Following the close of the Texas Legislature’s third special session, where legislation prohibiting vaccine mandates stalled out in the House and Senate, Texans are calling for a fourth special session to stop vaccine mandates.
Despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order prohibiting employer vaccine mandates, many companies—including Southwest Airlines, Raytheon, and United Pacific Railroad—are ignoring the executive order, in part because it only imposes a $1,000 fine.
On Tuesday, the Texas Freedom Coalition, some members of the Texas legislature, and concerned citizens gathered at the Capitol to request that Abbott address these imminent issues by calling a fourth special session.
State Sen. Bob Hall (R–Edgewood) said the “primary purpose of government is to protect liberty,” which is why he is fighting against mandates and wants the issue addressed quickly in the Legislature.
State Rep. Jeff Cason (R–Bedford) also filed legislation in session to stop all employer vaccine mandates—and yet, nothing has been done. According to Cason, bills like his are being ignored, and he’s calling on the leadership in Austin to pass meaningful legislation.
“We’ve got to stop this tyranny,” said Cason.
Christin Bentley, the president of the Texas Freedom Coalition, read statements from each of Abbott’s gubernatorial challengers. They each decried the lack of action on the issue, emphatically stating that Texas is not the place for such an encroachment on personal liberty and Texans will not stand by idly as medical freedom is wrought from them.
“Crony corporate officials are undermining the freedoms of Texans,” said Allen West, adding that Texans “have ceded far too much power and authority.”
Chad Prather noted that Texas is being targeted by Washington, D.C., and is becoming overrun by tyrannical organizations, including educational boards, judiciary, and Big Pharma. Prather asked, “Where is the resolve of our elected representatives to fight for the very basic rights of our citizens?” He went on to accuse the lackadaisical representatives of violating Texas with their inaction.
Don Huffines said, “The role of government is to defend the God-given liberties of our citizens,” adding that “no Texan should lose their job because they don’t want to get a COVID-19 vaccine.”
Huffines has also called for a special session to allocate the entire allotment of federal COVID-relief funds to property tax relief.
The Texas Freedom Coalition is calling for a walk-out/sick-out on Wednesday, October 20, to let employers and the Texas government know that the Texans opposed to the COVID vaccine are necessary for the state to have a productive economy. They also requested that citizens rally at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at their county courthouses and call their representatives about the vaccine mandate issue.
“The line in the sand has been drawn,” said Hall. “This isn’t the Alamo; this is San Jacinto. If we do not take this stand here today, your children and grandchildren will not know what the word ‘liberty’ means.”
As pressure continues to grow, Abbott thanked lawmakers for working “tirelessly” during the third special session. He has not indicated whether a fourth special session is on the horizon.
