Eleanor Finch
On May 5, 2021, the Texas House voted 84-56 in favor of HB 1927, or the Texas Constitutional Carry bill. The bill, which would allow Texans aged 21 and older to carry a handgun in public without a permit, was amended several times before being sent back to the Texas Senate for approval. The Senate voted 17-13 to pass the bill, which now awaits Governor Greg Abbott's signature to become law. Abbott has stated that he will sign the bill, which could go into effect as early as September 1, 2021, marking a significant change to Texas gun laws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Vote | May 5, 2021 |
| House Vote | 84-56 |
| Third Reading Vote | 87-58 |
| Bill | HB 1927 |
| Bill Author | Representative Matt Schaefer |
| Supporters | 87 State Representatives |
| Opponents | 58 State Representatives |
| Supporters' Argument | Second Amendment rights, self-defence, and protection of loved ones |
| Opponents' Argument | Safety concerns, lack of training, and increased gun violence |
| Status | Passed House, Awaiting Senate Vote |
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What You'll Learn
The bill passed the Texas House with a vote of 84-56
On August 6, 2021, the Texas House voted 84-56 in favor of the constitutional carry bill, HB 1927. This was a historic moment for Texas, as a constitutional carry bill had never before been passed by the House. The bill would allow anyone aged 21 and older to carry a handgun, openly or concealed, without a permit, in most of the same places that LTC holders can (except schools, polling places, courthouses, bars, etc.). It also includes an amendment that guarantees foster parents' right to carry firearms in their vehicles without an LTC.
The bill faced opposition from some Democrats, who raised concerns about safety and the potential for increased gun violence. They also argued that it would make it harder for police to distinguish legal gun owners from criminals. However, it received some bipartisan support, with seven Democrats voting in favor of the bill.
After passing the House, HB 1927 moved on to the Texas Senate, where it faced further debate and amendments. The Senate devoted almost an entire day to the bill, with senators discussing and making changes to the bill during a nearly seven-hour debate. One of the amendments created stiffer penalties for felons and those convicted of family violence offenses caught carrying guns illegally. Another removed language that banned law officers from questioning someone based solely on their possession of a handgun.
Despite concerns and opposition, the bill ultimately passed the Senate with a vote of 17-13, and Governor Greg Abbott declared that he would sign it into law. The bill was expected to go into effect on September 1, 2021, marking a significant change to Texas gun laws and making Texas the next constitutional carry state.
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It will now move to the Texas Senate
The Texas House has passed the Constitutional Carry bill, also known as HB 1927 or CSHB 1927, which will now move to the Texas Senate. The bill would allow Texans aged 21 and older to carry a handgun, either openly or concealed, without a permit. It passed the Second Reading with an 84-56 vote and the Third Reading with an 87-58 vote.
The bill's passage in the House is a historic moment for Texas, as it is the first time a Constitutional Carry bill has moved to the floor of either chamber in the state. The bill's author, Representative Matt Schaefer, and other supporters, have faced opposition from Democrats and gun control advocates, who argue that the bill will make it harder for police to distinguish legal gun owners from criminals and that it will increase gun violence. Despite this, Schaefer and other Republicans have defended the bill, stating that it restores Texans' Second Amendment rights.
Now that the bill has moved to the Texas Senate, it is critical for supporters to contact Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and urge him to prioritize passing the bill. Governor Greg Abbott has stated that he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk, and it could go into effect as soon as September 1st, 2021. However, there are rumors that Patrick has been working behind the scenes to kill the bill, and he may try to prevent any pro-gun amendments from being added.
The Texas Senate previously approved a version of the Constitutional Carry bill in May 2021, but it returned to the House to consider changes made by senators during the debate. Now, the bill is back in the Senate, and it remains to be seen if it will pass without further amendments or changes.
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The bill will only apply to Texans 21 and older
Texas's House Bill 1927 (HB 1927), also known as the constitutional carry bill, has been the subject of much debate and discussion in the state. The bill, if passed, would remove the requirement for Texans aged 21 and older to obtain a permit to carry a handgun in public, either openly or concealed. This is a significant change to the state's gun laws and has sparked strong opinions on both sides of the argument.
The bill was first introduced in the Texas House and underwent several hours of heavy debate. During this time, amendments were proposed and voted on, with some being adopted and others rejected. One of the key amendments that passed was the Slaton Amendment, which guarantees the right of foster parents who are legal firearm owners to carry their weapons in their vehicles. Another important amendment was introduced by bill author Representative Matt Schaefer, which prevents municipalities from requiring legal gun owners to have a permit. These amendments were seen as crucial to ensuring that law-abiding citizens would not unintentionally break the law.
However, one amendment that was not accepted was proposed by Representative Jeff Cason. This amendment aimed to give adults aged 18 to 20 the same right to carry a handgun without a permit. As this amendment was rejected, the bill will only apply to Texans aged 21 and older. Another amendment that failed to pass was proposed by Representative Kyle Biedermann, who sought to ensure that Texans on college campuses would not be required to have a permit to carry a handgun.
After the debates and amendments, the bill passed the Texas House with a vote of 84-56 on Second Reading and 87-58 on Third Reading. It then moved on to the Texas Senate, where it faced further discussion and potential amendments. The bill has sparked strong reactions from both supporters and opponents, with some celebrating it as a restoration of Second Amendment rights and others expressing concerns about public safety.
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The bill faced opposition from Democrats
Democrats who opposed the bill raised concerns about public safety and the potential for more guns to end up in the hands of untrained individuals. They also argued that eliminating the need for a license to carry, which includes a criminal background check and training in safety and gun laws, would make it harder for police to distinguish legal gun owners from criminals. Additionally, they criticized the bill for not addressing the epidemic of mass shootings in the state, with Rep. Chris Turner of Grand Prairie recalling the mass shootings in El Paso and Odessa-Midland in 2019.
Some Democrats proposed amendments to the bill, including required background checks for stranger-to-stranger gun sales and incentives to encourage gun owners to promptly report stolen firearms. However, Republicans rejected these amendments, instead focusing on amendments that increased penalties for illegal weapons carried by felons and those convicted of family violence offenses.
The bill's passage in the Texas House was a significant step towards making Texas the next Constitutional Carry state, and it moved to the Senate for further consideration. Despite the opposition from Democrats, the bill had strong support from pro-gun groups and individuals, who argued that it restores the Second Amendment rights of Texans to bear arms without the requirement of a state license.
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The bill will now go to Governor Greg Abbott, who has declared he will sign it into law
The Texas House has passed the constitutional carry bill, HB 1927, with a vote of 87-58. This bill, also known as CSHB 1927, allows Texans aged 21 and older to carry a handgun, openly or concealed, without a permit. The bill faced heavy debate, with amendments being proposed and adopted along party lines. Now that it has passed the House, it will move on to the Senate for consideration.
The bill has now moved to the Senate, where it has passed with a vote of 17-13. The Senate also devoted time to debating and amending the bill, including adding amendments to address concerns raised by opponents. One of the key concerns was the removal of the requirement for a license to carry, which includes a criminal background check. Supporters of the bill argue that it restores Texans' Second Amendment rights, while opponents raise safety concerns and highlight public opinion polls showing opposition to permitless carry.
With the passage in the Senate, the bill will now go to Governor Greg Abbott, who has declared he will sign it into law. Abbott has expressed support for the bill, stating that it restores Texans' right to bear arms without the burden of state-imposed barriers. He has also indicated on Twitter that he will sign the bill, stating, "Constitutional carry is moving in the #txlege. The strongest Second Amendment legislation in Texas history. Let's get it to my desk for signing."
Once signed by Governor Abbott, the bill will go into effect on September 1, 2021, marking a significant change to Texas gun laws and making Texas the latest state to adopt constitutional carry legislation. This development underscores the ongoing debate around gun rights and public safety in the United States, with Texas becoming one of the largest states to enact such legislation.
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Frequently asked questions
The Texas constitutional carry, also known as HB 1927 or CSHB 1927, is a bill that would allow anyone aged 21 and older to carry a handgun, openly or concealed, without a permit.
The Texas House voted on the constitutional carry bill on August 6, 2021, with a vote of 84-56 on the second reading and 87-58 on the third reading.
After the Texas House passed the constitutional carry bill, it moved on to the Texas Senate for consideration. The bill was then sent to Governor Greg Abbott, who signed it into law on May 25, 2021.
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