NOT BACKING DOWN: Governor Abbott Issues Statement On Texas’ Constitutional Right To Self-Defense.

Related: Abbott: Texas Has Constitutional Right To Defend Its Borders From Invasion, Supersedes All Federal Law.

UPDATE: A couple of friends email on this. One says to pay attention, because this confrontation is likely more important than the election or the various wars. Probably true. Another notes that Biden has landed in a bigger legitimacy crisis than anything Trump experienced, and that it’s entirely self-inflicted. Yep.

As for Abbott’s constitutional arguments, well, this is uncharted territory but they seem sound.

Meanwhile, Democratic firebrands are doubling down:

What will Biden do if Abbott says no, arguing that the federal government, having defaulted on its basic constitutional obligations, has forfeited its rights here? He’d better know. Note that Abbott is already getting support from other governors.

ANOTHER UPDATE: