Our fellow citizens at Texas Open Carry went to Austin to lobby their legislators. They want a bill passed that will allow open carry of handguns without a permit, because I guess standing in line at Dunkin Donuts with a 10-pound assault rifle must be making their little arms tired, and permits are so oppressive. So they went to Austin and lobbied. Someone might have explained to them that “lobbying” doesn’t normally involve threats and personal insults.

One elected representative who told the citizens that he did not intend to vote for the bill was accused of tyranny and informed he would be replaced.  The elected representative, Poncho Nevárez, had to call security to get the lobbying citizens out of his office. I’m not sure this crew grasps the subtleties of, well, what elected representatives are.

Wonkette also has a transcript.  The lobbyists also expressed their enthusiasm for deadly weapons by setting up a 3D printing thingie for making guns on the Statehouse steps.

But today’s armed rally, where members of Come and Take It Texas (CATITX) are manufacturing firearms on the statehouse steps using “The Ghost Gunner,” might trump even the most bizarre.

CATITX bought the very first Ghost Gunner, a $1,500 CNC machine—or computer controlled tool manufacturer—which can build the metal body of an AR-15 rifle with no serial number (meaning no background check and no method of tracking should a crime be committed with the firearm). To it, a builder can add necessary components like a barrel and trigger for a fully functional weapon. At the moment, the machine is legal, and the extra parts are not regulated in the U.S., as long as a maker doesn’t plan on selling his creation.

Apparently Rep. Nevárez wasn’t the only legislator who was alarmed by the gun, um, enthusiasts, and on Wednesday the Texas House approved rules that would allow legislators to install panic buttons in their offices and eject hostile visitors from their offices.  See also Digby.

At the other end of the scale, a new poll out from Quinnipiac found that the NYPD has not been winning hearts and minds of late. Josh Marshall writes,

New York City voters disapprove of police officers turning their backs on the Mayor at police funerals by 69% to 27%. 77% think police union President Pay Lynch’s “blood on his hands” remarks were “too extreme” and no racial or gender subset of the population considers the comments “appropriate.”

Though there are big differences across the city’s racial groups 47% of New Yorkers say de Blasio’s actions since he began his run for Mayor show he supports the city’s police. 37% say the opposite.

Finally 52% of New Yorkers (versus 38%) says police discipline has broken down.

Even better, earlier this week there were reports a meeting of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association nearly turned into a riot when members yelled down PBA President Patrick Lynch, telling him they didn’t need an apology from Mayor de Blasio.

“This is what my members want!” a cop yelled near the end of the raucous meeting. “They want more cars, better vests, more manpower!”

And then the cop — one of about 350 in attendance — took a verbal jab at Lynch, who has called on de Blasio to offer a mea culpa for his continued lack of support for police.

“They don’t want an apology,” he said.

Maybe the PBA members would do New York a favor and elect a new President.