As of June 1, 2021, Permitless Carry (HB1927, aka “Constitutional Carry”) has been passed by the Texas legislature and currently awaits Governor Abbott’s signature. We have little doubt that he will sign it soon, assuming we ever have a day when headlines are not dominated by another mass shooting.
“Once Permitless Carry is enacted, “Texas will become the most populous state by far to allow people to carry loaded handguns in public (both open and concealed) without first obtaining a permit.”
Once enacted, Texas will become the most populous state by far to allow people to carry loaded handguns in public (both open and concealed) without first obtaining a permit. In Texas, that permit is called a License to Carry (an “LTC”) and requires a background check, a small fee, and the completion of four to six hours of training. Permitless Carry scraps these safeguards.
New gun owners who never learn how to handle their gun are certainly dangerous. Perhaps more dangerous, though, is the fact that not all gun sales in Texas are required to undergo a background check. The LTC ensures that anyone authorized to carry a handgun in public has passed a background check. Keep in mind that nearly 3,000 applications for an LTC were denied in 2020, so clearly many people are not good judges of whether or not they meet the requirements. Permitless Carry creates an honor system in which Texans and law enforcement have no reassurance that the man at HEB with a gun strapped to his hip is legally allowed to carry. Instead, so long as he has determined for himself that he is a “law-abiding citizen” who meets the requirements to carry without a permit, there is nothing at all to stop him from doing just that. That is, until he starts shooting.
“…Nearly 3,000 applications for License to Carry were denied in 2020, so clearly many people are not good judges of whether or not they meet the requirements.”
Data shows us the Texas LTC program is extremely successful. Data shows us that states who have moved to a permitless system have seen significant increases in gun violence. Texas law enforcement knows all of this, which is why not a single law enforcement agency or organization came out in support of this bill. To the contrary, most law enforcement publicly opposed it Many great articles have been written about the specifics of the bill and how it will impact Texans