What the Texas senate gun law bills mean for you

The Texas legislature is currently considering two bills that would expand where and how guns can be legally carried in the state. So how could this affect you?

Gun shops like Sportsman’s Elite on the Westside says they’ve seen an increase in people seeking concealed handgun training already.

You might not see guns out in the open very often right now, but the bills going before the Texas Senate are aimed at making it easier for those with a licesnce to carry a gun.

Currently in Texas, you can carry a long gun such as a rifle or shotgun openly anyplace where its not prohibited to have a gun at all.

But two bills that would expand that are now set to head to the Senate floor in just a month or so after passing a committee vote Thursday. SB 11 would allow licensed concealed carry of handguns on college campuses. SB 17 would allow concealed handgun license holders to openly carry handguns anywhere they’re not prohibited from having one currently.

“Right now in the state of Texas,” said Louis Southard, sales specialist at Sportsman’s Elite. “You need to take a class that between 4 and 6 hours long, and you need to pass a shooting as well as written test to obtain a concealed handgun license.”

Places where concealed carry is prohibited include places where alcohol is served, and buildings where a Chapter 30.06 sign is displayed. The law currently prohibits the open carry of modern handguns, which Senate Bill 17 would change for concealed license holders.

“If open carry does get passed and signed into law by governor Abbott,” Southard said. “It’s going to be a strong learning curve for everybody. And we just need to be responsible citizens and do our part to follow the law.”

State Senator Jose Rodriguez said the bills will likely make the senate floor easily in about a month.

“Its on a fast track,” Rodriguez said. “They have the votes, and so we’re probably going to have to expect it’ll be legislation that will pass through the Senate, and then well have to see and wait for the House of Representatives.”

Previously, it took two thirds of the senate to bring a bill up for discussion, meaning the 11 democrats in the Senate could block anything they were unanimous on. But now it only takes 19 out of 31 senators to start debate on a bill, a vote the 20 republicans in the senate united could easily do.

Rodriguez, who opposes the bills, said it will take a lot of effort to stop them.

“Well I think the majority in both houses are there,” Rodriguez said. “Its going to depend on the citizenry, on the people that are most affected by this to come to the hearings, to communicate with their legislators, to talk to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the chair persons of the various committees, and impress upon them why this is isn’t necessary.”