The Republican-controlled Texas State Senate this week passed legislation to make voting rules more uniform across the state.
The November 2020 election saw cities and counties broadening opportunities for access to the polls. The bill cracks down on their ability to control election procedures, limiting early voting hours to a set 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. statewide, banning drive-through voting, further regulating mail-in voting and prohibiting election officials from sending mail-in ballots to anyone who hasn't requested one.
It would also regulate how polling places are distributed in larger counties and allow poll watchers greater access, including in some cases the power to film voters who receive ballot assistance.
Supporters say it's just common sense and will ensure election integrity. Opponents say the rules target Black and Hispanic voters and is an attempt by Republicans to suppress voting by those who largely favor Democrats.
The bill now goes to the state House for consideration.
We want to know what you think? Is this legislation needed to ensure election integrity? Or is this an attempt at voter suppression?
Send your response (50 words maximum) to [email protected] by Wednesday, April 6. You can also mail your response to the Texarkana Gazette Friday Poll, at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504 or drop it off at our office, 101 E. Broad St., Texarkana, Ark. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. We will print as many responses as we can in next Friday's paper.
Last Week: Control or Infringement?
Last week's question was about the Democrats in Congress and new gun control proposals. Are you worried new gun control laws will be implemented and limit your right to buy and own firearms? Or are you in favor of more restrictions?
First, this has nothing to do with stopping the second amendment. There is nothing wrong with background checks to keep mental patients, criminals, abusers from getting a weapon. I have no problem in banning assault weapons, because I don't know why people need them. What are you shooting, that you need a high capacity gun? Why are gun people so afraid of background checks, maybe you fit in the category of being unfit to have a gun? Stop letting the NRA rule your life. - R.K., Texarkana, Texas
I have no problem with background checks before gun sales. More gun laws will not solve the problem of gun violence. The root problem is the breakdown of the nuclear family. Young men raised without a father are 20 times more likely to end up in prison. Most serial killers and mass murderers were raised without a father. In 1960 5% of children were born out of wedlock, now over 41%. Laws cannot fix this problem. The cause of gun violence will not be solved by gun laws. Otherwise New York City and Chicago would be the safest cities in the country. - L.O., Texarkana, Texas
From www.facebook.com/texarkanagazette
A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. What part of SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED do people not understand?
All these restrictions do nothing except make it harder for law abiding citizens. People will kill guns or not. Criminals will always get their guns.
Mass shootings in Canada are practically nil. They have many of the same problems with people that we have. Gun ownership in Canada is strictly regulated.
Yea criminals sure love those gun laws they keep trying to pass. Just makes it easier for them.
Chicago's gun laws are not working. Idk why everyone thinks it will improve anything. Only makes things better for criminals when people are unarmed.
None of these laws take guns from criminals. And with illegal immigrants flooding our southern border illegal guns, drugs, and everything that comes with it is a far worse concern. The only reason for the government to remove guns from citizens is because they plan to do things that will make citizens fight. Hence the fences and razor wire with a military occupation around the capital.
Not no but heck no. It's the criminals who don't obey the laws not the people who follow the law. First try taking the illegals in this country out then work on the criminals who have gun. If and then only if you can do this talk to me about gun control.
How about enforcing our current laws and keeping criminals in prison?
I think it's the typical left power grab! Once they control your guns and have no means to defend yourself than they can do anything they want! We the people have a right to defend ourselves, especially against the liberal left crap! Go after the criminals and not the good guys with guns!
We already have background checks they want universal background check and they will do nothing to keep criminals from guns only people it will hurt is the honest citizen. And it will get a lot of politicians voted out next go around
Y'all are scared of your own shadows.
The guns are not the issue, it is mental health, to fix a problem, you must first correctly identify the problem and this could have been prevented if the FBI had acted on their own intel
I wholeheartedly support these efforts to stem gun violence in this country.
The government lost the war on drugs, what makes them think they can win a war on guns? Take all the guns away and then start lining every one up in lines for the gas chambers. The world as they like to say is over populated by about 9 billion people. Lol fools will follow anyone telling them they will take care of them if only you do as I say.
No I am not worried, and yes, restrictions for pity's sake.
Welcome to communism folks get what you voted for.
Of course the idiots think more laws are the solution, it's obvious the current laws are not being enforced, so create more. Then defund the police, and create more laws.
When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.
Has anyone on this post ever seen any criminal or person with bad intentions obey recognize or give a crap about any gun law that we have now. No you haven't only the law abiding gun owners are affected by these laws. It do t matter how many laws you pass or how many guns you ban criminals and bad guys will still have guns and continue to do as they wish.
Funny that no shootings happen until they start talking about new gun laws. Happens every time. Where there is smoke. there is fire. Open your eyes people.
They should make killing illegal first and see how that goes
Does these idiots know or even understand. If ppl want guns they sure as hell don't need to buy them in stores or on line. Gezzz.
I wouldn't be surprised if they're behind those shootings so they can use it as an excuse to implement these stupid gun laws.