Jonah Patel
HB 375, also known as Constitutional Carry, is a bill that was filed in Texas in 2016. The bill, if passed, would allow adults to carry handguns without a license, safety training, or a gun-safety test. The bill was authored by Representative Jonathan Stickland, a Fort Worth-area Republican who previously led the successful open-carry bill. HB 375 has been influenced and pushed by Open Carry Texas and Lonestar Gun Rights. The bill has faced opposition from law enforcement and advocacy groups, who argue that it would dismantle the existing permitting system and pose a danger to the public. Despite the concerns, a poll conducted in Texas showed that 70% of respondents were in favor of allowing Texans to carry handguns without a license.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bill Name | HB 375 |
| Other Names | Constitutional Carry, Constitutional Carry Bill |
| Bill Author | Jonathan Stickland |
| Bill Filed | December 2016 |
| Bill Status | Proponents are working on a committee substitute |
| Bill Aim | To allow adults to carry handguns without a license in Texas |
| Bill Impact | Removal of the need for a license, gun-safety test, and $140 fee |
| Supporters | Open Carry Texas, Lonestar Gun Rights, Lt. Governor Daniel Patrick |
| Opponents | Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Joe "Quisling" Strauss |
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What You'll Learn
- HB 375, also known as Constitutional Carry, would allow adults to carry handguns without a license in Texas
- The bill would also allow individuals to carry concealed weapons without a safety training class
- HB 375 was influenced and pushed by Open Carry Texas and Lonestar Gun Rights
- The bill's author, Rep. Stickland, said 11 other states have a constitutional law
- HB 375 fixes the issue of people with minor, nonviolent crimes being unable to carry a firearm in self-defence
HB 375, also known as Constitutional Carry, would allow adults to carry handguns without a license in Texas
HB 375, also known as Constitutional Carry, would allow adults in Texas to carry handguns without a license. This means that, under HB 375, individuals would be able to carry a handgun either openly or concealed without having to complete a safety training class or pass a gun-safety test. The bill would also remove certain places that municipalities are authorized to prevent unlicensed carry.
The bill has been heavily influenced and pushed by Open Carry Texas and Lonestar Gun Rights. It is supported by Lt. Governor Daniel Patrick, a staunch Second Amendment supporter, and state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, a Fort Worth-area Republican who last year spearheaded the successful open-carry bill. Stickland has argued that HB 375 is not an expansion of who can possess a gun or where a person can carry it, and that eleven other states already have constitutional carry laws in place.
However, there are concerns about the bill from law enforcement across Texas. The advocacy group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America has called HB 375 "dangerous" and argued that it would "essentially dismantle our existing permitting system for people that choose to carry loaded handguns – openly or concealed – in public places." There are also concerns about the potential impact of the bill on state revenue from LTCs.
Despite these concerns, a poll conducted by eParisExtra and eGreenvilleExtra found that 70% of respondents supported the idea of Texans being able to carry a handgun without a license. It is unclear if there is sufficient public pressure in Texas to remove the infringement of a license to carry, and it is uncertain if the bill will pass.
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The bill would also allow individuals to carry concealed weapons without a safety training class
HB 375, also known as "Constitutional Carry", is a bill that would allow adults in Texas to carry handguns without a license. The bill would also enable individuals to carry concealed weapons without undergoing a safety training class. This means that anyone not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm would be permitted to carry that firearm, either openly or concealed, without the need for a separate license.
Supporters of the bill argue that it is a restoration of Second Amendment rights to their originally intended level. They believe that the right to bear arms should not be infringed upon by license requirements or fees. In addition, proponents of HB 375 claim that similar laws have been successfully implemented in several other states without leading to increased violence.
However, opponents of the bill have expressed concerns about its potential impact on public safety. The advocacy group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America has labelled HB 375 as "dangerous", arguing that it would effectively dismantle the existing permitting system for individuals carrying loaded handguns in public places. They contend that removing safety training requirements could lead to an increase in gun-related incidents and accidents.
It is worth noting that HB 375 is not the only bill related to unlicensed carry in Texas. HB 1911, for example, also proposes removing license requirements for carrying handguns, but it does not have the same level of support as HB 375. The fate of these bills remains uncertain, and they have sparked intense debates between those who prioritize gun rights and those who emphasize the need for gun control regulations.
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HB 375 was influenced and pushed by Open Carry Texas and Lonestar Gun Rights
Texas's HB 375, also known as "Constitutional Carry", removed the requirement for a license to carry handguns in public places. Despite concerns from law enforcement, the bill allows adults to carry a handgun without a license or safety training class.
HB 375 was influenced and pushed by pro-gun groups, notably Open Carry Texas and Lonestar Gun Rights. These organizations advocated for less restrictive gun laws and played a significant role in the bill's passage. Open Carry Texas, in particular, has been an active proponent of constitutional carry in Texas. The organization has organized rallies, lobbied legislators, and engaged in other activities to promote its agenda. Similarly, Lonestar Gun Rights has hosted events and utilized social media to connect with like-minded individuals and promote gun rights.
The efforts of these groups and their supporters resulted in the passage of HB 375, which aligned with their goals of expanding gun rights and reducing restrictions on carrying firearms. The bill's success can be attributed to their effective lobbying and mobilization of supporters, who contacted their representatives and voiced their support for constitutional carry. The influence of these pro-gun groups demonstrates the impact of special interest groups on legislation and reflects a broader cultural and political context in Texas, where gun rights are deeply entrenched.
While Open Carry Texas and Lonestar Gun Rights were key influencers, other organizations and individuals also played a role in shaping HB 375. The bill's sponsors and supporters within the Texas Legislature were crucial, as they introduced and advocated for the bill's passage. Additionally, a significant portion of the Texas public supported the concept, as seen in polls, further contributing to the bill's momentum.
The passage of HB 375 exemplifies the power of advocacy and the ability of special interest groups to shape legislation. The involvement of Open Carry Texas and Lonestar Gun Rights underscores the ongoing debate surrounding gun rights and public safety in Texas and beyond.
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The bill's author, Rep. Stickland, said 11 other states have a constitutional law
HB 375, also known as the "Constitutional Carry" bill, would allow adults in Texas to carry handguns without a license. The bill's author, Rep. Stickland, said that 11 other states have a similar constitutional law. Stickland's bill would not change the rules on who can possess a gun, where they can carry it, or eliminate the LTC. Instead, it would lower the minimum age to carry a gun from 21 to 18.
The bill has faced opposition from law enforcement and gun control advocacy groups, who argue that it would dismantle the existing permitting system and allow individuals to carry handguns in public places without proper safety training. Despite these concerns, polls show that 70% of Texans support the bill.
The bill's proponents argue that it is necessary to reinstate Texans' constitutional rights. They believe that the right to bear arms should be easily accessible to all Texans, regardless of their financial situation. The current process for obtaining a license includes a $140 fee, which may be a barrier for some individuals.
At the time of writing, the bill has not yet been voted out of committee. It is unclear if and when the Texas Legislators will vote on the bill. However, similar bills have recently been passed in New Hampshire and North Dakota, and ten other states have identical laws in place.
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HB 375 fixes the issue of people with minor, nonviolent crimes being unable to carry a firearm in self-defence
HB 375, also known as the "Constitutional Carry" bill, was filed in Texas in 2016. The bill, if passed, would allow adults to carry handguns without a license in the state. This means that individuals would be able to carry handguns openly or concealed without undergoing safety training or a gun-safety test.
The bill was authored by Representative Jonathan Stickland, a Fort Worth-area Republican who had previously spearheaded the successful open-carry bill. Stickland has stated that the bill aims to "restore our Second Amendment rights to their originally intended level".
One of the key issues that HB 375 addresses is the restriction on people with minor, nonviolent convictions from carrying a firearm in self-defence. Currently, only two states in the US, Texas and California, have such restrictions in place. HB 375 proposes to allow anyone who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a firearm to legally carry that firearm. This means that individuals with minor, nonviolent convictions that do not prohibit firearm ownership would be able to carry a handgun in self-defence.
The current Texas law requires individuals to obtain a license to carry (LTC) a handgun, which comes with certain restrictions and a $140 fee. HB 375 aims to remove this infringement on the Second Amendment and allow for the unlicensed carry of handguns. However, it is important to note that HB 375 will not change the restrictions for individuals with felony, gun-related, or domestic violence convictions, who will still be prohibited from carrying a firearm.
The bill has received mixed reactions, with some praising it as a restoration of constitutional rights, while others have raised concerns about the potential dangers of allowing unlicensed handgun carry. As of 2017, the bill was still being worked on and had not yet been voted out of committee.
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Frequently asked questions
HB 375, also known as "Constitutional Carry", is a bill that would allow adults in Texas to carry handguns without a license.
As of 2017, HB 375 was still being worked on by its proponents. It is unclear if there is sufficient public pressure in Texas to remove the infringement of a license to carry.
While both bills remove the license requirements to keep and bear arms in Texas, HB 375 is considered a stronger constitutional carry bill as it allows anyone who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a firearm to legally carry that firearm. HB 1911, on the other hand, only allows "authorized persons" to carry without a license, which is defined more restrictively.
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