Texans Aim for Constitutional Carry in Committee Hearing

[Elderberry]

Texas Scorecard by Iris Poole and Joshua Pierce March 26, 2021

The Republican Party of Texas and gun owners across Texas have been advocating constitutional carry for more than a decade.

Gun rights activists showed up en masse to the Texas Capitol on Thursday to testify in favor of constitutional carry, a perennial priority for Texas Republicans.

In a marathon hearing that lasted until Friday morning, the Texas House Homeland Security Committee met, in part, to discuss constitutional carry bills that would allow citizens to possess firearms without permits from the state.

Four bills were considered by the committee: House Bill 1238 by State Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R–Fredericksburg), House Bill 1911 by State Rep. James White (R–Hillister), House Bill 1927 by State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R–Tyler), and House Bill 2900 by State Rep. Cole Hefner (R–Mt. Pleasant).

This was the first time since 2015 that there has been a constitutional carry bill filed in both the House and Senate and only the second time in Texas history it has been given a committee hearing.

The Republican Party of Texas and gun owners across Texas have been advocating constitutional carry for more than a decade, but efforts to eliminate the need for a state gun permit have consistently failed to pass in the Texas Capitol.

Meanwhile, 32 other states have some form of permitless carry. Many individuals who came to testify in support of constitutional carry pointed out that other states have already passed constitutional carry, including left-leaning blue states such as Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

“I can tell you from going across Texas … if you go to grassroots groups and conservative groups, every one of them wants constitutional carry,” said Wes Virdell, who drove from Brady (two hours west of Austin) to testify.

“We shouldn’t have to ask for permission to carry a firearm. If we’re legally allowed to carry it, it’s not the government’s right to delegate if we can or not. Because that’s a privilege at that point, instead of a right,” he told Texas Scorecard.

More: https://texasscorecard.com/state/texans-aim-for-constitutional-carry-in-committee-hearing/

[Idiot]

Texas Scorecard by Iris Poole and Joshua Pierce March 26, 2021

The Republican Party of Texas and gun owners across Texas have been advocating constitutional carry for more than a decade.

Gun rights activists showed up en masse to the Texas Capitol on Thursday to testify in favor of constitutional carry, a perennial priority for Texas Republicans.

In a marathon hearing that lasted until Friday morning, the Texas House Homeland Security Committee met, in part, to discuss constitutional carry bills that would allow citizens to possess firearms without permits from the state.

Four bills were considered by the committee: House Bill 1238 by State Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R–Fredericksburg), House Bill 1911 by State Rep. James White (R–Hillister), House Bill 1927 by State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R–Tyler), and House Bill 2900 by State Rep. Cole Hefner (R–Mt. Pleasant).

This was the first time since 2015 that there has been a constitutional carry bill filed in both the House and Senate and only the second time in Texas history it has been given a committee hearing.

The Republican Party of Texas and gun owners across Texas have been advocating constitutional carry for more than a decade, but efforts to eliminate the need for a state gun permit have consistently failed to pass in the Texas Capitol.

Meanwhile, 32 other states have some form of permitless carry. Many individuals who came to testify in support of constitutional carry pointed out that other states have already passed constitutional carry, including left-leaning blue states such as Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

“I can tell you from going across Texas … if you go to grassroots groups and conservative groups, every one of them wants constitutional carry,” said Wes Virdell, who drove from Brady (two hours west of Austin) to testify.

“We shouldn’t have to ask for permission to carry a firearm. If we’re legally allowed to carry it, it’s not the government’s right to delegate if we can or not. Because that’s a privilege at that point, instead of a right,” he told Texas Scorecard.

More: https://texasscorecard.com/state/texans-aim-for-constitutional-carry-in-committee-hearing/

I attended a gun show a while back and a guy I was talking to had a handgun strapped to his side.  For some reason this made me feel very uncomfortable.  I have no problem with concealed carry at all, but the open carry....kind of intimidating.

[Elderberry]

Have you ever noticed a person who was concealed carrying that there weapon was visible?  Did it make you feel intimidated?

[Idiot]

Have you ever noticed a person who was concealed carrying that there weapon was visible?  Did it make you feel intimidated?

[Elderberry]

‘Constitutional Carry’ And A Tax-Free Weekend For Firearms: GOP Lawmakers Push Gun-Friendly Bills

Texas Standard By Jill Ament & Shelly BrisbinMarch 26, 2021

https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/constitutional-carry-and-a-tax-free-weekend-for-firearms-gop-lawmakers-push-gun-friendly-bills/

Despite high-profile mass shootings and polling that shows public support for restrictions, Texas legislators are doubling down on gun rights.

Bills introduced during the current session would allow for the so-called constitutional carry of firearms, which would repeal current requirements to obtain a permit to carry a handgun and could also expedite the ability to obtain a gun license for people covered by a protective order that would otherwise restrict their ability to carry a gun legally.

Other bills under consideration would allow election judges to carry guns, while another would identify Texas as a “sanctuary” for guns, declaring that firearms and ammunition made or sold in the state are not subject to federal restrictions.

Another bill would declare a tax-free weekend for guns and hunting supplies.

More at link.

[Elderberry]

Constitutional Carry Gets Marathon Hearing in Texas House Committee

The Texan by Daniel Friend 3/26/2021

https://thetexan.news/constitutional-carry-gets-marathon-hearing-in-texas-house-committee/

The Homeland Security Committee heard testimony from hundreds of witnesses on several constitutional carry bills late into the night, finally gaveling out at 5:39 a.m. on Friday morning.

Four bills that would allow permitless carry of handguns at varying degrees were heard by the committee, though the version with the highest chance of passing is House Bill (HB) 1911, aptly sharing a number with the once standard-issue U.S. military sidearm, the Colt 1911.

If passed, the legislation would open permitless carry to those over 21 — or over 18 if in the military — who are also eligible for an LTC.

As with current law, all four of the proposals would continue to prohibit felons and people convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from carrying a firearm.

More at link.