One hundred and forty five years ago some carpetbaggers decided it would be best if Texans didn’t carry guns around. Today, C. J. Grisham ascended the capitol steps in Austin in glory. They filtered in by twos and threes as the sun peeked through the clouds. It’s always windy on Capitol Hill, and in winter it can be quite crisp, but nobody seemed to mind because a victory, albeit one with conditions, was won. Texans pushed for Constitutional Carry. What they got was the licensed carry with a twist. As C. J. told the crowd, Texans got to remove one thin bit of fabric, revealing the gun on the belt.
Heretofore the gun had to be concealed, so as not to alarm the public. Some police claimed that an exposed pistol would intimidate the public, not explaining why they carried in such a fashion, but I’m just a Simple Ol’ Boy From Austin, so what do I know? The crowd gathered slowly from about 10:30 on, but at 11:00 there were up to about 500 there, all open carrying the weapons they’d hidden for so many years. At 12:00 noon, the crowd began to walk slowly to the capitol steps to serve a bit of reality on Region Seven, DPS.
Region Seven, DPS is renowned for arresting, breaking ribs, and laws, while they serve and protect us from ourselves. They seemed to be reserved today, but I guess that’s because they were not the only ones open carrying. C. J. mounted the steps and gave a talk. As he spoke, I could remember his humiliating arrest in Temple, and the long march up to Capitol Hill to win this battle. Guess he was the one they should have left alone.
I thought that this day should be Texas holiday, and since it was on New Year’s, then it would fit right in. After much consideration I came up with a name. Since we were now “packing” and the DPS was sucking it up, we should call this day, “Pack It In Your Ass Friday!” I should be poet laureate, I really should. I wanted some statistics so I took a personal poll to see how many ISIS were in the crowd. When I couldn’t find any it dawned on me that this was not a gun free zone, like a school, or Christmas party, or church. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it.
The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed! That one line perplexes the liberal mind, but I assure you that when they find themselves cringing beneath a desk as some nut pops the heads off of their co-workers they ain’t thinking about commas in the second amendment, they’re thinking about their butts! As the crowd began to work its way down Congress Avenue, I noticed that there wasn’t one drop of blood on the Capital grounds. Not one word of anger, not one altercation, not one round fired, and not one religious fanatic shouting anything about Allah! Nada! From a legless man in a wheel chair, to a mother carrying both a baby, and a gun, Sam Colt had made them all equal.
History was made today. It’s rare, but when you are it will humble you. These are just ordinary people who didn’t hide under their desks. From soldiers, to store clerks, to housewives, they all stood up and said, “Enough!” As C. J. said, we haven’t completely won, but we have begun, and each year I personally will celebrate, “Pack It In Your Ass Friday!”
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