Texas is only a step away from becoming a constitutional carry state after the Senate passed H.B. 1927.
Should Republican Governor Greg Abbott sign the bill into law, adults 21 years and older would legally be able to carry a gun – either open or concealed – without a license as long as they are not prohibited from doing so.
Republican Senator Charles Schwertner says the legislation rolls back restrictions on people’s Second Amendment rights.
“HB 1927 would recognize the United States Constitution as our permit to carry and allow all law-abiding adults, aged 21 years or older, to carry a handgun for the protection of themselves or their families, in public places, in a holster, without the requirement of a state-issued license,” he said.
Constitutional carry is moving in the #txlege.
The strongest Second Amendment legislation in Texas history.
Let's get it to my desk for signing. #2A #SecondAmendmenthttps://t.co/YkHA6l6cWK
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 21, 2021
It is crucial to keep in mind that constitutional carry does not change who is legally allowed to possess or buy a weapon.
The rules for purchasing a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee still apply. This also includes a clean background check.
Last week Abbott tweeted:
“Constitutional carry is moving in the #txlege. The strongest Second Amendment legislation in Texas history. Let’s get it to my desk for signing #2A #SecondAmendment.”
This is excellent news for law abiding-Second Amendment loving Texans. I applaud Texas legislators for passing this landmark legislation to make constitutional carry a reality and to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens. https://t.co/JjoYossMXu
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) May 25, 2021
According to Representative Matt Schaefer, the bill’s sponsor, Abbott could sign the proposal into law by the end of this week.
In an interview with radio host Dana Loesch, Schaefer said:
“He did tell me personally he will sign it once we send it to his desk.”
Will Texas become the 21st constitutional carry state this week? The bill's author @RepMattSchaefer gives @DLoesch an update on his legislation.
Assuming it passes one final time in the Senate tonight, @GregAbbottTX could sign it into law as early as this week, he explains. pic.twitter.com/w10PBJZaT3
— The First (@TheFirstonTV) May 24, 2021
When the bill passed the House earlier on, it went to the Senate where some amendments were made.
It was sent back to the House for the chamber to cast their vote and agree to the changes the Senate had made, and the Senate needed to vote on it another time before it could be sent to the Governor. That Senate cast its final vote Monday evening.
BREAKING NEWS: The Texas House *just* voted to accept the Conference Committee Report for HB 1927, Constitutional Carry! Once the Senate approves the agreed-to language it will head straight to Governor Abbott’s desk for signature. pic.twitter.com/5eJVujH5Ai
— Rep. Jared Patterson (@JaredLPatterson) May 24, 2021
According to the Texas Tribune, changes to the bill include:
“keep[ing] intact a number of changes the Senate made to the House bill to assuage concerns from the law enforcement community, including striking a provision that would have barred officers from questioning people based only on their possession of a handgun.The deal also preserves a Senate amendment enhancing the criminal penalties for felons and family violence offenders caught carrying. Among other Senate changes that survived was a requirement that the Texas Department of Public Safety offer a free online course on gun safety.”
"We’d like to thank bill author @RepMattSchaefer & his staff for their relentless efforts to pass HB1927 this session. We also thank @DadePhelan, @DrSchwertner, & Lt Gov @DanPatrick for their leadership on this landmark legislation." –@NRAILA's @TaraRMica https://t.co/AquRwxAmG0
— NRA (@NRA) May 24, 2021
Should the bill be signed into law, Texas would become the 21st constitutional carry state.
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