Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed constitutional carry into law Wednesday, making the Lone Star State the 21st to remove a statutory restriction prohibiting gun owners from carrying a concealed firearm without a permit.
H.B. 1927 passed both chambers of the Texas State Legislature in late May—after a conference committee met to reconcile differences in versions passed by each chamber–before the legislative session adjourned May 31, and the bill then headed to Abbot’s desk for his signature. This bill capped off a groundbreaking session for gun owners in Texas that saw numerous pro-Second Amendment pieces of legislation passed.
Texas joins four other states –Iowa, Montana, Tennessee, and Utah—that have enacted some type of permitless carry just this year. This is a tremendous achievement, in no small part thanks to the tireless work of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.
Louisiana, meanwhile, has also moved closer to making constitutional carry the law of the land; however, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) has previously signaled he may veto the bill. A1F.com will keep you updated on progress there, as well.
Thankfully, however, constitutional carry is spreading throughout the nation. “The spread of constitutional carry has clearly shown that American freedom isn’t a problem that needs to be solved. Finding the will and means to better enforce laws targeting criminal behavior, not the freedom of law-abiding citizens, is what’s clearly needed,” previously reported America’s 1st Freedom.
