Gun control debate a neighborly affair at convention.

At Dems’ convention, two opposing groups remain civil despite being in close proximity

FORT WORTH — The complications of the gun control debate for Democrats in Texas is hard to miss at the party’s statewide convention this week.

In an exhibit hall at the Fort Worth Convention Center, Moms Demand Action, a group that is calling for changes to gun laws in the Lone Star State, is next to a booth sponsored by the Texas State Rifle Association, which is handing out literature touting its success at opposing many of the measures Moms Demand Action want.

“I’m not here to change hearts and minds,” said Odie Hitt, who was staffing the Texas State Rifle Association’s booth on Friday morning. “I’m just here to give information.”

While the placement of the two booths is odd, Kristy Hall, one of the members of Moms Demand Action, said it’s not as difficult as it looks.

“It’s not a problem for us,” Hall said. “There are probably a lot more that we agree on than we disagree on with them.”

Hall said her group supports the Second Amendment of the Constitution and recognizes that gun ownership has a long history in Texas.

Democratic Party spokesman Tariq Thowfeek confirmed the placement of the two booths was intentional and there’s been no issue putting them in the same place so far.

While the conversations have mostly been low key, there are points of contention between the two nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations.

Moms Demand Action wants tougher background checks, including for sales at guns shows. The Texas State Rifle Association PAC firmly opposes that and touts a history of beating back attempts to toughen background checks on gun show purchases.

Hitt said one of the things he’s talking about is the rifle association’s long history with Democrats in Texas.

He noted it was a Texas Legislature led by Democrats that passed the state’s concealed carry laws.

Still, a string of Democratic activists wanted to debate Hitt, a retired lieutenant with the Department of Public Safety, about access to high-powered weapons, concealed handgun laws and background checks.

One of those activists was Sharise Lefferd of Colorado County. She said having lived in Texas for 61 years, she understands and supports the right to have guns. But she’s drawing a line on access to weapons like the AR-15. She said that while it can be good for hunting feral hogs, it’s a weapon people shouldn’t be flaunting. She pushed Hitt on why his group is so opposed to banning assault weapons.

Hitt said the U.S. did that before and it made no difference, though gun control advocates disagree. He said the answer isn’t to keep weapons out of the hands of law-abiding citizens but to target the people who shouldn’t have them.