Jonah Patel
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, otherwise known as the permitless carry or constitutional carry bill, into law on June 17, 2021, at the Alamo. The bill, which went into effect on September 1, removes the licensing and training requirements for Texans aged 21 and older to carry a pistol as long as it is in a holster. Abbott referred to the new law as the biggest and best of them all and the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history. However, not everyone supported the bill, including police departments and a majority of Texans, according to a poll by FOX 7 Austin.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the bill | House Bill 1927 |
| Other names | Permitless carry, "constitutional carry" |
| Signed by | Texas Governor Greg Abbott |
| Date | June 17, 2021 |
| Location | Alamo |
| Effective date | September 1, 2021 |
| Other bills signed on the same day | Senate Bill 19, Senate Bill 20, House Bills 957, House Bill 1500, House Bill 2622 |
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What You'll Learn
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill into law on June 17, 2021
- The bill, HB 1927, removes the need for a license or permit to carry a handgun
- Texans aged 21 and over can carry a gun in a holster without training
- The bill passed despite opposition from police and anti-gun campaigners
- Abbott referred to the bill as the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill into law on June 17, 2021
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, also known as the "permitless carry" or "constitutional carry" bill, into law on June 17, 2021. This bill removes the requirement for Texans over the age of 21 to obtain a license or complete training before carrying a pistol or handgun. Abbott referred to the bill as "the biggest and best of them all" and "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history." The bill was set to go into effect on September 1, 2021, even if Abbott had not signed it, as it had passed the Texas Legislature.
The signing of the constitutional carry bill was the culmination of years of efforts by Texas Liberty activists and gun rights advocates. The bill faced opposition from police departments and police chiefs, who argued that it was unnecessary and impeded their ability to support safe gun ownership. Despite this opposition, the bill moved through the Texas Legislature with support from Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who pushed it through a conference committee despite efforts to add amendments designed to kill it.
Governor Abbott's decision to sign the bill into law was met with mixed reactions. While supporters of the bill celebrated it as a victory for the Second Amendment, others, including gun control advocates and law enforcement officials, expressed concern about the potential impact on gun violence in the state. Some Texans also opposed the bill, with a poll from FOX 7 Austin showing that 51% voted no to constitutional carry.
In addition to the constitutional carry bill, Governor Abbott also signed six other pieces of legislation related to firearms on June 17, 2021. These bills included measures to prohibit companies contracting with government agencies in Texas from having policies that discriminate against firearm entities and to broaden the types of holsters that individuals are legally allowed to use to carry pistols.
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The bill, HB 1927, removes the need for a license or permit to carry a handgun
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has stated that he intends to sign HB 1927, the "constitutional carry" bill, into law. This bill removes the requirement for a license or permit to carry a handgun in Texas, allowing eligible Texans aged 21 and over to carry a holstered handgun without a permit.
Under current Texas state law, citizens must obtain a state-issued license to carry a handgun outside their homes and vehicles. The process for obtaining this license includes submitting fingerprints, undergoing training, and passing a written exam and a shooting proficiency test. HB 1927 eliminates the need for this license, allowing Texans to carry handguns without any permit or training.
Governor Abbott has referred to the bill as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history." He believes that requiring a permit or license infringes on the constitutional right to bear arms. However, law enforcement officials, including former Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, have expressed opposition to the bill. Acevedo stated that "most responsible gun owners" do not support permitless, open carry and that the bill is unnecessary.
Despite this opposition, HB 1927 has moved successfully through the Texas Legislature, thanks to the efforts of thousands of Texas Liberty activists and gun rights advocates. The bill faced resistance in the Texas Senate initially but ultimately passed with the support of Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who pushed it through a conference committee despite efforts to add detrimental amendments.
The final step for HB 1927 to become law is Governor Abbott's signature, which he has indicated he will provide. This will make Texas the 21st constitutional carry state, significantly altering the handgun carrying regulations in the state.
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Texans aged 21 and over can carry a gun in a holster without training
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, also known as the "'permitless carry' or "constitutional carry" bill, into law on June 17, 2021, at the Alamo. This bill eliminates the requirement for Texans aged 21 and over to obtain a license or undergo training before carrying a handgun in public. The law took effect on September 1, 2021, making Texas the 21st state to implement constitutional carry.
Prior to the passage of this bill, Texans were required to obtain a state-issued license to carry a handgun outside their homes and vehicles. The application process included submitting fingerprints, completing four to six hours of training, passing a written exam, and demonstrating shooting proficiency. With the new law in place, eligible Texans aged 21 and older can carry a handgun in a holster without needing to meet these previous requirements.
Governor Abbott has referred to the bill as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history," and supporters of the bill argue that requiring a permit or license infringes on their constitutional right to bear arms. However, the bill has faced opposition from police departments and some Texans who are concerned about the potential impact on gun violence in the state. Despite this, the bill moved favorably through the Texas Legislature due to pressure from gun rights activists and was signed into law by Governor Abbott.
In addition to the "constitutional carry" bill, Governor Abbott also signed six other pieces of legislation related to firearms at the Alamo ceremony. These bills included measures to broaden the types of legal holsters, prohibit discrimination against firearm entities, and protect the rights of guests to store firearms and ammunition in their hotel rooms. The signing of these bills further solidified Texas's commitment to expanding gun rights and reducing restrictions on firearm ownership and carry.
While the "constitutional carry" bill faced opposition and sparked debates about public safety and the interpretation of the Second Amendment, it ultimately represented a significant shift in Texas's approach to gun regulations. The elimination of licensing and training requirements for individuals over 21 carrying handguns in public marked a pivotal moment in the state's history and aligned with Governor Abbott's support for expanding gun rights.
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The bill passed despite opposition from police and anti-gun campaigners
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law on September 1, 2021, allowing eligible Texans over the age of 21 to carry a gun in a holster without a license. This legislation, known as "constitutional carry," faced significant opposition from police departments and anti-gun campaigners.
Police chiefs, including former Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, expressed their disapproval of the bill, stating that it was unnecessary and lacked support from most responsible gun owners. They argued that removing the permit or license requirement impeded their ability to maintain safety and effectively regulate gun ownership.
Additionally, anti-gun campaigners and activists worked tirelessly to prevent the bill's passage. For several sessions, they collaborated with special interests and Republican leadership in Austin to block the bill, citing concerns for stricter gun laws. However, their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful due to immense public pressure, which led Lt. Governor Dan Patrick to switch his position and push the bill through a conference committee.
Despite the opposition, the bill moved favorably through the Texas legislature, with Governor Abbott referring to it as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history." The legislation removed several key requirements for gun ownership, including the need for training, a waiting period, and a background check. Texans over the age of 21 can now carry handguns without a state-issued license, which previously required fingerprints, training, a written exam, and a shooting proficiency test.
The passage of this bill highlights the ongoing debate around gun control in Texas, with Republican lawmakers supporting open carry and guns on campus, while many black and Hispanic Texans, as well as Senate Democrats, advocate for stricter gun laws and express concerns for safety in urban areas.
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Abbott referred to the bill as the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed seven gun bills into law, including the so-called "constitutional carry" bill, on June 17, 2021. Abbott referred to the bill as the "strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history". The bill, known as House Bill 1927 or "permitless carry", removes the licensing and training requirements for Texans aged 21 and above to carry a pistol. It also eliminates the need for a state-issued license to carry a handgun outside one's home and vehicle.
The bill faced opposition from police departments across the country, including former Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, who argued that requiring a permit or license does not impede constitutional rights to bear arms. Additionally, a poll by FOX 7 Austin indicated that 51% of respondents voted against constitutional carry. Despite this, the bill had strong support from Texas Liberty activists and gun rights advocates, who had been pushing for its passage for nearly a decade.
Abbott's decision to sign the bill into law was influenced by his belief in the importance of being able to carry a weapon for self-defence, as he chose the Alamo, a site of historic battles, for the ceremonial signing. He referred to the location as "the cradle of liberty in the Lone Star State". Abbott also emphasised that the new law would not compromise public safety, stating that "the bad guys are still going to get the guns they don't need through other means."
The "constitutional carry" bill was one of several firearms-related bills signed into law by Abbott, including Senate Bill 19, which prohibits companies contracting with government agencies in Texas from having policies that discriminate against firearm entities or trade associations. Abbott's actions solidified Texas's position as the 21st constitutional carry state in the country.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, on June 17, 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, also known as the "'permitless carry' or "constitutional carry" bill, into law.
The bill removes the licensing and training requirements for Texans aged 21 and over to carry a pistol.
Abbott referred to the bill as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history" and "the biggest and best of them all". He also said that the location of the ceremonial signing, the Alamo, was "the cradle of liberty in the Lone Star State".
Governor Abbott also signed six other gun bills into law, including Senate Bill 19, which prohibits companies contracting with a government agency in Texas if they discriminate against a firearm entity or trade association, and Senate Bill 20, which allows guests to store firearms or ammunition in their hotel rooms.
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