidates with info about our Caucus meeting, feel free.

There will be door prizes available, and everyone who attends and participates in the Election Meeting will get a special, limited-edition button created specifically for the Corpus Christi convention. Wear it with pride and with my compliments.

Any questions, please let me know. Thank you, and see you in Corpus!

Virginia Barnett: September 27, 1953 - May 12, 2010

I am truly saddened to inform everyone that Ginny, my beautiful wife of 10 years, died in her sleep during the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 12.

The funeral for Ginny will be on Saturday, May 15 at the Grove Hill Cemetery in Dallas, TX. Visitation will start at 1:30pm on Saturday, and the funeral itself will be at 3pm.

If you knew Ginny, please attend if you are able - I know she would greatly appreciate it.

My niece's husband, Chris Cochran, will be officiating at the funeral, and I am also planning to deliver her eulogy.

Grove Hill Cemetery is located at 3920 Samuell Boulevard, just south of Interstate 30. Their number is (214) 388-8887. Flowers will always be appreciated, but if you'd rather make a donation to a charity in Ginny's name, please consider donating to either Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation or SPCA of Dallas.

I will love Ginny and treasure her forever.

Kirk Watson's Really True Secret

Yes, it's been a while, but check out this post from District 14 Senator Kirk Watson on Burnt Orange Report if you're in need of a good chuckle.

How many of you are going to Corpus Christi in June?

New protocol for firearms within the Texas Capitol

Here's a story in the Austin American-Statesman dealing with plans for increased security under the Capitol Done in Austin and what this means for carrying firearms into the Capitol:

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/capitol-plan-is-a-far-piece-from-firearm-565796.html

Firearms Platform Plank Headed for State Convention in June

I have learned that the Caucus' suggested platform plank has passed in various county and senatorial districts - no definitive list as of yet, but it looks like it will be reviewed by the Platform Committee at the Texas Democratic Party State Convention on June 25-26 in Corpus Christi.

This is not a guarantee that our plank will become part of the 2010 TDP Platform, but this is certainly good news for the Caucus and for all pro-RKBA Texas Democrats.

More info as it develops.

County/Senatorial Conventions - Saturday, March 20

If you are a member of the Gun Owners Caucus or just a like-minded Texas Democrat, hopefully you'll be attending your County/Senatorial Convention tomorrow. Your participation will be very important, as there are several gun-control resolutions that are being considered at Democratic regional conventions throughout Texas on Saturday, not to mention our own platform plank that reaffirms our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Good luck to everyone tomorrow!

Towards a pro-RKBA platform plank in the TDP Platform

I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone in the Gun Owners Caucus who submitted our platform plank on Tuesday night. Whether or not the plank was adopted by your precinct convention, your efforts are sincerely appreciated.

The next step is to attend your senatorial conventions. If you were not able to attend your precinct convention on March 2, call or e-mail your Democratic precinct chair and see if he or she has any open delegate spots available for the senatorial convention. It can't hurt.

Participation in the senatorial convention will give you a chance to help move the GOC-TDP platform plank forward towards the State Convention in Corpus Christi this coming June. If there is enough support for the plank among Texas Democrats, it will be written into our state party platform for all the world to see.

I'll be at the State Convention - after all, my job as Chair is up for grabs at the Election Meeting in June. And I hope to see all of you there!

TX-10 candidate Ted Ankrum weighs in on RKBA issues

Ted Ankrum, Democratic candidate for Texas' 10th Congressional District, has responded to a questionnaire from Amendment II Democrats that asks various questions about concealed-carry, hunting on Federal land, background checks at gun shows, and other Second Amendment issues.

To read Ankrum's positions on gun legislation, click here.

Gun Owners Caucus Executive Committee Meeting - March 6 in Waco

Here's the details on next month's Executive Committee Meeting:

Saturday, March 6 @ 12pm
Chuy's, 5501 Legend Lake Parkway, Waco, TX (SW corner of I-35 and Loop 340)
(254) 420-4242

We'll discuss the results from the March 2 primary and precinct conventions as well as progress on inserting an affirmation of our Second Amendment rights into the state party platform. There will also be a need to discuss our roles in the upcoming senatorial conventions as well as the Election Meeting at the convention in Corpus Christi this coming June. We can also revisit any pending old business and discuss anything else that may be of interest to the Gun Owners Caucus.

If there are any questions or concerns, please let me know. Thanks for everything, and remember - the Executive Committee Meeting is open to all caucus members, so please come and join us if you can.

See you guys in Waco on March 6!

Daniel Barnett
Chair, Gun Owners Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party

Ted Ankrum campaign website on-line

http://www.ankrum2010.com/

Be sure to pay his campaign a visit, especially if you live in the 10th Congressional District. Thanks!

Farouk Shami campaign's statement on the Second Amendment

Taken from the website of Farouk Shami, Democratic candidate for Governor of Texas:

Farouk unequivocally supports the Second Amendment rights of all Texans.

Farouk will fight any effort to restrict the ability of Texans’ to carry concealed weapons. However, he believes Texas’ higher educational institutions must be gun free.

Daniel Boone running for Texas SBOE

Those of you who attended the Gun Owners Caucus meeting at the 2008 State Convention in Austin probably remember seeing Daniel Boone pay us a visit while running for House District 73. I have just learned that Boone is running as a Democratic candidate for state office once again, this time for the Texas State Board of Education, District Five.

Boone is competing against Rebecca Bell-Metereau, Robert Bohmfalk, and Josiah James Ingalls in the Democratic primary for the SBOE seat.

Ted Ankrum for Texas' 10th Congressional District

If your representative in Congress is Michael McCaul, take heart. Despite the news that Jack McDonald has dropped out of the race for Texas' 10th Congressional District, there is a Democrat running against McCaul who could use all the help you can give him. His name is Ted Ankrum, and he was the Democratic nominee for the seat back in 2006.

Ted is also a pro-RKBA Democrat, as witnessed by his responses to a 2006 questionnaire from Amendment II Democrats:

http://www.a2dems.net/campaign2006/speakout-tx.htm

Here's Ted commenting on why he chose to run for Congress at the last minute:

http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/9821

No campaign website yet, but he's setting up a Facebook page, and his mailing address is available from the BOR article. I hope to bring you more information on the Ankrum campaign soon.