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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has stated that he will sign the constitutional carry bill into law, allowing Texans to carry handguns without a license. The bill, known as House Bill 1927, removes the requirement for a state-issued license to carry a handgun outside one's home or vehicle. It also eliminates the need for fingerprints, training, written exams, and shooting proficiency tests. Governor Abbott's support for the bill demonstrates the recent momentum for constitutional carry in Texas. The bill has faced opposition from some Democratic Senators and gun control advocates, who raise concerns about the potential impact on gun violence and the safety of law enforcement officers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the bill | "Constitutional carry" bill |
| Other names | Permitless carry, House Bill 1927 |
| What it entails | Texans can carry handguns without a license |
| Who it affects | Texans 21 years and older |
| When it will be signed | Unknown, but it was awaiting the signature as of 26 May 2021 |
| When it will go into effect | 1 September |
| Who will sign it | Texas Governor Greg Abbott |
| Where will it be signed | Alamo Plaza |
| Number of gun bills signed into law | 7 |
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What You'll Learn
Texas Senate approved the bill, sending it to Gov. Abbott's desk
The Texas Senate approved the "constitutional carry" bill, sending it to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk to be signed into law. The bill, known as HB 1927, allows Texans to carry handguns without a license and removes the requirement for training, a waiting period, or a background check. While supporters of the bill argue that it restores Texans' Second Amendment rights, there are also concerns about the potential impact on gun violence and public safety.
The Texas Senate approved the bill by a vote of 17-13, following a compromise that addressed concerns from the law enforcement community. The compromise included striking a provision that would have prevented officers from questioning individuals based solely on their possession of a handgun. Additionally, it retained a Senate amendment that increased criminal penalties for felons and family violence offenders caught carrying.
Gov. Abbott had previously expressed his support for the bill, stating that he believed it was making progress and that he would sign it once it reached his desk. He referred to it as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history." The bill's approval by the Texas Senate marked a significant step toward becoming law, with only Gov. Abbott's signature required.
However, not everyone supported the bill. Some Democratic Senators raised concerns that it would endanger Texans and put the state's police officers at risk. There were also concerns about the timing of the bill, as it was the first legislative session since the deadly mass shootings in El Paso and Midland-Odessa in 2019. Despite these objections, the bill moved forward, reflecting the strong push for "constitutional carry" in Texas.
With the Texas Senate's approval, the focus shifted to Gov. Abbott, who had the final say on whether the bill would become law. The bill's supporters anticipated his signature, while opponents hoped that he would change his mind and reject the bill due to the potential impact on gun violence and public safety. The outcome remained uncertain until Gov. Abbott provided his decision.
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Texans will be able to carry handguns without a license
Texans will soon be able to carry handguns without a license, as the state's "constitutional carry" bill is set to be signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. The bill, known as HB 1927, removes the requirement for Texans to obtain a license to carry (LTC) a handgun in public. Previously, Texans were required to submit fingerprints, complete a training course, and pass a written exam and shooting proficiency test in order to obtain an LTC.
The "constitutional carry" bill has been a long-sought-after measure by conservative activists and gun rights advocates in Texas. Governor Abbott has expressed his support for the bill, calling it "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history." The bill passed in the Texas House and Senate with votes of 82-62 and 17-13, respectively, and is now awaiting the governor's signature to become law.
Once signed into law, Texans aged 21 and older will be able to carry a handgun in public without a license, as long as it is in a holster. However, there are still certain places where the carrying of firearms is prohibited, such as schools, hospitals, and secure areas of airports. Additionally, there are restrictions on individuals with felony convictions or specific misdemeanor convictions, as outlined in the Texas Penal Code.
The "constitutional carry" bill has sparked concerns from some Democratic senators and gun control advocates, who worry that it will endanger Texans and put the state's law enforcement officers at risk. They point to instances of gun violence in the state, including the 2019 massacres in El Paso and Midland-Odessa that left 30 people dead. Despite these concerns, the bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor Abbott, demonstrating the strong support for "constitutional carry" in the state.
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The bill removes training requirements for Texans over 21
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said he will sign the "constitutional carry" bill into law. The bill, known as HB 1927, will allow Texans to carry handguns without a permit. Under current Texas law, Texans need a state-issued license to carry a handgun outside their homes and vehicles. This requires applicants to submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training, pass a written exam, and a shooting proficiency test.
The bill removes the license requirement and allows eligible Texans aged 21 and over to carry a gun as long as it is in a holster. This means that Texans over 21 will no longer need to complete the training requirements currently in place. The bill has been supported by Republicans and gun rights advocates, who argue that Texas should follow the lead of at least 20 other states with similar laws. They see it as a restoration of Texans' constitutional right under the Second Amendment.
However, the bill has also faced opposition from some Democratic Senators and gun control advocates, who argue that it will endanger Texans and put the state's police officers at risk. They have raised concerns about the potential impact of the bill on public safety, especially in light of recent instances of gun violence in the state, including the 2019 massacres in El Paso and Midland-Odessa that left 30 people dead.
Despite these concerns, the bill has passed in the House and is expected to pass in the Senate as well, after which it will go to Governor Abbott's desk for signature. Abbott has expressed his support for the bill and has said that he believes it is making progress.
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The bill will go into effect on September 1
The Texas "constitutional carry" bill, also known as House Bill 1927, was awaiting the signature of Governor Greg Abbott as of May 26, 2021. If signed, the bill would eliminate the requirement for a license to carry a handgun outside of one's home or vehicle in Texas, allowing eligible Texans aged 21 and above to carry a gun as long as it is holstered.
Governor Abbott had previously expressed his support for the bill, stating that he would sign it into law. He referred to the bill as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history" and "the biggest and best of them all". On June 17, 2021, Governor Abbott signed the bill into law at the Alamo, and it will go into effect on September 1.
The bill removes the requirement for Texans over the age of 21 to obtain a license or undergo training to carry a pistol. It is worth noting that Texas already does not require a license to openly carry a rifle in public. The bill faced opposition from some Democratic Senators and gun control advocates, who raised concerns about the potential impact on public safety and the risk to law enforcement officers.
The bill's passage makes Texas the 21st state to implement constitutional carry. Proponents of the bill, including Republicans and gun rights advocates, argue that it restores Texans' constitutional right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment. They believe that Texas should align with at least 20 other states that have similar laws.
In addition to the "constitutional carry" bill, Governor Abbott also signed six other pieces of legislation related to firearms on September 1, 2021. These bills address various issues, such as the prohibition on companies contracting with government agencies if they discriminate against firearm entities, the allowance of guests to store firearms or ammunition in hotel rooms, and the expansion of the types of holsters that can be used to carry a pistol.
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Gov. Abbott has said he will sign the bill into law
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said he will sign the "constitutional carry" bill into law. The bill, known as House Bill 1927, removes the requirement for a license to carry a handgun outside one's home or vehicle in Texas. Currently, Texans need a state-issued license, for which applicants must submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training, pass a written exam, and a shooting proficiency test.
Abbott has expressed his support for the bill, referring to it as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history" and "the biggest and best of them all". He has indicated that he will sign the bill once it reaches his desk, stating, "Once the Senate passes it out, the House and Senate will convene and work out any differences and get it to my desk, and I'll be signing it."
The bill has faced opposition from some Democratic Senators, who raised concerns that it would endanger Texans and put the state's police officers at risk. Gun control advocates have also spoken out against the bill, arguing that it will make it easier to carry firearms and contribute to increasing gun violence. Despite this, the bill has garnered support from conservative activists and gun rights advocates, who view it as a restoration of Texans' constitutional right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment.
Governor Abbott's decision to sign the bill into law reflects his alignment with the priorities of conservative activists and gun rights advocates in Texas. The bill's passage through the legislative process and Governor Abbott's commitment to signing it underscore the political momentum behind permitless carry in the state.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, on June 17, 2021, Gov. Abbott signed the constitutional carry bill into law.
The constitutional carry bill, or House Bill 1927, allows Texans 21 years or older to carry a gun without a license, as long as it is in a holster.
Gov. Abbott has expressed support for the bill, referring to it as "the strongest second amendment legislation in Texas history." He has also stated that it is "the biggest and best" of the seven gun bills he signed into law.
The bill has been met with mixed reactions. Proponents of the bill, including Republicans and gun rights advocates, argue that it restores Texans' constitutional right to keep and bear arms. On the other hand, gun control advocates and some Democratic Senators have raised concerns about the potential impact on gun violence and public safety.
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