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Texas previously required its citizens to undergo a background check and training and get a permit to carry a handgun. But now, with this new law, all such requirements have been withdrawn. Gun rights advocates have highly praised this law.
"Texas safeguards the Second Amendment. Today, constitutional carry goes into effect. Texans who legally own a gun are now allowed to carry it in public. No license or training is needed," Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted.
However, the law has also been criticized by certain groups that oppose the idea of permitless carry of handguns. In fact, several law enforcement officials like the president of the Houston Police Officers' Union – Doug Griffith – and Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia have commented that introducing this law makes their job as police officers even more dangerous.
"In Texas, repealing the permit altogether is a radical change. Just allowing almost anyone to carry a handgun in public, no questions asked, no background check or safety training, is really dangerous," said Andrew Karwoski, a policy expert at Everytown for Gun Safety which is one of the largest organizations for gun prevention in the United States.
At the same time, the Republican supporters of the law have put forth their own argument in favor of it. They think that law is a step toward removing an "artificial barrier," thus ensuring that Texans are fully equipped to protect themselves.
"This bill, to me, is a restoration of the belief in and trust of our citizens," State Sen. Charles Schwertner said.
House Bill 1927, commonly known as the "permitless carry" law, relates "to provisions governing the carrying of a firearm by a person who is 21 years of age or older and not otherwise 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."
Apart from Texas, several other conservative states have favored permitless carry and passed legislation, including Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Tennessee and Iowa.
The bill was converted into law, and Abbott affixed his signature only after the Senate and Texas House lawmakers reached a compromise. They eliminated a provision that would have prevented officers from questioning someone based on the sole reason of possessing a handgun.