In response to Bill Pickle's "Bastard...Gun Owners"

I could not help but notice Bill Pickle’s article on gun ownership in Texas, not only because the first word of the title is “bastard”, but because gun control (or lack there of) is an important and controversial issue in the world today, especially in Texas.

For some reason Texans have always thought that the world is out to get them. Maybe it dates back to the fact that Texas was its own independent nation once upon a time, and the people residing here feel they should still be a little better than the rest of the country. I’m not sure, I don’t consider myself one of them. I personally am not for or against gun control but I would like to react to an interesting bit of Mr. Pickle’s commentary.

He states, “Average citizens who want to protect themselves and their families will no longer be treated like hardened criminals.”

I consider myself to be an average Texas citizen. I was born and raised here; I have a job, I go to school, I can vote, etc… I have also driven across the country many times including to and from Maine, to and from Colorado, to and from Southern California, and numerous times to and from a family friend’s beach house in Galveston. I have never ever, not even once, been threatened while traveling. I’ve done all of this traveling from the time I got my license at 16 up until last summer when I turned 19. I’ve done it with my siblings, my parents, and even my girlfriend. Let me re-emphasize, I have never been threatened while traveling.

The kind of person that becomes threatened when traveling, is the kind of person that threatens while traveling. This, I believe, goes back to the arrogant and self-centered nature of Texans and their feeling of righteousness. You simply don’t need a gun to protect yourself while traveling, and if you really think you do, you should obviously never travel because it’s too dangerous. You never know when one of those gun-carryin’, car travelin’ Texans will threaten you and your family. Remember, they could be anywhere so watch out.

Texans should Approve Prop. 2

I chose to critically analyze Proposition 2 on the Texas voter’s ballot in November 2007. This proposition states the following:

"The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of $500 million in general obligation bonds to finance educational loans to students and authorizing bond enhancement agreements with respect to general obligation bonds issued for that purpose."

I believe Texas voters should approve this proposition because, as a current student needing financial aid, I personally know the hardships college costs can create. Higher education costs are constantly rising and these costs create a burden on students and young adults to pay back these fees, not only in full, but with added interest, making the cost of education substantially higher than advertised in the long run.

One argument against releasing these funds to increase financial aid would be to spend the money elsewhere. Texas could of course spend this money elsewhere, but nowhere else would it directly affect the future and growth of Texas. This money will help Texas become a more educated state because it will increase the number of students able to go to college and afford the costs of tuition, room and board, books, computers, lab fees etc…

If we approve these funds, Texas high school students will more likely be able to afford college and therefore more likely to go to college making Texas a more educated state. This bodes well the economic and societal advancement of Texas in future years. Educating students should be a priority in this state, and these funds will help achieve future success. Again I urge you to approve proposition 2 and vote “YES” this November.