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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 156
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WHEREAS, The Texas Rangers, the oldest state law |
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enforcement agency in the United States, is hosting a kickoff |
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event in commemoration of the legendary organization's |
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bicentennial on January 13, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, From the settlement of the Texas frontier to the |
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struggle against lawlessness during the oil boom and the |
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Prohibition era, the Texas Rangers have played a central role in |
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the administration of justice throughout the history of the Lone |
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Star State; the term "Rangers" was first applied to a group that |
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was formed to protect colonists under Stephen F. Austin in 1823, |
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and the establishment of the Texas Rangers was later formalized |
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by his Permanent Council, which assigned to the unit the |
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responsibility of guarding the frontier from Native American |
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incursions until the end of the Texas Revolution; and |
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WHEREAS, After Texas won independence, the Texas Rangers |
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were mobilized to a number of counties, and by the mid to late |
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1870s, their role resembled that of something between an army and |
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a police force; they were typically called on to assist with |
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cases that were considered beyond the means of local police, and |
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by the turn of the 20th century, they had transitioned from their |
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duties as a frontier militia to focus almost exclusively on law |
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enforcement; the beginning of the century was rife with crime, |
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and the Rangers spent several decades fending off raiders along |
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the Mexican border, countering spies and saboteurs, and |
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apprehending the various gamblers, horse thieves, cattle |
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rustlers, smugglers, bootleggers, and other offenders that |
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dominated West Texas at that time; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Rangers subsequently began operating |
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under the administration of the Department of Public Safety, |
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which was created by the Texas Legislature on August 10, 1935; |
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only 36 personnel were initially assigned to the agency, but |
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their newfound access to the department's resources, including a |
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state-of-the-art crime laboratory, greatly enhanced the Rangers' |
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investigative capabilities; newer and more advanced technologies |
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would further facilitate their development into a fully |
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modernized police force, and from 1935 to 1955, their annual |
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workload increased from approximately 255 cases to more than |
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16,700; today, in addition to investigating high-profile crimes, |
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the Rangers contribute to border security, tactical operations, |
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and crisis negotiation and provide key support and intelligence |
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to ensure that our state is protected at every level; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of two centuries, the Texas |
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Rangers have cemented an international reputation that has grown |
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with their depiction in multitudes of books, movies, television |
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and radio shows, and pulp novels; the Rangers are inextricably |
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linked to the history and mythology of the Old West, where they |
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brought such notorious outlaws to justice as serial murderer John |
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Wesley Hardin and train robber Sam Bass; their ranks have |
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included a number of lawmen who achieved renown for their |
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crime-fighting feats, among them Frank H. Hamer, John S. Ford, |
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John Coffee Hays, and Captain W. J. McDonald, who is credited |
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with the phrase that became the Rangers' creed: "No man in the |
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wrong can stand up against a fellow that's in the right and keeps |
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on a-comin'"; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Rangers of today are continuing a proud |
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and storied tradition of service through their efforts to keep |
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the peace and enforce the rule of law, and it is a pleasure to |
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join in celebrating this significant milestone in the history of |
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one of the most iconic institutions of the Lone Star State; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby commemorate the bicentennial of the Texas |
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Rangers and commend its members, past and present, for their |
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steadfast courage and dedication to duty; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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the Texas Rangers as an expression of high regard from the |
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Texas Senate. |
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Birdwell, Hughes, Middleton, Sparks |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on February 14, 2023. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |