Will Abbott push for the Democrats' "red-flag" gun laws?

Good morning –

Which liberties are you willing to sacrifice for safety? Check out what Benjamin Franklin thought of that swap in today’s quote.

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Friday, September 6, 2019

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While conservatives are pushing back against talk from lawmakers on increased gun-control laws, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued "executive actions" on Thursday mostly having to do with reporting of suspicious behavior. Brandon Waltens has the details [[link removed]].

Meanwhile, Capitol sources say Abbott appears to be preparing to call a special session. If so, they say, background checks for private firearm sales and the imposition of Democrat-favored “red-flag” laws would be under consideration.

In a lengthy Facebook post [[link removed]], State Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth) said he agreed with Democrats' desire for a special session, adding he is "always open to discussing ideas on how we can make our communities safer for our children." In addition to gun-related bills, Krause wrote he also wants pro-life legislation on the governor's call.

“Any solution that aims to take away more guns from more people is counterproductive. Gun-control laws don’t reduce crime. They don’t keep criminals from committing evil, despicable acts. And they certainly haven’t kept us safe.” – Rachel Malone, Texas Director of Gun Owners of America

“It’s not your job to keep Texans safe. You took an oath to keep them free. Start leading folks to liberty. Stop pandering to progressives.” – State Rep. Jonathan Stickland [[link removed]] to Gov. Greg Abbott

In a new commentary, Connor Barron writes [[link removed]] the City of Plano is beginning to embrace fiscal policymaking that better respects the economic liberty of taxpayers. But, he adds, citizens must not grow complacent. ​

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​ Friday Reflection

Before my first trip to Israel, numerous friends told me Masada would be my favorite stop – “It’s Israel’s Alamo!” they would say. It’s a beautiful place, overlooking the Dead Sea to the east. The innovative architecture made it all but impenetrable. And, yes, there are striking parallels to the Alamo.

Masada was a remote and massive fortress built by Herod the Great, designed to sustain its occupants for a long time even in the face of an entrenched enemy. The comparison to the Alamo isn’t completely wrong. Masada saw the vastly outnumbered “good guys” hold out against superior forces. And, of course, all the good guys in both stories eventually died when the superior force made it in.

Similar, but you have to do a lot of squinting to make Masada into the Alamo. Where the Alamo came at the beginning of Texas' War of Independence, Masada was the final blow to the Jewish Great Revolt (A.D. 66-73).

The Jewish Zealots, who dreamed of political independence from the Romans, had been fighting for six years when Masada became their last stand. Built on the top of a plateau similar to an American mesa, nearly 1,000 Jews were able to hold out against 15,000 Roman forces.

Over the course of several months, the Romans built a massive siege ramp – still visible today as are the outlines of the legionaries’ camps – which they used to march up to Masada’s walls.

While the Texans at the Alamo fought the advancing Mexicans to the death, the Jewish rebels took their own lives before the Romans could enter.

The Roman historian Josephus, a former Jewish general, wrote that the zealots preferred to take their own lives rather than be paraded around as a conquered people. In contrast, the Alamo defenders were told they would die unless they surrendered.

There was a lot of death at Masada and the Alamo, but with big differences. One group became a footnote in the history of Roman conquest, the other inspired and mobilized a people to defeat what was the greatest military power in the hemisphere.

By choosing suicide at Masada, the Jewish rebels spared themselves the personal embarrassment of being conquered, but that did little good for their fellow countrymen left suffering under the Roman yoke. For those zealots, death was not a sacrifice made to the benefit of others, it was the prideful way out.

In choosing to fight, knowing their own death was all but inevitable, the Alamo defenders hoped to inspire their countrymen to fight a tyrannical and murderous regime. They sacrificed themselves for the cause of liberty.

The lesson I have taken from Masada and the Alamo is that my obligation isn’t to be victorious, but to be faithful. Despite the odds, despite the peril, despite the risk, we must keep fighting.

Today in History

On Sept. 6, 1875, a constitutional convention convened in Austin for the purpose of crafting a new state government in which executive powers were decentralized. The state operates today under the product of that work.

Quote-Unquote

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

– Benjamin Franklin​

Texas’ Chief Executive

Governor of Texas

Greg Abbott - R

(512) 463-2000 [[link removed]:(512) 463-2000]

Lt. Governor

Dan Patrick - R

(512) 463-0001 [[link removed]:(512) 463-0001]

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CEO, Empower Texans

Texas Scorecard & Texans for Fiscal Responsibility

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PO Box 36875 | Houston, TX 77236 The Texas Minute is a quick look at the news and info of the day that we find interesting, and hope you do as well. It is produced on week days and distributed at 6 a.m. (though I'll probably take the occasional break for holidays and whatnot).

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