Jonah Patel
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed the constitutional carry bill into law, allowing Texans to carry handguns in public without a license or permit. The bill, known as House Bill 1927, removes the requirement for people 21 years and older to have a permit to carry loaded handguns in most public places. This makes Texas the 20th or 21st state to restore constitutional carry, depending on the source. Governor Abbott has referred to the bill as the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history. While supporters of the bill argue that it expands gun rights under the Second Amendment, opponents, including gun control activists and law enforcement, argue that it will increase gun violence and make it easier for criminals to obtain guns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the bill | Constitutional carry bill |
| Bill Number | H.B. 1927 |
| Date signed into law | June 17, 2021 |
| Effective date | September 1, 2021 |
| State | Texas |
| Governor | Greg Abbott |
| Number of state in the US to pass the bill | 20th or 21st |
| Number of states in the US with Constitutional Carry | 21 |
| Number of states in the US with Shall Issue | 21 |
| Number of states in the US with May Issue | 8 |
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What You'll Learn
Texas becomes the 21st state to have constitutional carry
Texas has become the 21st state to have constitutional carry, allowing Texans to carry holstered handguns in public without a permit. The bill, known as House Bill 1927, was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 17, 2021, and went into effect on September 1, 2021.
Governor Abbott, a strong supporter of the bill, referred to it as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history." He tweeted, "Constitutional carry is moving in the #txlege. The strongest Second Amendment legislation in Texas history. Let’s get it to my desk for signing." The bill allows anyone who can legally possess a firearm in Texas to carry a handgun in public without a license or permit, as long as the gun is in a holster.
Supporters of the bill, including Republicans, argue that requiring a permit or license impedes their constitutional right to bear arms under the Second Amendment. They believe that the measure puts Texas in line with at least 20 other states that have similar laws. Rep. Matt Schaefer, a Tyler Republican and author of the bill, praised the compromise reached between the House and Senate, stating, "Ultimately, we came out with a bill that is strong, and no doubt is the strongest restoration of Second Amendment rights that any of us have ever seen in the history of the state of Texas."
However, the bill has faced opposition from Democrats, gun control activists, and some members of law enforcement. They argue that the state's previous licensing process worked well to ensure people received training before carrying guns in public. Acevedo, the former Houston Police Chief, stated, "From chiefs to sheriffs to police labor, we do not support permit-less, open carry." Additionally, there are concerns that the bill could increase gun violence in Texas and make it easier for criminals to obtain firearms.
Despite the opposition, Texas has joined the list of states that allow constitutional carry, and the impact of this decision will be closely monitored in the coming years.
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Texans can carry handguns without a permit
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a bill that allows Texans to carry handguns in public without a permit. The bill, known as "constitutional carry", was signed into law on 16 June 2021 and took effect on 1 September 2021.
The bill, House Bill 1927, allows anyone who can legally possess a firearm in Texas to carry a handgun in public without a permit, as long as the gun is holstered. Texans are also allowed to carry handguns on their person when intoxicated, as long as the gun is concealed and in a holster.
Businesses can prohibit guns on their premises by posting a sign. The bill also requires the Texas Department of Public Safety to create a free, online gun safety course, although training is no longer mandatory to carry a handgun. Texans who still want to obtain a license to carry a handgun can do so, and the Texas handgun license is recognised in several other states.
Supporters of the bill, including Governor Abbott, argue that it is the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history, appropriately expanding Texans' constitutional right to bear arms. Abbott has also stated that "guns save lives", and that "law-abiding citizens can be trusted to handle guns".
However, the bill has faced opposition from Texas Democrats, gun control activists, and some members of law enforcement, who argue that it will increase gun violence in the state and make it easier for criminals to obtain guns. They also argue that the state's licensing process works well to ensure people are trained before carrying guns in public.
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Texas House Bill 1927
The bill removes the requirement for individuals 21 years and older to obtain a permit to carry loaded handguns in most public places. Texas had never required a permit for the carry of long guns until the Constitution of 1876, which removed the right to bear handguns. With the passage of this bill, Texas became the 20th or 21st state to restore constitutional carry, depending on the source.
The law was set to take effect on September 1, 2021, and individuals could still obtain a license to carry if they desired. This license is recognised in several other states that require permits, making it useful for travel. However, the bill has faced criticism from those concerned about gun violence, who argue that the removal of permit requirements may contribute to an increase in gun violence.
Despite these concerns, Governor Abbott proceeded to sign the bill into law, stating, "Guns save lives. There are numerous cases where a good guy with a gun [...] dispel[s] crime". With the signing of the bill, Texas joined the "Concealed Carry club", and 56% of the land area of the United States came under constitutional carry.
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The bill removes the requirement for people 21 years old and above to have a permit
The "constitutional carry" bill, also known as "permitless carry", removes the requirement for people 21 years old and above to have a permit to carry loaded handguns in most public places. This means that individuals over the age of 21 can carry concealed firearms or any other weapon without a permit. The bill also removes the requirement for a permit to carry a firearm openly within city limits, as previously one was allowed to carry openly without a permit outside of city limits.
The bill, Texas H.B. 1927, has been referred to by Governor Greg Abbott as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history". Abbott has also stated that "guns save lives", indicating his support for the bill. However, there are concerns about the potential impact of the bill on gun violence, especially in a state like Texas, which has a history of major shootings. Despite the controversy, the bill was able to pass due to the strong support of the Republican base, led by Allen West, and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, with the bill facing strong opposition from Democrats in the Senate.
The constitutional carry bill is not a new concept and has been implemented in various states across the country. For example, in 2015, Kansas passed a bill that eliminated the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed firearm for individuals 21 years old and above. Similarly, in 2019, Kentucky passed a bill that allowed residents and non-residents 21 years old and above to carry concealed firearms without a permit. In 2021, Utah became the 18th state to institute constitutional carry, allowing permitless carry for adults over the age of 21.
The implications of the constitutional carry bill in Texas remain to be seen, with some expressing concerns about public safety and the potential for increased gun violence. However, supporters of the bill argue that it restores the right to bear handguns that was lost in the Constitution of 1876. As of 2021, Texas is the 20th or 21st state to implement constitutional carry, depending on the source.
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The bill was opposed by Democrats and gun control activists
The Texas Constitutional Carry bill was opposed by Democrats and gun control activists. They denounced the bill, arguing that it would increase gun violence in the state and make it easier for criminals to obtain guns. The bill faced strong Democrat opposition in the Senate, with 13 Democrats voting against it.
The bill removes the requirement for people aged 21 and above to have a permit to carry loaded modern handguns in most public places. This has sparked concerns that it will lead to an increase in gun violence and make it more difficult to hold accountable those who illegally carry firearms.
Gun control advocates and some members of law enforcement labelled the bill dangerous, stating that Texas' licensing process helps ensure people are trained before carrying guns in public. The former Houston Police Chief, Acevedo, expressed that "most responsible gun owners" do not support permitless, open carry. He also questioned Governor Abbott's support for the police, saying: "So he's either going to support [police] in word and deed, or only in word."
The bill's passage comes despite Texas experiencing several major shootings in recent years, including a mass shooting in Austin that left one person dead and 13 others wounded. Espinoza, an opponent of the bill, highlighted the irony of Governor Abbott's intent to sign the bill, stating:
> "This comes a year or two after major shootings where the Governor went around the state and said that he was committed to doing things to reduce gun violence, and with his intent to sign this law, it is [...] flying in the face of all that, to everybody who has lost someone in some sort of shooting in the past few years."
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, on June 17, 2021, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, allowing Texans to carry holstered handguns in public without a permit.
The constitutional carry bill, also known as the "permitless carry" bill, removes the requirement for Texans over 21 years old to have a permit to carry loaded modern handguns in most public places.
The bill was supported by Republicans and gun rights activists, who argued that it appropriately expanded gun rights under the Second Amendment. However, it was opposed by Democrats, gun control activists, and some members of law enforcement, who argued that it would increase gun violence and make it easier for criminals to obtain guns.
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