A Texas House committee has approved legislation that would allow handguns to be carried—concealed or in a holster—without a state-issued license. Also, the Texas Senate has passed SB 1408, a bill to allow first responders to carry concealed. 
The just-passed version of HB 1911’s permitless carry provisions approved by the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee contained several substantial changes from previous versions.
- To carry without a permit, gun owners would have to meet existing LTC standards: be 21 years of age or older, have no criminal convictions, and be eligible to purchase a weapon under federal and state laws. The previous version would have allowed guns to be carried by those 18 and older.
- Churches and places of worship would no longer be prohibited places to carry a gun unless they posted 30.06 and/or 30.07 signs.
- Handguns carried in the open would still be required to be kept in a holster, but the restrictions on them being in a belt or shoulder holsters would be loosened.
“This bill simply creates an unlicensed option to carrying a handgun,” said Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford., chairman of the committee.
A competing bill, House Bill 375 by Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, wasn’t considered for a vote. Stickland’s legislation would allow anybody who legally owns a firearm to carry it without a license—a much broader franchise than what’s being considered in HB 1911.
“We understand that for the most part, Texans are satisfied with the current carry laws we have now. However, there is still a significant number of Texans who believe that if you’re a law-abiding citizen, you shouldn’t necessarily have to buy your way to a right to bear arms through a license,” Rep. James White (R-Hillister) told the Austin American-Statesman.
Over in the state Senate, SB 1408, brought by Senator Don Huffines (R-Dallas), would allow first responders to carry a handgun on duty if they have Licenses to Carry (LTC) and have completed a special on-duty first responder training course that will be approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Senator Huffines said, “As first responders answer our cries for help, we cannot leave them exposed to attack. First responders do dangerous work and sometimes come under fire. In a time in which our police are targeted just because of their uniform and badge, we must not leave first responders disarmed and exposed to danger, either.” If you feel that either piece of legislation should continue, please contact your representative and voice your support for these measures.
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Kudos to you sir, for not only are you right, but you have the documents to prove it! With this info I could imagine a lot of lawsuits arising from wrongly prosecuted law abiding citizens! I hope everyone who reads this passes this important info along to others!
I don’t really care what did or didn’t get out of committe. I conceal carry with a CHL because the US Constitution says I can and state law doesn’t and can’t supersede the national law. I am so tired of Texas legislators bullshitting their way through ever session. Joe Straus is, in my opinion, an a-hole and should be run out of Texas on a rail. The libtards want to take over Texas but look how effed up libtards states are. Its pathetic.
Got in a hurry. Without a CHL.
It’s all about the money. And since they are “supposedly” are working for us, we should demand that they pass a law to let us carry without a permit or we’ll elect someone who will. Stop screwing the taxpayers and do some real work on helping those who put you in office.
Make no mistake, we as a Country and Americans ARE at war with terrorists and extremists! Much like the “Doc”, “Corpsman” or “medic” on the battle field, our EMS and first responders are targeted solely because they are presently a soft target and essential personnel. Others will expose themselves to combatant fire to protect, rescue or remove the body from hostile fire of these unselfish men and women with advanced life saving skills. They should be armed and able to defend themselves and those they serve, or provide medical care to. God Bless Texas!
As of 10:07 Sunday morning the bill has not been voted on by the House. It was left in Committee as of 4/26. SO this this is false or fake news about this bill. The same as SB1408, neither are done and time for session to end is only a day or two away.
Rather the bill is approved or killed, in Texas you can already carry in churches unless it’s posted 30.06 or 30.07, since 2007 that’s been state law. PC 46.035 (i) (i) Subsections (b)(4), (b)(5), (b)(6), and (c) do not apply if the actor was not given effective notice under Section 30.06 or 30.07.
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“Churches and places of worship would no longer be prohibited places to carry a gun unless they posted 30.06 and/or 30.07 signs.”
This statement is false and has been used several times in error. As others have stated, it is already permissible for an LTC holder to carry in a church, unless that church has the appropriate 30.06 and/or 30.07 signage up.
I am confused about the “new” language in 1911 mentioned above that “allows places of worship carry” if 30.06/30.07 are not posted. In my last instructors class a couple years ago, that was presented as a done deal, I.e. LTC holders can currently carry in church if effective notice is not given.
I don’t know if a miracle occurred in the last 24 hours, but HB1911 is dead, Dead, DEAD.
House Calendar Committee Chairman Todd Hunter did NOT allow HB1911 to advance to the Texas House for a up or down floor vote.
Yeah , Avoiding your job by secretly Downvoting it in committee form where no one knows who shortcircuited the process . Real noble , it’s a Miracle !! (#religious hands shaking , raised to the sky ) . I am a CHL holder and am FINE with things as they are , BUT … this was BS . And if you think this was a miracle , you must be a Liberal ……
I can not agree that most people in Texas are satisfied with concealed carry as it is. We should not have to ask permission from the state to protect ourselves or what and where we can carry. The gca acts of ’34,’68,’86 should be repealed, they are on their face unconstitutional.
I’m all for it esp. for women
Outstanding! I have a CHL but also am part of the local Police Department
What exactly about it is “outstanding”?
The bill did NOT get out of the calendar committee as I stated above.
The bill is DEAD. 🙁
Yep, louisiana republicans killed the open carry bill in Louisiana too by having a no role call vote. So you didn’t get to hear who voted no to release it from comity.
Good. Too violent Louisiana