Simone Lawson
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the constitutional carry bill into law on June 17, 2021, allowing Texans over the age of 21 to carry handguns in public without a license or training, effective September 1, 2021. The bill, also known as House Bill 1927 or permitless carry, removes the state's $40 fee and training requirements to obtain a handgun license, and faced opposition from gun reform advocates, Democrats, and law enforcement officers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the bill | House Bill 1927 |
| Other names | Permitless carry, Constitutional carry |
| Signed by | Texas Governor Greg Abbott |
| Date signed | June 16, 2021 |
| Effective from | September 1, 2021 |
| Key provisions | Texans over 21 years of age can carry handguns in public without a license or training |
| Texans can openly carry handguns on college campuses | |
| Texans can carry concealed handguns virtually everywhere | |
| Removes the state's $40 fee to obtain a handgun license | |
| Removes training requirements to obtain a handgun license | |
| Applicants are not required to submit fingerprints | |
| Applicants are not required to pass a written exam and a shooting proficiency test | |
| Support | Republicans, gun rights advocates, conservatives |
| Opposition | Gun reform advocates, Democrats, law enforcement officers |
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What You'll Learn
- Texans can carry handguns without a license
- Abbott referred to it as the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history
- The bill faced opposition from gun reform advocates, Democrats, and law enforcement officers
- The law will remove the state's $40 fee to obtain a handgun license
- The bill allows officers to disarm a person at any time for the officer's safety
Texans can carry handguns without a license
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, otherwise known as the "permitless carry" or "constitutional carry" bill, into law on June 16, 2021. The law removes the requirement for Texans over the age of 21 to obtain a license to carry (LTC) in order to carry a handgun in public. Texans are still able to obtain an LTC, which may carry additional benefits and is recognized in several other states.
Prior to the bill's passage, Texans generally needed to be licensed to carry handguns openly or concealed. Applicants had to submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training, and pass a written exam and a shooting proficiency test. The new law also removes the state's $40 fee to obtain a handgun license and eliminates training requirements.
There are still restrictions on who can carry a handgun in Texas. Individuals must not be restricted from possessing a firearm under federal law, have a prior felony conviction, have a recent conviction for certain types of misdemeanours, be subject to an unexpired protective order, or be a member of a criminal street gang. Additionally, there are certain places where firearms are prohibited, including high school, college, and professional sporting events, and correctional facilities.
The "constitutional carry" bill was one of seven gun bills signed into law by Governor Abbott, alongside bills prohibiting companies contracting with a government agency in Texas from discriminating against firearm entities, barring hotels from disallowing guests from storing firearms or ammunition in their rooms, broadening the types of holsters a person is legally allowed to use, and removing prohibitions on suppressors.
Supporters of the "constitutional carry" bill, including Governor Abbott, have praised it as a victory for Second Amendment rights, while critics have argued that it will lead to increased gun violence and make it easier for criminals to obtain guns.
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Abbott referred to it as the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed seven gun bills into law, including the "'constitutional carry' bill", on June 17, 2021. The bill allows Texans over the age of 21 to carry handguns in public without a license or training, starting September 1, 2021. Abbott referred to the new law as "the biggest and best of them all" and "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history."
The "constitutional carry" bill, also known as House Bill 1927 or the "'permitless carry' bill", eliminates the requirement for Texas residents to obtain a license to carry handguns if they are not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a gun. Before the bill was signed into law, Texans generally needed to be licensed to carry handguns openly or concealed. Applicants had to submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training, and pass a written exam and a shooting proficiency test. The new law also removes the state's $40 fee to obtain a handgun license.
Supporters of the legislation argued that it would restore Second Amendment rights to law-abiding Texans. Abbott, who was joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other Republican lawmakers at the bill signing ceremony, thanked the lawmakers who authored and passed the legislation, saying that they "built a complete barrier of gun rights in Texas."
Critics of the bill, including gun reform advocates, Democrats, and law enforcement officers, argued that it would make it easier for criminals to obtain guns and endanger officers. Some El Paso lawmakers denounced the bill, noting that it came during the first legislative session since the deadly mass shootings in 2019. Despite the opposition, the bill passed with several amendments to address concerns by law enforcement groups.
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The bill faced opposition from gun reform advocates, Democrats, and law enforcement officers
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, also known as the Firearm Carry Act of 2021 or the "'constitutional carry' bill", into law on June 16, 2021. The bill removes the requirement for a license to carry a handgun in Texas and eliminates training and education requirements for firearm use.
Law enforcement officers initially opposed the bill, stating that it would make their jobs more difficult and dangerous. However, support from law enforcement officers increased as legislators made amendments to the bill to address their concerns. The final version of the bill allows officers to disarm a person at any time for the officer's safety and includes tougher penalties for felons and domestic violence offenders caught carrying a gun.
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The law will remove the state's $40 fee to obtain a handgun license
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, otherwise known as the permitless carry or "constitutional carry" bill, into law on June 16, 2021. The law removes the state's $40 fee to obtain a handgun license, as well as the training requirements. Texans over the age of 21 can now carry handguns in public without a license.
Before the new law, Texans generally needed to be licensed to carry handguns openly or concealed. Applicants had to submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training, and pass a written exam and a shooting proficiency test. The new law eliminates these requirements, making it easier for Texans to obtain and carry handguns.
The constitutional carry bill was a huge win for gun rights advocates, who have long lobbied the Texas Legislature for permitless carry. Governor Abbott referred to the new law as "the biggest and best of them all" and "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history." He also thanked the GOP lawmakers who authored and passed the legislation, saying they "built a complete barrier of gun rights in Texas."
However, the bill faced opposition from gun reform advocates, Democrats, and law enforcement officers. Critics argued that the move would only lead to more gun violence and make it easier for criminals to obtain guns. Some El Paso lawmakers denounced the bill, noting that it came during the first legislative session since the deadly mass shootings in 2019. Despite the opposition, the bill passed with several amendments to address concerns raised by law enforcement groups.
The law went into effect on September 1, 2021, and Texans can now carry handguns without a license or training. The permitless carry movement saw a breakthrough in April 2021 when the House passed HB 1927. Despite initial concerns about the lack of votes in the Senate, the bill ultimately passed and was signed into law by Governor Abbott.
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The bill allows officers to disarm a person at any time for the officer's safety
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, otherwise known as the "permitless carry" or "constitutional carry" bill, into law on June 16, 2021. The bill allows Texans over the age of 21 to carry handguns in public without a license or training, starting on September 1, 2021.
One of the most notable aspects of the bill is that it allows officers to disarm a person at any time if they believe it is necessary for their safety. This provision was included to address concerns raised by law enforcement groups, who initially opposed the bill out of fears that it would endanger officers and make it easier for criminals to obtain guns.
The "constitutional carry" bill faced significant opposition from gun reform advocates, Democrats, and law enforcement officers, who argued that it would make their jobs more difficult and lead to increased gun violence. However, supporters of the bill, including conservative activists and gun rights advocates, viewed it as a restoration of Second Amendment rights for law-abiding Texans.
In the end, the bill passed with several amendments that were added to address the concerns of law enforcement. These amendments included striking a provision that would have barred officers from questioning people based solely on their possession of a handgun, as well as enhancing criminal penalties for felons and domestic violence offenders caught carrying a gun.
Governor Abbott referred to the bill as "the biggest and best of them all" and "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history." He also thanked the GOP lawmakers who authored and passed the legislation, stating that they had "built a complete barrier of gun rights in Texas."
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the "constitutional carry" bill into law on June 16, 2021.
The bill, also known as House Bill 1927 or "permitless carry", allows Texans over the age of 21 to carry handguns in public without a license or training.
The bill went into effect on September 1, 2021.
The bill was supported by conservatives and gun rights advocates, who considered it a win for Second Amendment rights. However, it faced opposition from gun reform advocates, Democrats, and law enforcement officers who believed it would make their jobs more difficult and lead to more gun violence.
The bill removes the state's $40 fee for obtaining a handgun license and eliminates training requirements. It also includes Senate amendments that enhance criminal penalties for felons and domestic violence offenders caught carrying a gun, and require the Texas Department of Public Safety to offer a free online course on gun safety.
