Texans are now able to carry guns in public without a permit or training.
Texas has just passed a gun law that would enable a person who is not trained and not licensed with a permit to publicly carry a firearm, despite the rise in gun violence incidents in the state.
According to CNN, shootings in the state have risen by 14 percent in 2021, with 3,200 more shootings than in 2020. Gun violence has increased by 50 percent in the entire country.
“In Texas, repealing the permit altogether is a radical change,” said Andrew Karwoski, a policy expert at Everytown for Gun Safety. “Just allowing almost anyone to carry a handgun in public, no questions asked, no background check or safety training, is really dangerous.”
Texans who are 21 years and older will be able to legally carry their guns, except for those banned from owning a firearm. While some may be happy about the move, others warn that the law may only promote even more gun violence.
“Owning a firearm and being able to deploy a firearm in a safe manner requires not only familiarity with the weapon system but also a level of proficiency,” said Frank Straub, the director of the Center for Mass Violence Response Studies at the National Police Foundation.
