I’ll just let Alice Tripp tell it.

SB 321 by Kleinschmidt/Hegar to allow the legal possession of firearms in an employee’s personal, locked vehicle when parked on their employer’s parking lot passed the second reading in the Texas House today at 7:48 pm.  The vote came after nearly 3 hours of debate and attempted amendments.

SB 321 was substituted for HB 681, Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt’s bill.  SB 321 by Sen. Glenn Hegar had already completed the process and had passed in the Texas Senate.

Rep. Kleinschmidt and his 98 co-authors successfully fought-off gutting amendments that would have turned the bill on its head by requiring specifically designated “gun parking areas” offered by Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) and another amendment would allow the employer the right to vehicle inspections.  It was offered by Rep. Juan Castro (D-San Antonio).

Seven amendments, not acceptable to Rep. Kleinschmidt,  were attempted and all failed.

The debate led off with Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth) calling a point of order.  If the point of order had been sustained, the bill could have been slowed down or killed.  The point of order was overturned.

Senator Glenn Hegar, Jr. (R-Katy) has passed this legislation twice in past sessions but it’s a first for the Texas House.   The legislation has always stalled in House Calendar’s committee.   In addition to the hard work of Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt (R-Lexington), special thanks must go to Calendars Committee chairman, Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) and Speaker Joe Straus.

Thanks also to our House Committee Chairman, Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont), for his patience and for his help at the front microphone.

The next step is the vote on third reading.  Then SB 321 will return to the Senate for a last approval or discussion.    If all goes well, it next moves to Governor Perry’s desk and could take effect Sept. 1, 2011.