Good morning! 

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Wednesday, September 18, 2019
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• Odessa native and Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis says Robert Francis O’Rourke’s gun-control proposals are dangerous, and is calling on the presidential candidate to “quit lying.” Matt Stringer reports the sheriff’s comments come on the heels of “Beto” using the recent Odessa shooting to promote the confiscation of legally owned firearms. 
       
• “O’Rourke’s plan to force good law-abiding citizens to sell the government their ARs and AKs is a dangerous endeavor. That is not the answer and he is an idiot. In fact, it will probably create a civil war.” – Sheriff Mike Griffis
     
• Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick took umbrage to yesterday’s Texas Minute negatively referencing his endorsement of Obama-era gun-control mandates in light of Constitution Day. He wrote on Twitter, “You know my plan exempts family and friends, so apparently you are fine with selling your guns to total strangers who can’t pass a background check because they could be a violent felon or someone bent on mass violence.”
       
• My lawyer friends call that “presuming facts not in evidence” while my kids’ logic teachers would call it an “ad hominem fallacy.”
      
• National talk show host Dana Loesch in turn responded by challenging Patrick to “explain how one establishes... federally regulated private transfers (UCBs) without establishing a registry. I have invited you repeatedly to discuss this with me on my broadcast via my producer and have yet to receive a response.”
      
• Former Republican State Rep. Matt Rinaldi chimed in, asking: “How do you define ‘friend’ in code @DanPatrick? Do you have to meet for coffee a minimum of two times before the transaction? Are acquaintances and well-wishers included?”

• The Texas Constitution puts the selection of the judiciary in the hands of the citizens, through the ballot box. That practice has come under fire in recent years, with some Republicans and Democrats wanting state judges to be picked by an unelected commission. Yet speaking at the Federalist Society Texas Chapters Conference last weekend, Professor Brian Fitzpatrick argued such commissions result in a more liberal judiciary. Tony McDonald has the details.
      
• In a new blog post, Robert Montoya describes his attempt to investigate the Tarrant Regional Water District funneling taxpayer dollars to a leftist media company.
       
• Please join me in wishing a very happy birthday to Empower Texans’ CFO, Dustin Matocha!