Texans can carry concealed handguns without permit under bill headed to governor
Reuters
Published May 24, 2021 10:48PM ET
By Brad Brooks
LUBBOCK, Texas (Reuters) - A bill that would let Texans carry concealed handguns without any permit passed the state's legislature on Monday and headed to the desk of the governor who has promised to sign it.
When Governor Greg Abbott signs the measure into law, Texas will become the 21st state, and the most populous, in the United States to have some form of permitless concealed carry, according to the National Rifle Association.
Rep. Matt Schaefer, a Republican who authored the bill, which gun rights advocates call a "constitutional carry" law, had earlier called it the "strongest Second Amendment legislation in Texas history."
The bill protects "the right of law-abiding Texans to carry a handgun as they exercise their God-given right to self-defense and the defense of their families," Schaefer wrote on Twitter.
Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican representing Texas, wrote on Twitter: "This is excellent news for law abiding-Second Amendment loving Texans."
The bill that passed includes compromises that address concerns of the law enforcement community, including getting rid of language that would have prevented a police officer from questioning a suspect based solely on the fact that they were carrying a gun.
Everytown for Gun Safety, an advocacy group that works for tougher gun regulations across the U.S., blasted the bill.
"These representatives have abandoned their oaths of office to represent our interests," said Elizabeth Hanks, a volunteer for Moms Demand Action, the grassroots wing of Everytown, in a written statement.
"We're putting them on notice – we'll stop at nothing to make sure Texas voters know just how much danger these representatives have put them in," she added.
Get The News You Want
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.