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Defending Your Life

What to Know: The U.S. Supreme Court could soon hear a Massachusetts case involving its law demanding that citizens demonstrate a “good reason” to fear for their safety before being allowed to carry a firearm.

The TPPF Take: Americans shouldn’t have to demonstrate a reason to carry a firearm—self-defense is a natural right.

“While the purpose of the Second Amendment is endlessly litigated on social media, its true purpose is clear: to enumerate every citizen’s right and obligation to personal and civil defense,” says TPPF’s Derek Cohen. “Over 800 years of history and countless examples have demonstrated that an armed society is a free society.”

Educational Freedom in Idaho

What to Know: Idaho is letting high school students spend some of their educational funding on dual-enrollment college courses, professional certifications and apprenticeships. The students (and their families) get to choose which, taking into account their preferences as well as future job prospects.

The TPPF Take: Texas could learn much from Idaho. Texas’s career and technical education (CTE) funds are poorly aligned with future job prospects.

“Now is also the time for lawmakers to consider granting more flexibility to districts in how they spend their CTE allocations,” says TPPF’s Erin Davis Valdez. “We can incentivize schools to collaborate with community organizations and businesses, which are racing to rebuild civil society and local economies.”

Government Beware

What to Know: Cities and counties are being counseled that the pandemic gives them cover to raise property taxes by as much as 8 percent without asking voters, despite the Governor, the Attorney General and others saying that a new state law does not allow for it. Now, two state lawmakers—Sen. Paul Bettencourt and Rep. Dustin Burrows—are pitching a “COVID-19 penalty” that would “force a lower property tax rate on any locality that circumvents the new limits this year.”

The TPPF Take: Cities and counties that violate the new property tax protections established in Senate Bill 2 should be penalized.

“Local officials listening to bad advice beware—your actions could carry major consequences,” said TPPF’s James Quintero. “Local governments acting in bad faith will not go unnoticed by constituents, watchdogs, or state lawmakers.”