House panel approves open carry

Scott Smith, a supporter of open carry gun laws, wears a pistol as he prepares for a rally at the Capitol, Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Scott Smith, a supporter of open carry gun laws, wears a pistol as he prepares for a rally at the Capitol, Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Photo: Associated Press Photo: Associated Press Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close House panel approves open carry 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN - The House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety on Thursday easily approved a bill to allow properly licensed Texans to openly carry their handguns in public, leaving just a couple steps left before the proposal becomes law.

House Bill 910 by Larry Phillips, R-Sherman, is the companion bill to open carry legislation the Senate passed on March 17. The proposal would allow Texans with concealed handgun licenses to openly carry their pistols in a shoulder or belt holster.

The proposal, which boasts 80 sponsors and co-authors, is all but guaranteed to pass in the House. Gov. Greg Abbott has promised to sign into law any legislation that expands gun owners' rights.

HB 910 was approved by a vote of 7-2, with Democratic Reps. Poncho Nevárez of Eagle Pass and Eric Johnson of Dallas voting no. Rep. Joe Moody of El Paso, who voted for the bill, is the first Democrat in either chamber to break with his party on this issue.

The panel did not vote on campus carry legislation, which would allow the same license holders to bring their handguns into college and university buildings, and instead will wait to vote on the Senate version that passed last week.