For Immediate Release Contact: James Dark-- (972) 889-8772 or cell (972)
979-9630

Date: October 23, 2003

The Texas State Rifle Association, in conjunction with the Civil Liberties Defense Foundation, filed suit today against the Metropolitan Transit Authority  of Harris County (Houston Metro) to defend the right of concealed handgun licensees to carry handguns on local transit buses. In addition to the Texas State Rifle Association, other plaintiffs in the suit include Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and several other Houston area concealed handgun
license holders.

"As a Texas citizen, former Houston resident and concealed handgun licensee, I am deeply disturbed by Metro’s attempt to infringe upon Texans’ Second Amendment rights," said Commissioner Patterson, President of the CLDF. "We intend to ensure that all Texans who live in or visit the Houston area are able to protect themselves if the need arises."Texas State Rifle Association Executive Director
James Dark expressed his organization’s outrage, "It is unconscionable for Houston Metro to take the position that just because a law-abiding citizen uses public transportation, they have to forfeit their inherent right to self defense. We believe that this arbitrary policy is both economically and racially discriminatory and is a violation of Texas Statutes and the Texas Constitution."The lawsuit asks the Harris County district court for a declaratory judgment that will force Houston Metro to change its discriminatory policy and allow law-abiding, concealed handgun licensees to carry personal firearms while riding Metro buses.

The Texas State Rifle Association is a non profit 501(c)(4) corporation established in 1919 for the fostering of the shooting sports and the preservation of the right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the United States and Texas Constitutions. The TSRA has 35,000 members across Texas, and maintains an effective full-time lobbying force at the state capitol.

For more information about the Texas State Rifle Association, see their website at tsra.com, or call their headquarters in Richardson at (972) 889-8772.

Additional plaintiffs are needed who meet the following the guidelines:

(1)  Resident of Houston or a city served by Houston Metro
(2)  CHL holder

Preferred, but not required:
(1)  Rides Houston Metro buses on at least an occasional basis.

Optimal plaintiff:
Someone who meets all of the requirements who has actually been told they cannot
ride on a bus.


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If anyone here has a CHL, lives in Houston, and has been told they could not ride the bus, you are the candidate that TSRA could use.

On another note, if you're a Texas resident and don't belong to TSRA, this is one organization you need to join. They do a lot for rights here in Texas and they won't spam you with junk mail like the NRA. They ask for additional donations twice a year and you definitely get your $20 per year back (TSRA counts as a CMP-affiliated club unlike NRA)

Thanks for the update.  I just went to their web page and joined.

As sad as it would be, putting a legal 30.06 sign on a bus would be tough.  Damn thing would cover most of the door.