Texans could carry guns without permits under bill House panel is debating

[Elderberry]

Dallas News by Madlin Mekelburg 3/28/2017

AUSTIN — Two years after approving open carry and campus carry bills during the 2015 legislative session, Texas lawmakers are debating proposals that would give the state some of the laxest gun laws in the country.

The House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety heard hours of public testimony Tuesday on two bills that would allow Texans to carry a handgun (open or concealed) without obtaining a gun license and completing the required safety training. Any Texan who would ordinarily be denied a gun license would not be allowed to carry a gun.

"This bill means a lot to me because it means so much to my constituents and Texans everywhere," said Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, the author of one of the measures. "I don't think the government has the right to sell us back our rights."

If one of the bills passes, Texas would become the 13th state to allow "constitutional carry." North Dakota and New Hampshire passed similar laws this year, and Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming already have permitless laws in place.

More: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/guns/2017/03/28/texans-carry-guns-without-permits-bill-house-panel-debating

[txradioguy]

God Bless Texas!

Friend of mine told me the other day the House voted something like 241-0 to lower the concealed carry fee for first time applicants from $140 down to $40.

[thackney]

 A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

[txradioguy]

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amazing how many people seem confused by the part you bolded.

I was thinking about it again just the other day when my background check for my new gun was delayed.

[thackney]

God Bless Texas!

Friend of mine told me the other day the House voted something like 241-0 to lower the concealed carry fee for first time applicants from $140 down to $40.

Just a minor point of clarity.  In Texas, it is no longer a "conceal carry licence" and fee, but a "license to carry".  The difference is the same license and class is for both open and conceal carry.

http://www.guns.com/2017/03/30/texas-senate-agrees-to-slice-carry-permit-fees-as-house-weighs-constitutional-carry/

The Senate on Monday approved SB 16 which would drop permit fees from $140 to $40 on first-time applications and renewals from $70 to $40 in a 26-5 vote.

I don't see that the Texas House has voted on this yet.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SB16

[txradioguy]

Just a minor point of clarity.  In Texas, it is no longer a "conceal carry licence" and fee, but a "license to carry".  The difference is the same license and class is for both open and conceal carry.

http://www.guns.com/2017/03/30/texas-senate-agrees-to-slice-carry-permit-fees-as-house-weighs-constitutional-carry/

I don't see that the Texas House has voted on this yet.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=SB16

My bad...I was going from memory on which side of the State Congress had voted on it.

[thackney]

God Bless Texas!

Friend of mine told me the other day the House voted something like 241-0 to lower the concealed carry fee for first time applicants from $140 down to $40.

Also note there are only 150 Texas House Members.
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Members/Members.aspx?Chamber=H

[thackney]

My bad...I was going from memory on which side of the State Congress had voted on it.

26-5 vote

[txradioguy]

Also note there are only 150 Texas House Members.
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Members/Members.aspx?Chamber=H

That's what I get for replying solely on a text and not actually finding the article myself.

[thackney]

That's what I get for replying solely on a text and not actually finding the article myself.

No problem, I'm just keep in the thread current.

Cheers!