A Christian terrorist

A Christian terrorist: Gunman who shot up downtown Austin tied to extremists, stopped by hero horse cop

Larry McQuilliams, the man responsible for firing more than 100 rounds in downtown Austin on Black Friday, had ties to the Phineas Priesthood, an extremist Christian hate group, according to the police.

Also known as the Phineas Priests, the group is considered a terrorist organization with links to the Christian Identity movement. The Phineas Priesthood opposes everything from interracial relationships and homosexuality to taxation and abortion.

Though police have yet to propose a motive for the shooting spree, friends have reported that McQuilliams was upset about not being able to find a job while immigrants received federal assistance. McQuilliams had recently moved to Austin and spent time working at a car wash.

The Phineas Priesthood opposes everything from interracial relationships and homosexuality to taxation and abortion.

During his 10-minute downtown shooting spree, McQuilliams shot at the Mexican Consulate and the U.S. Federal Courthouse before taking aim at the Austin Police Department's East Eighth Street headquarters. According to police, Sergeant Adam Johnson killed the suspect with a single shot to the heart while holding the reigns of two patrol horses.

During their investigation, police found McQuilliams had written "let me die" in marker across his chest and had laid out funeral clothes in his South Austin apartment. While examining his van, police found a map with 34 potential targets, as well as canisters made to look like IEDs.

Calling him "a lone wolf," Acevedo said McQuilliams was "a homegrown American extremist," something that is consistent with the Phineas Priesthood which has no governing body and instead relies on individuals to take up the cause without guidance.

McQuilliams had previously spent eight years in federal prison for armed robbery and was arrested in 1998 for a DWI.

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no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana