The rich heritage and history of the great State/Republic of Texas is replete with examples demonstrating tremendous devotion to the fundamental ideals of what makes a society - and its government - truly great. Texas earned a reputation for Law, Order and Justice. People colonized Texas with the vision of establishing true Liberty, living free, and looking out for others who shared those same values.
Because of this, people were drawn to Texas from all over the continent. After all, the word "Texas" comes from the Caddo word táysha', which means "friend" or "ally".
Spanish explorers heard this and began referring to the region as Tejas, which eventually became "Texas". The idea of Texas as a friendly, welcoming place stuck, and great people came to colonize this new shining place, planting the seeds for what would become truly, the greatest state in the land. This spirit of Texas became so common among the people, and so well-known throughout the world that, in 1930, the state of Texas officially adopted "Friendship" as its state motto.
Stephen F. Austin, born in Virginia, made his way to Texas from Missouri and led the first 300 colonizers of Texas; he eventually became known as the “father of Texas” who drew the line in the sand at the Alamo…
David Crockett, the famed representative from Tennessee - he left Tennessee to come to Texas with only 4 other men in his party in 1835, with the talk of revolution heavy in the air. By the time he reached Nacogdoches, his party had grown to 30 men, which had dwindled back down to 12, besides Crockett, by the time they reached San Antonio. He died defending the Alamo…
Juan Seguin, who was born in San Fernando de Béxar, Spanish Texas (now San Antonio, Texas) in 1806, fought at the Battle of San Jacinto and was a key recruiter of Mexican-Texans for independence…
Lorenzo de Zavala, born in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, in 1788, was exiled after opposing a coup that eventually ushered in the dictatorship of Santa Ana - - - Zavala opposed the coup for violating the constitution and undermining states’ rights and imposing centralist authoritarianism. He was exiled and moved to Texas, where he became a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the first Vice President of Republic of Texas under President Sam Houston…
All of these heroes, and many, many others, across racial lines, state lines and even national alliances, became bound by a common fidelity to the self-evident truth that God is the Giver of our lives and our worth, and that Liberty is a right that comes from God, due every person; and that government is solemnly bound to secure, protect and defend these sacred, unalienable rights.
In the nearly ten years of the Republic of Texas (1836–1845), Texians faced lawlessness and land issues. Law and order was established via the Texas Rangers, formed in 1823 and active as frontier lawmen during the Republic. They pursued outlaws and defended settlements. They built the “Texas tough” reputation for law and order, and for the most part, they found their efforts supported by a system of criminal justice that actually dispensed justice.
For example, horse theft was a serious felony under Texas law, and it was typically punished by 2-7 years in the penitentiary. However, it is important to note that The Republic of Texas penal code authorized death by hanging for horse theft, although no records show any formal court sentence leading to execution.
Of course, that is assuming the horse thief lived to see trial. Lynchings were common for horse thieves, and there was very little demand for recourse against those who engaged in “frontier justice” for such people with so little regard for fundamental morality and common decency, respect and order.
Executions most certainly happened, but mostly for the crimes of murder and rape. Although Texas Law allowed for the execution of horse thieves, there is no record of a sentence resulting in an actual execution.
That said, The Republic of Texas executed only 8 people from 1836-1845. Of course, the peak population was only around 135,000 and there was a far greater reverence for general decency and good moral conduct.
Fast-forward to the Texas of today. Population: more than 32 million. The reverence for God and His moral precepts have been forcefully wrenched from society, enabled by a complacent - if not complicit - government. Multi-cultural secularism and the incorporation of societal systems hostile to Christian moral principles have led us to a Texas frontier that presents even greater dangers than those faced by those who first colonized this great land.
The state of Texas still largely enjoys the reputation earned from its days as a standalone republic as well as its early days of statehood. However, it is quite fair to question whether that reputation is being earned today. In fact, even passing scrutiny reveals that the Texas of today is not even a shadow of its legacy.
Since 2016, approximately 17,000 murders have occurred in Texas. Murder investigations/prosecutions produce an approximate clearance rate of only 53%, so out of 17,000 murders, Texas has achieved only about 9,000 convictions.
In addition, Texas has seen approximately 160,000 rapes since 2016, with a conviction rate of only 12-13%, estimated. That’s approximately 18,000 convictions of the crime of rape since 2016. These figures include cases of rape/sexual assault of minors.
For the crimes of murder and rape in the state of Texas, that is a total of 177,000 incidents resulting in 27,000 convictions.
Of those approximately 27,000 convictions, the state that built its reputation for love of life, liberty and law and order has executed only 47 of these vile criminals since 2016.
We should certainly agree that not every conviction for rape or murder should warrant an automatic sentence of death. However, 47 executions out of 177,000 incidents and 27,000 convictions? Of murder convictions alone, that is barely 1/2 of 1% of all convicted murderers who are put to death.
Even worse are the number of murderers who are either sentenced lightly, released on bond, or both, and who murder again. Since 2016, as many as 30 convicted murderers served sentences of 7 years or less - the sentence Texas used to impose for horse theft. As many as 3 who served such light sentences went on to murder again.
As an example as to how Texas has squandered a well-earned reputation, consider the case of Billy Chemirmir, a Kenyan-born Black male who is linked to as many as 20 or more murders, but who was convicted for only 2 of those murders in 2 separate trials:
Mary Brooks, murdered January 31, 2018, and Lu Thi Harris, murdered on March 20, 2018.
Chemirmir would pose as a maintenance worker/caregiver at senior living facilities, and he targeted elderly women. He would then smother them with a pillow and steal their belongings.
For his crimes, he was convicted of capital murder, and sentenced to life without parole in both cases. It is important to note that Dallas DA John Creuzot did not seek death penalty because of his own personal position against it - a blatant violation of the Texas Constitution.
Creuzot is still serving as the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney as of May 2026, working out of the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas. He lost the 2026 Democratic primary to former judge Amber Givens, so he is expected to leave office when the new term begins in January 2027.
In celebrating her victory, Givens has highlighted her historic status as potentially (and likely) the first Black woman DA of Dallas County. She also emphasizes “community justice,” “fairness for all” and “justice belongs to the people.” That will only be true if she holds her personal opinions regarding “community justice” in abeyance to the Constitution and the laws of Texas, and not the other way around…
“Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous — both are detestable to the Lord.”
~Proverbs 17:15 HCSB
“When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
~Proverbs 29:2 HCSB
A government that truly values life has a responsibility to its citizenry to see that justice is served. When a citizenry is brutalized to the tune of 1,700 murders per year while their government dispenses justice to fewer than 5 murderers per year, that is a government hostile to its own people.
Texas needs to be saved, and that will only occur with a people who decide to rededicate themselves and this state back to the Lord. A moral, responsible government can only be derived from a people who are themselves committed to morality and responsible citizenship.
Texians must rise once again, and elect a government filled not with party players, but independent Constitutionist leaders and representatives. The Constitution Party of Texas will only provide and support candidates who, once elected, will work to ensure that those who take the life of a Texian citizen unjustly will meet his or her day of reckoning.
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