Texas Lawmakers Pass Bill that Allows Residents to Carry Handguns Without a Permit

The Texas Senate passed a bill on Monday that would abolish the requirement for residents to receive a license to carry a handgun. The bill, which passed the Senate 17-13, will now be sent to Governor Greg Abbott, who has announced that he plans to sign it. Before the lawmakers’ ratification, Abbott said on a radio show, “I support it, and I believe it should reach my desk, and we should have “constitutional carry” in Texas.”

Previously, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said that the Senate lacked the necessary votes to pass House Bill 1927, or HB 1927. The House and Senate reached an agreement that resolved law enforcement issues, such as changing course on a clause that would have prohibited cops from interviewing anyone solely because they had a weapon.

Other reforms include prohibiting residents from possessing a weapon without a license if convicted of any serious offenses in the previous five years, such as creating a terroristic threat or attack causing bodily injury. Criminal penalties for felons found in possession of illegal firearms have also been raised.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, 12 mass shootings have taken place in Texas this year alone.