Unfair Park from p4 Department of Education shouldn’t exist because education isn’t part of the federal government’s enumerated powers. 8. Teach that there are only two genders According to the state’s GOP, only biological males and biological females are legitimate. They say there aren’t any other genders. 9. Abolish tenure Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has previously slammed tenure, saying new professors and those who teach critical race theory shouldn’t receive it. But the state’s GOP is taking it a step further, insisting that the entire tenure system should be replaced with one that’s merit-based. 10. Oppose Marxism and multiculturalism in college curricula Texas’ GOP doesn’t want state formula funding to support so-called “divisive curri- cula,” such as “Marxist, anti-American, Crit- ical Race Theory, multiculturalism, or diversity-equity-inclusion courses.” 11. Being gay is an “abnormal lifestyle choice” To the state’s Republicans, people “choose” to be gay, and that’s “abnormal.” They’re also against gay marriage, even if the couple married outside Texas. Happy Pride! 12. The state must acknowledge that porn is a public health hazard Not sure why. They didn’t expand. 13. Repeal all hate crimes laws Hate crime laws should be repealed because they’re unnecessary, the Texas GOP says. They argue that there are already plenty of other laws covering crimes against “other persons” on the books. 14. Heritage must be preserved The Alamo must never be “reimagined,” Re- publicans say. All Confederate monuments should also stay put, and those that have al- ready been relocated need to be returned. 66 15. “There shall be no gun free zones in Texas.” Ya hear? The GOP has a Texas-crushing agenda. Photo illustration by Sarah Schumacher 16. Repeal Voting Rights Act of 1965 Texas Republicans claim they support suf- frage for all U.S. citizens old enough to vote. But they’re pushing for an end to the Voting Rights Act, which was passed to combat dis- crimination against African American voters. 17. Recreational marijuana shouldn’t be legal- ized. Neither should casino gambling. 18. Conquer terrorism “Radical Islamic terrorists” are still a threat, as far as Texas Republicans are concerned. They’re pushing for the Muslim Brother- hood to be classified as a foreign terrorist group and for government agencies to cut ties with organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). 19. Withdraw from the United Nations The state’s GOP claims to support the United States’ sovereignty, so it’s calling for a withdrawal from the United Nations. They vehemently reject a “One World Govern- ment,” an apparent reference to an anti-glo- balist conspiracy theory. 20. The 2020 presidential election was “illegitimate” Delegates also passed a resolution on a con- sistently debunked notion that falsely claims the 2020 presidential election was rigged. “We reject the certified results of the 2020 Presidential election, and we hold that act- ing President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States,” it reads. ▼ GUNS MAD MAYORS T DALLAS MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON HAS JOINED 12 OTHER TEXAS MAYORS IN DEMANDING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON GUN REFORM. BY SIMONE CARTER he mayors of Texas’ largest cities have just about heard enough of Gov. Greg Abbott’s talk when it comes to guns. Less jabber, they say, more gumption: Call a special session. In a letter released last week, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced he’d joined a bipartisan group of a dozen city leaders de- manding that the Republican governor act: Do something to prevent yet another mass shooting claiming the lives of innocent Tex- ans; Do something to keep guns away from those who shouldn’t have them. “Families are asking us how many more shootings must happen before we act,” the group of mayors wrote. “The communities of Uvalde, El Paso, Santa Fe, and Sutherland Springs deserve better. In response to mass shootings — Florida passed red flag laws, and we can do the same here in Texas.” The mayors’ petition comes roughly a month after an elementary school shooting in Uvalde, which left 19 children and two ed- ucators dead. Most Texans want to see their kids protected via “common sense reform,” the 13 mayors wrote. February polling by the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas found that 43% of the state’s voters would like gun con- trol laws to become stricter. The coalition of big-city mayors is urg- ing Abbott to call a special session to tackle several gun reform measures. The five ac- tions they want to see added to the call are new red flag laws, raising the minimum age to 21 to purchase so-called assault weap- ons, universal background checks, a boost in school safety officer resources and train- ing, plus a spike in mental health support funding. “These reforms, supported by most Tex- ans, would have prevented the shooters in El Paso and Uvalde from obtaining their weap- ons,” they wrote. (Authorities believe that the Uvalde suspect bought two assault-style rifles just after he turned 18.) Days after the Uvalde massacre, Insider reported that Abbott had declined to back any new gun control laws. He did, however, insist on improving campus safety, such as school security policies, as well as Texas’ mental health services. Loosening gun restrictions makes the jobs of law enforcement harder, the mayors argued. Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia urged lawmakers last year not to pass the so- called permitless carry bill. But pass it did, Mayor Eric Johnson demands gun reform. Brian Maschino allowing Texans to carry handguns without training or a permit. It seems unlikely that Abbott will pay much attention to the mayors, considering that legislators didn’t listen to Garcia, one of the state’s top cops. Still, multiple conserva- tive mayors have added their signatures to the letter, including Fort Worth’s Mattie Parker and John Muns of Plano. Texas is lacking when it comes to mental health care access, ranking No. 50 in the country, the mayors noted. Following the Uvalde shooting, Abbott said the suspect had mental health issues and admitted that the state needs to improve its mental health support. But the mayors have called for better resources in behavioral health, “several magnitudes greater than what has been mentioned.” And they argue that to pro- tect the Second Amendment, common- sense gun policies must pass to make it harder for dangerous people to obtain those weapons. “We cannot stand idly by while more of our fellow Texans, often our children and law enforcement officers, are laid to rest as the result of another preventable shooting,” they wrote. “Action is the only thing that will save more lives.” ▼ LABOR AIRLINE ANIMOSITY week to protest a pilot shortage, poor work- ing conditions, delays and cancelations, they say. Amy Robinson, communications director A for the Southwest Airlines Pilot Association (SWAPA), said they want movement in their contract negotiations, which have been con- tinuing for some time. >> p8 A REGIONAL PILOT SHORTAGE LEADS TO CANCELATIONS AND PICKETING PILOTS DUE TO DIFFICULT WORKING CONDITIONS AND DELAYED CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. BY KATE PEZZULLI mid ongoing chaos in the air travel industry, Southwest pilots picketed at Dallas Love Field Airport last MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2014 JUNE 30-JULY 6, 2022 DALLAS OBSERVER DALLAS OBSERVER | CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | MOVIES | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | SCHUTZE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS | CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | CULTURE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS dallasobserver.comdallasobserver.com
