Malcolm Rivera
On June 16, 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, also known as the constitutional carry bill, into law. The bill removes the licensing and training requirements for Texans aged 21 and above to carry a pistol, effectively allowing them to carry handguns without a permit. Governor Abbott referred to the new law as the biggest and best of them all, and it went into effect on September 1, 2021. With this legislation, Texas became the 21st state to remove the prohibition on concealed carry without a permit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date signed into law | June 16, 2021 |
| Governor | Greg Abbott |
| Bill name | House Bill 1927 |
| Other names | Permitless carry, Second Amendment legislation |
| Effect | Texans can carry a pistol without a license or training |
| Effective date | September 1, 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
Texas Gov. Abbott signs seven gun bills into law
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed seven gun bills into law, including House Bill 1927, which allows Texans to carry holstered handguns in public without a permit. The bill removes the requirement for state residents aged 21 and older to undergo training and criminal background checks to obtain a license to carry.
The bill was sent to Abbott after a compromise was reached between members of the House and Senate. It was signed into law by the governor on June 17, 2021, and took effect on September 1 of that year.
Abbott was exuberant during the signing ceremony, where he and legislative leaders hailed as heroes two men who had fired on separate mass shooters at Texas churches in recent years. "This restores what our Constitution was supposed to be about," said Stephen Willeford, who helped stop the gunman who killed 25 and injured 20 others in a rampage at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs in 2017. Willeford stood next to Jack Wilson, who fired a single shot to take down the gunman who killed two people at West Freeway Church of Christ in Fort Worth in December 2019.
In addition to HB 1927, Abbott also signed Senate Bill 550, which removes shoulder or belt holster requirements, allowing Texans to carry firearms in whatever kind of holster they choose. He also signed House Bill 957, which removes firearm silencers and suppressors from the list of prohibited weapons in the Texas Penal Code and ensures that any firearm suppressor manufactured and remaining in Texas is not subject to federal law or regulation.
The governor also approved House Bill 1500, which designates firearms and ammunition sellers and manufacturers as essential businesses and prevents any government entity from prohibiting the sale or transportation of firearms or ammunition during a declared disaster or emergency. Additionally, Abbott signed House Bill 2622, which prohibits state and local governments from enforcing new federal gun rules, and Senate Bill 19, which bars government contracts with entities that discriminate against the firearm industry. Lastly, he approved Senate Bill 20, which prevents hotels from implementing restrictive gun policies.
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Texans over 21 can carry a pistol without a license
On June 16, 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, also known as the "constitutional carry" or "permitless carry" bill, into law. This bill allows Texans over 21 to carry a handgun without a license or permit. The law went into effect on September 1, 2021.
The "constitutional carry" bill eliminates the previous requirement for Texans to obtain a license and undergo training before carrying a pistol. Texans over 21 can now carry a pistol in public without any restrictions. The bill also removes the requirement for shoulder or belt holsters, allowing Texans to use any type of holster they prefer.
Governor Abbott celebrated the bill as "the biggest and best" of the seven gun bills he signed into law that day. He thanked the GOP lawmakers who authored and passed the legislation, saying they had "built a complete barrier of gun rights in Texas." The Republican Party of Texas also expressed their support for the bill, stating that it would secure full access to Second Amendment rights for Texans.
However, the bill has faced criticism and concern from some. When asked about a mass shooting that occurred in Austin the weekend before the bill was signed, Governor Abbott stated that he had spoken to the family of the victim, and they told him that the incident should not be a reason to limit gun rights. Despite these concerns, Texas joined at least 20 other states that have some version of a permitless carry law.
The "constitutional carry" bill is a significant change to gun laws in Texas, and it remains to be seen what impact it will have on gun ownership and use in the state. Texans over 21 can now legally carry a pistol without a license, a right that they had long been fighting for.
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Texans can carry firearms in any holster
On June 16, 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed seven gun-related bills into law, including the "constitutional carry" bill, which allows Texans to carry handguns without a permit. The bill removes the licensing and training requirements for Texans aged 21 or older to carry a pistol and will go into effect on September 1, 2021.
One of the bills signed by Governor Abbott, Senate Bill 550, removes the shoulder or belt holster requirements, allowing Texans to carry firearms in any type of holster they choose. This means that Texans will no longer be restricted to using only shoulder or belt holsters to carry their firearms and can instead opt for a variety of different holsters that suit their needs and preferences.
The "constitutional carry" bill has been a priority for the Republican Party of Texas and grassroots activists, who have worked tirelessly to secure full access to Second Amendment rights for Texans. The bill faced some opposition, with concerns raised by law enforcement officials. However, amendments were made to address these concerns, and the final version of the bill includes provisions that allow officers to disarm a person at any time for the officer's safety and toughen penalties for felons and domestic violence offenders caught carrying a gun.
The signing of the "constitutional carry" bill into law makes Texas the 21st state to remove the prohibition on concealed carry without a permit. This change in legislation has been celebrated by gun rights activists and Second Amendment supporters, who view it as a victory for freedom and self-defense rights. Texans can now legally carry handguns without a license or permit, as long as they are law-abiding citizens and meet the age requirement.
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Texans can carry handguns without a background check or permit
On June 16, 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, also known as the "constitutional carry" or "permitless carry" bill, into law. This bill allows most Texans over the age of 21 to carry a handgun in public without a license or permit. Texans can now carry handguns openly or concealed without undergoing a background check or completing a training course.
The "constitutional carry" bill removes the previous requirement for Texans to obtain a license to carry (LTC) a handgun. Under the new law, law-abiding Texans can carry handguns for self-defense and the defense of their families without having to undergo a background check or obtain a permit. This change aligns with the Second Amendment and expands gun rights in Texas.
The bill was supported by the Republican Party of Texas and various grassroots activists, legislators, and Party members. They argued that Texans deserved full access to their Second Amendment rights, and the bill secured those rights. The bill faced opposition from gun control advocates and sparked debates about public safety and the role of guns in society.
In addition to the "constitutional carry" bill, Governor Abbott also signed six other gun-related bills into law. These bills included measures to prevent government entities from prohibiting the sale or transportation of firearms during emergencies, to allow Texans to carry firearms in whatever type of holster they choose, and to protect Texans' ability to manufacture and possess firearm silencers. The bills also included provisions related to the storage of firearms in hotel rooms and the transportation of firearms on college campuses.
The "constitutional carry" bill went into effect on September 1, 2021, and marked a significant shift in Texas gun laws. Texans over the age of 21 gained the right to carry handguns in public without a permit or license, and the state joined more than half of the states in the nation in allowing some form of permitless carry. The bill's passage highlighted the ongoing debate around gun rights and public safety in Texas and across the United States.
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Texas is the 21st state to allow concealed carry without a permit
Texas became the 21st state to allow concealed carry without a permit when Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927 into law on June 16, 2021. The bill, authored by Tyler Republican Rep. Matt Schaefer, allows anyone aged 21 or older who can legally possess a firearm in Texas to carry a holstered handgun in public without a permit. This law came into effect on September 1, 2021.
Prior to the passage of HB 1927, Texas required residents aged 21 or older to complete mandatory training and a criminal background check to obtain a license to carry a handgun. The new law removes these requirements, aligning Texas with at least 20 other states that allow "constitutional carry." This term refers to the unrestrained gun rights granted by the Second Amendment.
Supporters of HB 1927, including Governor Abbott, argue that the bill restores the original intent of the Constitution. During the bill signing ceremony, Abbott and legislative leaders hailed as heroes two men who had used their guns to stop mass shooters at Texas churches in recent years. One of these men, Stephen Willeford, who wounded the gunman in the 2017 Sutherland Springs church shooting, stated, "This restores what our Constitution was supposed to be about."
While the bill's supporters celebrate the expansion of Second Amendment rights, critics worry about the potential negative consequences of loosening gun restrictions. In the days leading up to the bill signing, anti-gun rights groups launched a massive campaign to pressure Governor Abbott to veto the bill. Additionally, the timing of the bill signing ceremony drew scrutiny, as it occurred shortly after a mass shooting in Austin that left one person dead and 13 others wounded. When asked about this timing, the governor deflected the question by referencing the Alamo's place in Texas history.
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Frequently asked questions
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the 'constitutional carry' bill into law on June 16, 2021.
The 'constitutional carry' bill, also known as House Bill 1927, removes the licensing and training requirements for Texans over the age of 21 to carry a pistol. It also allows Texans to carry handguns without a permit.
Governor Abbott referred to the 'constitutional carry' bill as "the biggest and best of them all." He also thanked the GOP lawmakers who authored and passed the legislation, stating that they "built a complete barrier of gun rights in Texas."
