On September 1, 2021, Texas implemented its “constitutional carry” law when Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927, eliminating the requirement for Texas residents to obtain a license to carry handguns if they’re not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms.
This landmark legislation represented a significant victory for conservative activists and gun rights advocates who had long lobbied the Texas Legislature for permitless carry but historically struggled to win support. Before this law, Texans generally needed to be licensed to carry handguns openly or concealed, which required submitting fingerprints, completing four to six hours of training, and passing both a written exam and a shooting proficiency test. The bill’s passage came despite opposition from law enforcement groups who worried it would endanger officers and make it easier for criminals to obtain guns, leading to several Senate amendments that enhanced criminal penalties for felons and family violence offenders caught carrying.
The timing of this legislation was particularly notable, as it came during the first legislative session since the devastating 2019 massacres in El Paso and Midland-Odessa that left 30 people dead. Despite previous promises by state leaders to strengthen gun safety measures after those tragedies, Texas Republicans moved in the opposite direction during this session, with Abbott declaring Texas must become a “Second Amendment sanctuary state” and vowing to “erect a complete barrier against any government official anywhere from treading on gun rights in Texas”. The law made Texas one of at least 20 states with similar permitless carry legislation on the books.
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Learn More:
- Texas Tribune Coverage: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/16/texas-constitutional-carry-gun-law/
- Texas Department of Public Safety Gun Laws: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/handgun-licensing/laws-and-regulations
- Video Explanation: “How to Carry a Gun: Texas Constitutional Carry” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrAFujO1HPM