This is one of those things you just can’t make up.
Inside Texas’ state legislature, loaded guns are fairly common. As the New York Times reported in March, “Just as Texas has long embraced its guns, so has the Capitol. Legislators have walked the terrazzo hallways, attended committee hearings, met with constituents in their offices and voted on the floors of their respective chambers while armed with licensed high-powered pistols tucked beneath their suits or slipped into their boots or purses.”
But as debate begins in the state Senate on sweeping restrictions to reproductive rights, tampons are being confiscated. No, seriously.
Women are being forced to throw out tampons and maxi pads to enter the Senate gallery, which has been confirmed by DPS. […]
However, people with concealed handgun licenses are allowed to bypass long lines to enter the Gallery through the expedited CHL entrance, and per DPS, if a person has a CHL, they can take their gun into the gallery.
For the record, this is not a joke. I’ve confirmed this with many people in Austin this afternoon.
Apparently, conservatives believe progressive activists will, after the vote, throw tampons at Republican state lawmakers who approve the bill. So, anything that “can be thrown at” the senators is being confiscated before citizens can enter the gallery.
See Jessica Luther, BOR, Juanita, and Trail Blazers for more on this. It’s so ridiculous, it deserves another picture:
Sanity was restored in the end, thanks to some intervention from Sen. Kirk Watson, but this episode pretty much sums up this entire fiasco. Really, what more can one say?
As expected, the Democrats asked many pointed questions and got bullshit answers, they offered many sensible amendments that were shot down on party lines, and the bill passed and will go to Rick Perry for his signature. Not a single woman’s health will be improved by this – quite the reverse, in fact – and despite the “omnibus” nomenclature for this bill you can be sure that there will be some other hateful thing filed next session because hey, politics. Go read the Trib and the Observer for the coverage, and whatever it is you’re feeling now, hold onto it tight until next November. Then go to Stand With Texas Women and proclaim your solidarity for all to see.
This sort of thing is just idiotic. The real answer is to arrest people when they actually do something, not confiscate/control inanimate objects as a preventative measure.
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What’s really idiotic is bringing up legislation so antithetical to the needs of an entire gender that they’d feel the need to demonstrate their ire by potentially throwing things at the “legislators.”
Let’s get the whole story out there though. I support their right to peaceably protest but the tampons were being confiscated because there were reports that some were planning on bringing USED tampons in to throw at the senators along with jars of urine and feces and large amounts of unopened tampons. I don’t think it is OK whatever the issue is to bring used tampons, feces and urine into a senate chamber. Here is a part of the DPS statement
During these inspections, DPS officers have thus far discovered one jar suspected to contain urine, 18 jars suspected to contain feces, and three bottles suspected to contain paint. All of these items – as well as significant quantities of feminine hygiene products, glitter and confetti possessed by individuals – were required to be discarded; otherwise those individuals were denied entry into the gallery.
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/07/13/texas-abortion-regulations-debate-nears-climax/
Kuff, Searching and confiscating unused, clean items is silly. But so are the people, on either side, who would throw them. But you are dead wrong if you scoff at what DPS is doing, silly or not, to anticipate the protest and say noting about the USED FEMININE PRODUCTS, FECES AND URINE THAT WAS TRYING TO BE TAKEN IN FOR THROWING. It is one thing to be biased, don’t be a hack
If they say they’re looking for used tampons, then why are they confiscating clean ones? What this sounds like is DPS overreacting to Republican fears of “unruly mobs”, and now they’re trying to cover their asses. It’s crap, and that’s what I’m calling it.
If a woman has one or two in the bottom of her purse and they are harassing her that is one thing, but my reading suggests to me that “significant quantities” means women with bags full or boxes of feminine products trying to get into the chambers. Who knows maybe DPS is lying. I am not a gynecologist but I doubt they needed an entire box or bag to get them through the day. I don’t think it is a stretch to suggest that they were planning on hurling boxes and bags of tampons at the senators. If we make that assumption that they were bringing in large quantities with the intent to throw them, clean or used then it is reasonable to prevent them from bringing them in. Based on some of what I have seen on the stand with texas women sites I believe that was the intent of at least some of them.
It doesn’t matter how many items folks were carrying or what they were. The only time it should have mattered was if they actually threw the items in the legislative chamber. At which point, they could be arrested for assault, littering, or whatever charge is appropriate. Legislators are not entitled to extra protection simply for being legislators.
Oh sure Ross, it’s completely normal to walk around with a jar of feces or urine, people ought to have been allowed to go about their business in the senate chamber with their feces and urine until they actually threw it at someone. That’s reasonable. I am sure they just wanted their bodily products to learn about the legislative process right?
Byron, so what if they were carrying urine or feces or dead pig heart? As long as they don’t throw those items at someone, why would you care that they exist? It’s really none of your, mine, or the DPS’ business what legal items people carry into state buildings. If someone tosses one of those items, arrest them and charge them with whatever felony is appropriate, and prosecute them.
Byron: the article just said that significant amounts of feminine hygiene products were confiscated (along with magazines, receipts, etc.), not that they were confiscated only if an individual carried significant amounts. Here’s a little secret: most women like to be prepared, which means carrying more than one tampon or sanitary napkin. That’s why DPS confiscated a large amount.
Gosh, I wish “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US” had elicited a similar response as these reports that feminine hygiene products may be thrown.
This isn’t about feminine products. This is about The Leftists advocating mob rule and supporting the destruction of decency in human beings…