Texas Scorecard by Tony McDonald March 13, 2020
Does Texas Have Constitutional Carry Due to Abbott’s Coronavirus Disaster Declaration?
For the next 168 hours? Kind of. But it’s complicated.On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide state of disaster due to the spread of the coronavirus. This has raised many questions as to the impact on gun rights under House Bill 1177, passed by the legislature in 2019 and signed into law by the governor.
The bill lifts restrictions on the unlicensed, open carry of a handgun by Texans during times of evacuation during a state of disaster. Specifically, the bill states that Texas handgun restrictions do not apply to a person who carries a handgun while:
• Evacuating from an area following the declaration of a state of disaster; or
• Re-entering the area following the person’s evacuation.
The provisions only apply, however, for 168 hours following the governor’s disaster declaration unless the governor’s proclamation extends that period. It also does not apply to persons who are prohibited under state or federal law from possessing a firearm.
More:
https://texasscorecard.com/state/does-texas-have-constitutional-carry-due-to-abbotts-coronavirus-disaster-declaration/
