Eleanor Finch
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said he would sign the 'constitutional carry' bill into law, which would allow Texans to carry handguns without a license. The bill, also known as Texas H.B. 1927, removes the licensing and training requirements for Texans 21 and older to carry a pistol. Abbott has referred to the bill as the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history. While the bill has been supported by some, others are opposed to it, with a poll from FOX 7 Austin showing that 51% voted no to constitutional carry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the bill | Texas H.B. 1927 |
| Other names | Permitless carry, "constitutional carry" |
| What it entails | Gets rid of the licensing and training requirements for Texans who are 21 years or older to carry a pistol |
| When it will be signed | June 17, 2021 |
| When it will go into effect | September 1, 2021 |
| Who it affects | Texans 21 years or older |
| Who supports it | Andy Hogue with the Travis County GOP, Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Campaign For Liberty |
| Who opposes it | Ed Espinoza with Progress Texas, Ed Scruggs from Texas Gun Sense, former Houston Police Chief Acevedo, anti-gun rights groups |
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What You'll Learn
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signs seven gun bills into law
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed seven gun bills into law, including the controversial "constitutional carry" bill. The bill, known as Texas H.B. 1927, removes the requirement for a license or permit to carry a handgun in the state. It allows eligible Texans aged 21 and over to carry a gun in a holster without a license. The bill has been opposed by gun control advocates and law enforcement, who argue that it will increase gun violence and erode public safety. However, supporters of the bill argue that it protects their constitutional right to bear arms.
Governor Abbott has hailed the bill as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history," and said that it would protect Texans' right to defend themselves. The bill passed the Texas Legislature after nearly a decade of efforts and landed on Governor Abbott's desk for signature in May 2021. Despite facing pressure from gun control advocates and law enforcement, Governor Abbott signed the bill into law on June 17, 2021, at the Alamo, referring to it as "the biggest and best" of the seven gun bills.
In addition to the "constitutional carry" bill, Governor Abbott also signed six other pieces of legislation related to firearms. These include Senate Bill 19, which prohibits companies contracting with government agencies in Texas from having policies that discriminate against firearm entities or trade associations. Senate Bill 20 bars hotels from disallowing guests from storing firearms or ammunition in their rooms. Senate Bill 550 broadens the types of holsters that can be used to carry a pistol. House Bill 957 removes prohibitions on suppressors in the Texas Penal Code, and House Bill 1500 categorizes firearms and ammunition businesses as essential during disasters. Lastly, House Bill 2622, also known as the Second Amendment Sanctuary State Act, prohibits the enforcement of certain federal regulations on firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition that are not in state law.
The "constitutional carry" bill took effect on September 1, 2021, along with several other bills signed by Governor Abbott. Texas became the 21st state to implement constitutional carry, which has been a divisive issue in the ongoing national debate over gun control and public safety. While supporters of the bill celebrate the expansion of gun rights, opponents continue to raise concerns about the potential impact on gun violence and public safety in the state.
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Texas becomes 21st state to have constitutional carry
Texas has become the 21st state to allow its citizens to carry handguns without a permit or license, open or concealed, after Governor Greg Abbott signed the "constitutional carry" bill into law. The bill, known as Texas H.B. 1927, removes the requirement for a state-issued license to carry a handgun outside one's home and vehicle. Previously, Texans had to submit fingerprints, undergo training, and pass a written exam and a shooting proficiency test to obtain a license. With the new law, eligible Texans aged 21 and above can carry a gun as long as it is holstered.
Governor Abbott has referred to the bill as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history", and said that it sends a message to those who wish to infringe upon the right to bear arms. The bill signing ceremony took place at the Alamo, which Governor Abbott described as "the cradle of liberty in the Lone Star State". He also stated that those who fought and lost their lives at the Alamo "knew the necessity of being able to carry a weapon for the purpose of defending yourself against attacks by others".
The "constitutional carry" bill had been long-awaited by supporters, with some stating that it had been discussed at every legislative session for the past decade. Governor Abbott had previously stated that he would sign the bill if it came to his desk, and he fulfilled that promise on June 17, 2021, when he signed it into law along with six other pieces of legislation related to firearms. These included Senate Bill 19, which prohibits companies contracting with a government agency in Texas from having policies that discriminate against firearm entities or trade associations, and Senate Bill 20, which bars hotels from disallowing guests to store firearms or ammunition in their rooms.
However, the bill has also faced opposition. According to a poll by FOX 7 Austin, 51% voted no to constitutional carry. Ed Espinoza of Progress Texas stated that Texas leaders are ignoring what most people want, and that the bill goes against the Governor's previous commitments to reduce gun violence. The former Houston Police Chief, Acevedo, also spoke out against the bill, stating that it is not supported by law enforcement and that most responsible gun owners do not support permit-less, open carry.
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Bill supporters call it constitutional carry
Supporters of the bill, who refer to it as "constitutional carry", argue that requiring a permit or license to carry a gun infringes on their constitutional right to bear arms. "We found out that law-abiding citizens can be trusted to handle guns and the bad guys are still going to get the guns that they don't need through other means," said Andy Hogue with the Travis County GOP. Hogue also added that this bill was a long time in the making because constitutional carry has reappeared at every legislative session for the past decade with no luck.
Abbott himself has referred to the bill as “The strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history.” He also called the location of the ceremonial signing “the cradle of liberty in the Lone Star State” and said the people who fought and lost their lives there “knew the necessity of being able to carry a weapon for the purpose of defending yourself against attacks by others.”
The bill, Texas H.B. 1927, removes the requirement for a license to carry a handgun outside of a person's home and vehicle. It also removes the need for applicants to submit fingerprints, complete training, pass a written exam, and a shooting proficiency test. Texans 21 years and older will be able to carry a gun as long as it is in a holster.
The bill had been waiting on the governor's desk for days, with anti-gun rights groups launching a massive campaign to get the governor to break his word and veto the bill. However, Abbott had stated twice that he would sign the bill if it made it to his desk, and he did indeed sign it into law on June 17, 2021, at the Alamo, making Texas the 21st state to have constitutional carry.
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Bill opponents include police and anti-gun groups
The Texas Legislature passed the Constitutional Carry bill in May 2021 after nearly a decade of fighting for it. However, Governor Greg Abbott faced pressure from multiple groups to veto the bill. Bill opponents included police and anti-gun groups.
The former Houston Police Chief, Acevedo, stated that "from chiefs to sheriffs to police labor, we do not support permit-less, open carry" measures. He added that "most responsible gun owners" do not support permit-less, open carry. Ed Espinoza of Progress Texas also opposed the bill, arguing that Texas leaders were ignoring what most people wanted. He pointed out the irony of the bill's passage so soon after major shootings, noting the Governor's previous commitment to reducing gun violence.
Anti-gun rights groups launched a massive campaign to pressure the Governor to break his word and veto the bill. However, despite this opposition, Governor Abbott signed the bill into law on June 17, 2021, at the Alamo, referring to the new law as "the biggest and best of them all." The bill removed the licensing and training requirements for Texans 21 years or older to carry a pistol and went into effect on September 1, 2021.
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The bill will go into effect on September 1, 2021
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said he will sign the bill known as "constitutional carry" into law. The bill, which has moved favorably through the Texas legislature, will allow Texans to carry handguns without a permit or license, open or concealed, and without training. It will also remove the requirements for fingerprints, a written exam, and a shooting proficiency test.
The bill, Texas H.B. 1927, will go into effect on 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." It will make Texas the 21st state to have constitutional carry.
The bill has faced opposition from some, including law enforcement officials and anti-gun groups, who argue that it will increase gun violence and is not what most people in Texas want. However, supporters of the bill argue that requiring a permit or license impedes their constitutional right to bear arms.
In addition to H.B. 1927, Abbott also signed several other bills into law related to firearms, including Senate Bill 19, which prohibits companies contracting with a government agency in Texas if they discriminate against firearm entities, and Senate Bill 20, which bars hotels from disallowing guests to store firearms or ammunition in their rooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the Texas Constitutional Carry into law on June 17, 2021.
The Texas Constitutional Carry, or House Bill 1927, removes the licensing and training requirements for Texans aged 21 and above to carry a pistol.
Governor Abbott referred to the bill as "the biggest and best" of seven pieces of legislation related to firearms that he signed into law. He also said that it is "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history."
Critics of the bill, including police chiefs, sheriffs, and anti-gun groups, argued that it would increase gun violence and that most responsible gun owners do not support permit-less, open carry.
