Gov. Abbott Signs Permitless Carry Bill into Law

Starting September 1st, Texans can begin carrying handguns without a license or training. On Wednesday, June 16, Governor Abbott signed into law House Bill 1927, which eliminates the requirement for Texans to obtain a license to carry a firearm- if they are not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing the firearm and to "other provisions related to the carrying, possessing, transporting, or storing of a firearm or other weapon; creating criminal offenses."

Governor Abbott's office announced that there will be a "ceremonial" signing of the bill on Thursday morning. This is a huge win for guns advocates, and while it sounds concerning for those a little uneasy about the bill, the Texas Tribune reports that before the bill was approved, "the Senate tacked on several amendments to address concerns by law enforcement groups that opposed permitless carry, worried it would endanger officers and make it easier for criminals to get guns."

Texas is a little late to the "constitutional carry" (which it is also referred to) party. 20 states already have some form of “constitutional carry”. And these aren’t just the red, rural states either. Traditionally “blue states” like New Hampshire and Vermont (it's also referred to as "Vermont Carry") allow for unlicensed carry. Each state might have a few minor variations but essentially it means "carrying without a license".

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Meanwhile, gun control advocates are disappointed that it will now be easier to carry firearms, especially after the 2019 shootings in El Paso and Midland-Odessa. El Paso's very own Veronica Escobar had this to say: