Texas no longer requires a CHL

[masraum]

Interesting. I hadn't heard.
They are calling it the "Firearms Carry Act of 2021."
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/16/texas-permitless-carry-gun-law/

As of Sep 1

A new state law will soon let most Texans carry handguns in public without going through training or having to get permits. Gov. Greg Abbott lauded the so-called “constitutional carry” legislation and other firearms bills when he signed them into law.

“You could say that I signed into law today some laws that protect gun rights,” Abbott said at the bill signing in June. “But today, I signed documents that instilled freedom in the Lone Star State.”

But some Texas law enforcement officers fear that removing restrictions to carrying handguns could increase crime rates while putting officers and residents in danger.

“When it comes down to it, it’s just a sense of disappointment that the bill ultimately was passed,” said Kevin Lawrence, executive director of the Texas Municipal Police Association.

Conservative activists have long pushed for a permitless carry law in Texas, but such measures got little traction in the previous three legislative sessions. In 2019, a permitless carry bill didn’t even get a committee hearing in the Texas House.

When lawmakers gaveled in for the 2021 regular legislative session in January — the first since back-to-back mass shootings in El Paso and Midland-Odessa — some legislators expected to pass substantive firearm restrictions.

After all, Abbott had proposed several policies to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not possess them. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick famously said he was “willing to take an arrow” from the National Rifle Association in order to pursue stronger background check laws.

Instead, the Texas Legislature moved in the other direction.

Advocates of permitless carry said a shakeup in House leadership and the growing number of states with similar laws meant this year was their best chance to get a bill through. The Senate and House passed different versions of House Bill 1927, but agreed to a negotiated piece of legislation in May. The House approved the final version 82-62.

It was part of a slew of pro-gun legislation that lawmakers passed this year. Other measures passed include a bill that would bar government contracts with those who discriminate against the firearm industry as a whole, one that would remove firearm suppressors from the state’s list of prohibited weapons, and a House bill that prohibits state and local governments from enforcing new federal gun regulations.

“Texas is finally a pro-gun state despite years of foot-dragging, roadblocks, and excuses from the spineless political class,” Texas Gun Rights executive director Chris McNutt said in a statement after Abbott signed the bill. “I’m proud of the work grassroots gun owners have put in to get Texas Constitutional Carry finally signed into law.”

None of the five lead authors of HB 1927 responded to requests for comment.

Currently, Texans are mostly required to be licensed to carry handguns, regardless of whether they are open or concealed. To attain a license, applicants are required to submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training, and pass a written exam and shooting proficiency test. This doesn’t apply to rifles, which do not require licenses to be carried in public.

The new law — set to go into effect Sept. 1 — will allow anyone 21 years or older to carry a handgun in public without need for a permit or training as long as they aren’t otherwise prohibited from owning a firearm by law, such as people with felony or domestic violence convictions.

Most Texas voters opposed the idea of allowing people to carry handguns in public places without permits or licenses, according to a University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll conducted in April. Although 56% of Republicans supported unlicensed carry, 59% of all voters opposed it.

Texas law enforcement officers voiced staunch opposition to the new law as it moved through the Legislature.

“I don’t know what it’s a solution to,” said James McLaughlin, executive director of the Texas Police Chiefs Association. “I don’t know what the problem was to start with.”

Lawrence, also the chair of trustees for the Texas Fraternal Order of Police, said part of the reason the bill got support was because of some increased crime rates last year, leading Texans to fear that law enforcement might not be able to protect them. He also noted it could have partially been pushback to calls last year to “defund the police,” a movement that aims to lower law enforcement budgets and reallocate funds to social service programs.

“The entire process was done to appease a certain block of voters, to appease a very, very vocal, active group that were just demanding that they be allowed to carry guns,” he said.

Lawmakers added several amendments to the bill to assuage law enforcement’s concerns, including a requirement that the Department of Public Safety offer a free online firearm safety training course.

Ray Hunt, executive director of the Houston Police Officers’ Union, said the bill could potentially have grave consequences for law enforcement officers, noting that it could be harder for them to decipher whether someone carrying a weapon is legally able to do so.

His opposition toward the bill lessened after lawmakers changed it to ease law enforcement’s worries about certain provisions, including one that would have banned officers from questioning a person based solely on their possession of a handgun.

Hunt and other law enforcement officials hope their fears over the permitless carry law won’t come to pass.

Law enforcement heavily condemned 2016’s “open carry” law that permits Texans to openly carry handguns in public as long as they have a permit. Many said they didn’t end up seeing noticeable effects after it passed.

“We were completely opposed to ‘license to carry’ when it happened, and we said all of the same arguments that we’re saying now,” Hunt said. “And nothing happened, so we’re hoping that we’re overreacting. We’re just concerned because anytime there’s more guns, there’s a problem.”

[Erakad]

Here are the states with the most permissive open carry laws:

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Delaware
Idaho
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Michigan
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
North Dakota
Vermont
Virginia
Washington state
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

In these states, no permit is required to open carry. However, there may be restrictions on where a person may carry.

source: https://aliengearholsters.com/blog/open-carry-states/

[Vipergrün]

I'd love to see some stats on violent crimes and crimes involving weapons between each of those states, then compare to the states with the most restrictive gun laws. I'm sure it exists, just gotta dig. A couple of friends who live in TX fear it will be a ***** show. Who knows.

[masraum]

Looks like Alien Gear needs to update their website.

The new Texas law is not open carry specific. It's open or concealed.

There are limits which are, I believe, mostly the same as they were before, but I think there's at least one or two places where someone without a license cannot carry, but someone with a license can. I don't remember what the specifics are.

[rcooled]

This part is a bit worrisome...

"A new state law will soon let most Texans carry handguns in public without going through training or having to get permits."

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Vipergrün

I'd love to see some stats on violent crimes and crimes involving weapons between each of those states, then compare to the states with the most restrictive gun laws. I'm sure it exists, just gotta dig. A couple of friends who live in TX fear it will be a ***** show. Who knows.

I don't think it's going to be that big a change. Hopefully, it doesn't end up being a negative.

[stomachmonkey]

It's not universally popular.

Even Police Associations are opposed to it.

It's not like it's difficult to get a carry permit in TX.

I have a neighbor who is an FFL and Firearms Instructor.

He holds classes for the community residents at least once a month.

4 hour class with him on a Saturday morning, he handles all the paperwork.

It's literally, honestly, no lie, not joking, 100x's harder to get your kid a drivers license around here than a carry permit.

[Arizona_928]

It won't be any change. Only those legally able to carry will carry. Felons and gang bangers will have more to fear as the populous is armed thus reducing soft targets.


Law enforcement will ***** bc they want the population unarmed so they are merely dependent upon them for protection.


Moral of the story... An armed population is a safe one.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rcooled

This part is a bit worrisome...

"A new state law will soon let most Texans carry handguns in public without going through training or having to get permits."

The only difference between now and before is the second highlighted part.

It's always been "most Texans." I believe the restrictions are the same, no felons, no wife beaters, etc....

The whole point of this is the "without a license" part.

Folks are now on the honor system to ensure that they learn the laws. I suspect there may be folks that skip that part.

Most folks are pretty unlikely to shoot anyone intentionally. The folks that would be a major problem, probably weren't that concerned with the old requirement to have a permit anyway.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I didn't think it was a bad thing for people to have to get some education before.

[Arizona_928]

Maybe one day driver's license will be a right described in the bill of rights. Until then. LoL

[Arizona_928]

Shall not be infringed.....
Not get educated first and we'll think about it....

You guys are sheep

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

It won't be any change. Only those legally able to carry will carry. Felons and gang bangers will have more to fear as the populous is armed thus reducing soft targets.


Law enforcement will ***** bc they want the population unarmed so they are merely dependent upon them for protection.


Moral of the story... An armed population is a safe one.

Do you think they want the pop unarmed and dependent on them?

I don't think cops do want that.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by masraum

I don't think it's going to be that big a change. Hopefully, it doesn't end up being a negative.

It concerns me.

It's not just the training to actually use a firearm properly.

A lot of people have a very ****ed up and uninformed opinion on what they can legally do.

Recently a friend of mine here, smart reasonable guy, professional, got into a bit of a road rage incident on the way home. Happened within a mile or so of his house and the guy he got into it with followed him down our block.

He parked in his garage ran inside got his gun then opened his front door, gave the guy the finger then closed the door and left it unlocked insisting if the guy entered his home he'd be justified in taking a shot at him.

I told him had that transpired he'd likely be the one going to jail.

He failed to understand or acknowledge that you can't bait someone into a self defense claim even after our other friend a former Baltimore Cop and current Federal LEO agreed with me.

Mind you, that would have been no different had he grabbed a knife or baseball bat instead of a handgun.

[bivenator]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

It's not universally popular.

Even Police Associations are opposed to it.

It's not like it's difficult to get a carry permit in TX.

I have a neighbor who is an FFL and Firearms Instructor.

He holds classes for the community residents at least once a month.

4 hour class with him on a Saturday morning, he handles all the paperwork.

It's literally, honestly, no lie, not joking, 100x's harder to get your kid a drivers license around here than a carry permit.

We have had three tries to get the drivers license. It is a byzantine, kafka-esque process that really shouldn't be so difficult regarding paperwork. It is the driving test that they should put the emphasis on. That part is pretty much a rubber stamp.

I am a little wary of the new law and untrained individuals carrying. We were told when conceal carry came there would be blood. It hasn't been that way. Fingers crossed.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by bivenator

We have had three tries to get the drivers license. It is a byzantine, kafka-esque process that really shouldn't be so difficult regarding paperwork. It is the driving test that they should put the emphasis on. That part is pretty much a rubber stamp.

I am a little wary of the new law and untrained individuals carrying. We were told when conceal carry came there would be blood. It hasn't been that way. Fingers crossed.

4 full days just to get the permit paperwork done.

6 hours on line for 3 of those days just to hear **** like, "this form is incorrect, there is no period after his middle initial in this spot but there is in other spots, please leave, fix it and come back another day" kind of ridiculousness.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

It concerns me.

It's not just the training to actually use a firearm properly.

I don't think ^that^ was really even part of the training.

A lot of people have a very ****ed up and uninformed opinion on what they can legally do.

Recently a friend of mine here, smart reasonable guy, professional, got into a bit of a road rage incident on the way home. Happened within a mile or so of his house and the guy he got into it with followed him down our block.

He parked in his garage ran inside got his gun then opened his front door, gave the guy the finger then closed the door and left it unlocked insisting if the guy entered his home he'd be justified in taking a shot at him.

I told him had that transpired he'd likely be the one going to jail.

He failed to understand or acknowledge that you can't bait someone into a self defense claim even after our other friend a former Baltimore Cop and current Federal LEO agreed with me.

Mind you, that would have been no different had he grabbed a knife or baseball bat instead of a handgun.

Yeah, lots of morons out there including some like your buddy that shouldn't be.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

A lot of people have a very ****ed up and uninformed opinion on what they can legally do.

I believe this to be true as well.

...ran inside got his gun then opened his front door, gave the guy the finger then closed the door and left it unlocked insisting if the guy entered his home he'd be justified in taking a shot at him.

Sure doesn't sound like something a smart, reasonable guy would do. That's just inviting a schitstorm of trouble.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by masraum

I don't think ^that^ was really even part of the training.

They do teach where the safety is and which direction to point it so that counts.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by rcooled

I believe this to be true as well.


Sure doesn't sound like something a smart, reasonable guy would do. That's just inviting a schitstorm of trouble.

Well, he is originally from NJ.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by bivenator

We have had three tries to get the drivers license. It is a byzantine, kafka-esque process that really shouldn't be so difficult regarding paperwork. It is the driving test that they should put the emphasis on. That part is pretty much a rubber stamp.

I am a little wary of the new law and untrained individuals carrying. We were told when conceal carry came there would be blood. It hasn't been that way. Fingers crossed.

but the previous training wasn't much. They went over where not to carry (that was a huge part of it). The rest of the training was more around legalities of carrying, what NOT to do, and what if you feel like you have to use it.