Open carry will soon be the law in Texas

Here's a look at the Texas open carry movement.



With guns in hand, a group of more than 20 people with the pro-gun organization, Come and Take it Houston, assembled at City Hall before walking through downtown carrying their guns as part of a rally Thursday, July 4, 2013, in Houston. "This is a Come and Take it Houston walk to help inform citizens about the gun laws here in Texas," co-organizer Kenneth Lindbloom said. "In Texas there are no restrictions on the open carry of long arms like rifles and shotguns. We want people to realize that in the hands of good people, guns are not dangerous and they don't kill people. When good people have guns it serves as a deterrent to stop crime."( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle ) less Here's a look at the Texas open carry movement.



With guns in hand, a group of more than 20 people with the pro-gun organization, Come and Take it Houston, assembled at City Hall before walking through downtown ... more Photo: Houston Chronicle Photo: Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 60 Caption Close Open carry will soon be the law in Texas 1 / 60 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN – Texas will soon be an open carry state.

The state House and Senate on Friday gave final approval to the legislation, which starting on Jan. 1 will allow those with a concealed carry license to openly tote their handguns in a shoulder or hip holster.

In a tweet immediately after the bill's passage, Gov. Greg Abbott promised to sign it into law as soon as possible: "Next destination. My pen."

The House gave final approval to the bill by a vote of 102-43; in the Senate it passed 20-11 along party lines.

The law will not include a provision barring police from stopping or detaining someone solely for openly carrying a handgun. That amendment was adopted in both the House and the Senate, but lawmakers agreed to strip it after opposition from law enforcement groups.

Bill sponsor Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, said he was happy with the overall outcome and lauded Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for pushing a vote on the issue before the last weekend of the session, which ends June 1.

"I don't think that we could have accomplished this without the wisdom and guidance of the lieutenant governor," Estes said ater the bill's passage. He said Patrick made sure the measure got a vote Friday instead of Saturday, when Estes was afraid opponents might be able to kill the bill through a days-long filibuster.

"We think Texas as being a gun happy state," said House sponsor Larry Phillips, R-Sherman, "but we denied citizens the right that most other states afforded them. And so this was the time to do it."

Open carry has been a top issue since the first day of the 2015 session on Jan. 13, when activists supporting unlicensed open carry rallied outside the Capitol. The issue made nearly daily headlines, as legislative leaders sparred over its importance and House members approved state-sponsored panic buttons after one lawmaker's particularly heated run-in with activists.

Phillips and Estes said the bad press might have slowed the legislation down, but could not kill it.

"We filed the bill early and it took a long time. But nothing significant is every easy around here," said Estes.

Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, who threatened on Thursday to filibuster the bill this weekend, said he was disappointed Senate rules were suspended to allow its quick passage.

"I continue to believe this is a bad law, and I voted no. It's simple; I do not believe the proliferation of handguns in public spaces, which have no purpose other than to injure or kill, is good policy," Rodríguez said in a statement. "This is not the kind of civil society we want, and it is not one to which we should succumb."

Under the new law, those with non-Texas concealed handgun licenses recognized by the state will also be allowed to open carry. Texas recognizes the licenses and permits from 41 other states. In Texas, licensees must be at least 21 and must pass a background check and written and range test.

Texas law already allows the open carrying of long arms like rifles without any licensing requirements.