Columns/Opinions

By ED STERLING

AUSTIN — The primary suspect in a string of terrorist-style bombings died in his pickup truck on March 21. Mark Anthony Conditt, 23, of Pflugerville, detonated explosive devices in his truck on an Interstate 35 access road in Round Rock as two law enforcement officers approached the vehicle on foot. One officer was injured in the explosion.

The other officer reportedly fired a rifle at the suspect. Intensive search and surveillance operations began on March 2, when a bomb later traced to Conditt exploded and killed an Austin man who picked up what appeared to be a normal package delivered to his residence. Similar packages exploded in the Austin area on March 12, one killing a teen and injuring his mother, and another injuring a 75-year-old woman. On March 18, two men were injured by a tripwire-triggered improvised explosive device in Austin.

By ED STERLING,

AUSTIN — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on March 13 praised a ruling by a panel of the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upholding a new state law that bans sanctuary cities. The Legislature enacted Senate Bill 4 in 2017 to set a statewide policy of cooperation with federal immigration authorities’ enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws. “I’m pleased the 5th Circuit recognized that Senate Bill 4 is lawful, constitutional and protects the safety of law enforcement officers and all Texans,

” Paxton said. “Enforcing immigration law prevents the release of individuals from custody who have been charged with serious crimes. Dangerous criminals shouldn’t be allowed back into our communities to possibly commit more crimes.” The ruling also drew reactions from several lawmakers, including state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, who serves as chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.

By ELLIS KNOX

Recently I heard a commentator say that we should try very strict gun control in a controlled experiment. Select a city and pass the most strenuous laws possible and see what effect it has on crime. Then after a pause for effect he said, “Oh, yeah we tried that in the democrat utopia, Chicago, and the results are in… it’s a complete failure.” He went on to say that because of very strict gun-control laws, no law abiding citizen of Chicago has any gun. Yet in the last two years,

By ELLIS KNOX

The more we find out about the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, in Parkland, Fla. the more we learn of the failure of government to handle the situation. Now we’ve learned multiple sources complained to the sheriff’s office there, and to the FBI about the shooter, Nikolas Cruz, 19.

One student survivor told Fox News everyone knew he’d do something like that someday. Now we find that an Obama administration program to prevent certain intervention by the police was also in play. So the 39 times the police were called to his home, the numerous complaints to the administration by students, and the calls to the FBI were officially ignored because of rules set up by Obama’s Justice Department led by Eric Holder.

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By ED STERLING, Texas Press Association

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott is calling for immediate action to ensure the safety of Texas’ junior college campuses following a Feb. 14 mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

Abbott’s order came in a Feb. 28 letter to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Commissioner Raymund Paredes. He issued a similar order addressing the safety of all Texas schoolchildren a week earlier.

Abbott outlined steps to be taken by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

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