TX legislative records: on Gun Control
Jasmine Crockett:
Oppose concealed carry without training or permit
Summary by Texas Tribune: The new Texas gun law allows anyone 21 years or older to carry a handgun in public without need for a permit or training as long as they aren't otherwise prohibited from owning a firearm by law, such as people
with felony or domestic violence convictions. Before Sept. 1, Texans were mostly required to be licensed to carry handguns. To attain a license, applicants were required to submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training, and pass a written
exam and shooting proficiency test.The founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, repeatedly pointed out that despite arguments from [legislative sponsors] that more guns make a safer Texas, gun violence has increased year over year, [saying]
"Why does Texas still have high gun violence, yet they have a higher rate of gun ownership?"
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 82-62-2 on May/23/21; Rep. Crockett voted NO; passed Senate on May/24/21; signed by Governor Jun/16/21
Source: Texas Tribune on TX State Legislature voting records HB1927
May 31, 2021
Greg Abbott:
Support concealed carry without training or permit
Summary by Texas Tribune: The new Texas gun law allows anyone 21 years or older to carry a handgun in public without need for a permit or training as long as they aren't otherwise prohibited from owning a firearm by law, such as people
with felony or domestic violence convictions. Before Sept. 1, Texans were mostly required to be licensed to carry handguns. To attain a license, applicants were required to submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training, and pass a written
exam and shooting proficiency test.The founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, repeatedly pointed out that despite arguments from [legislative sponsors] that more guns make a safer Texas, gun violence has increased year over year,
[saying] "Why does Texas still have high gun violence, yet they have a higher rate of gun ownership?"
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 82-62-2 on May/23/21; passed Senate on May/24/21; signed by Governor Greg Abbott Jun/16/21
Source: Texas Tribune on TX State Legislature voting records HB1927
Jun 16, 2021
Don Huffines:
Favor open carry of holstered handgun
House Bill 910 authorizes a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun. This open carry legislation allows individuals with a CHL license to carry their guns openly, without concealment, in a holster in any location
that CHL holders were previously able to carry concealed weapons. There are close to 900,000 CHL holders in Texas, and the state has agreements whereby permit holders from over 40 states may also carry handguns in Texas.
Any private businesses seeking to prohibit open carry within their establishments must abide by strict signage requirements that some within the business community consider onerous.Legislative outcome:
Passed Senate 20-11-0 on May/29/15; State Sen. Huffines voted YES; passed House 102-43-1 on May/29/15; signed by Governor Greg Abbott Jun/13/15.
Source: Texas Gun Sense on Texas legislative voting records: HB910
May 29, 2015
George W. Bush:
1995: Concealed carry doesn't make TX more dangerous
In 1995, the governor responded to the concealed handgun legislation: "I wouldn't be signing it if I thought it made Texas a more dangerous place." Indeed, a little more than a week after the House passed the concealed weapons proposal, the governor
signed the bill into law, tossing out a ban on carrying weapons that was adopted by another Republican governor, E.J. Davis, 125 years earlier during a meeting of the post-Civil War Legislature."Today we signed a bill that gives
Texans who feel the need to carry a weapon to protect themselves the right to do so," the governor announced at the signing ceremony, "assuming they are properly licensed and trained to do so."
The law required citizens who were
21 or older, with no criminal histories, mental illness, or substance abuse problems to undergo 10 to 15 hours of training and pass a proficiency exam before receiving a 14 year permit (which cost $140) from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Source: Fortunate Son(Hatfield)p.156; 1995 Texas Voting Record SB 60
Aug 17, 1999
Greg Abbott:
Favor open carry of holstered handgun
House Bill 910 authorizes a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun. This open carry legislation allows individuals with a CHL license to carry their guns openly, without concealment, in a holster in any location
that CHL holders were previously able to carry concealed weapons. There are close to 900,000 CHL holders in Texas, and the state has agreements whereby permit holders from over 40 states may also carry handguns in Texas.
Any private businesses seeking to prohibit open carry within their establishments must abide by strict signage requirements that some within the business community consider onerous.Legislative outcome:
Passed Senate 20-11-0 on May/29/15; passed House 102-43-1 on May/29/15; signed by Governor Greg Abbott Jun/13/15.
Source: Texas Gun Sense on Texas legislative voting records: HB910
Jun 13, 2015
Rick Perry:
Welcomes NRA with a video of him using semi-automatic rifle
The Texas House approved a batch of bills to further soften gun laws that were already among the country's most firearms-friendly, allowing college students to carry handguns in class, and exempting the state from any future federal bans on assault
rifles, high-capacity magazines or universal background checks.Dubbed "gun day" by supporters and opponents alike, the parade of votes came as thousands of members of the National Rifle Association attended the group's annual convention in Houston.
Gov. Rick Perry welcomed convention attendees with a video of him taking target practice using a semi-automatic rifle.
The 12 approved gun bills must all clear final, procedural votes before heading to the state Senate. A Democratic parliamentary
point of order managed to shoot down just one, a bill that would have allowed the use of a concealed handgun license as valid proof of identity--even though obtaining such licenses requires a background check that's not necessary to get driver licenses.
Source: USA Today on Texas "Gun Day" voting record
May 4, 2013
Royce West:
Oppose open carry of holstered handgun
House Bill 910 authorizes a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun. This open carry legislation allows individuals with a CHL license to carry their guns openly, without concealment, in a holster in any location
that CHL holders were previously able to carry concealed weapons. There are close to 900,000 CHL holders in Texas, and the state has agreements whereby permit holders from over 40 states may also carry handguns in Texas.
Any private businesses seeking to prohibit open carry within their establishments must abide by strict signage requirements that some within the business community consider onerous.Legislative outcome:
Passed Senate 20-11-0 on May/29/15; Sen. West voted NO; passed House 102-43-1 on May/29/15; signed by Governor Greg Abbott Jun/13/15.
Source: Texas Gun Sense on Texas legislative voting records: HB910
May 29, 2015
Sylvia Garcia:
Oppose open carry of holstered handgun
House Bill 910 authorizes a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun. This open carry legislation allows individuals with a CHL license to carry their guns openly, without concealment, in a holster in any location
that CHL holders were previously able to carry concealed weapons. There are close to 900,000 CHL holders in Texas, and the state has agreements whereby permit holders from over 40 states may also carry handguns in Texas.
Any private businesses seeking to prohibit open carry within their establishments must abide by strict signage requirements that some within the business community consider onerous.Legislative outcome:
Passed Senate 20-11-0 on May/29/15; Sen. Garcia voted NO; passed House 102-43-1 on May/29/15; signed by Governor Greg Abbott Jun/13/15.
Source: Texas Gun Sense on Texas legislative voting records: HB910
May 29, 2015
Van Taylor:
Favor open carry of holstered handgun
Favor open carry of holstered handgun
House Bill 910 authorizes a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun. This open carry legislation allows individuals with a CHL license to carry their guns openly, without concealment, in a holster in any location
Any private businesses seeking to prohibit open carry within their establishments must abide by strict signage requirements that some within the business community consider onerous.Legislative outcome:
Passed Senate 20-11-0 on May/29/15; Sen. Taylor voted YES; passed House 102-43-1 on May/29/15; signed by Governor Greg Abbott Jun/13/15.
Source: Texas Gun Sense on Texas legislative voting records: HB910
May 29, 2015
Roland Gutierrez:
Oppose open carry of holstered handgun
House Bill 910 authorizes a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun. This open carry legislation allows individuals with a CHL license to carry their guns openly, without concealment, in a holster in any location
that CHL holders were previously able to carry concealed weapons. There are close to 900,000 CHL holders in Texas, and the state has agreements whereby permit holders from over 40 states may also carry handguns in Texas.
Any private businesses seeking to prohibit open carry within their establishments must abide by strict signage requirements that some within the business community consider onerous.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 20-11-0 on May/29/15; passed House 102-43-1 on May/29/15; State Rep. Roland Gutierrez voted NO; signed by Governor Greg Abbott Jun/13/15.
Source: Texas Gun Sense on Texas legislative voting records: HB910
May 29, 2015
Carl Sherman:
Oppose concealed carry without training or permit
Summary by Texas Tribune: The new Texas gun law allows anyone 21 years or older to carry a handgun in public without need for a permit or training as long as they aren't otherwise prohibited from owning a firearm by law, such as people
with felony or domestic violence convictions. Before Sept. 1, Texans were mostly required to be licensed to carry handguns. To attain a license, applicants were required to submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training, and pass a written
exam and shooting proficiency test.
The founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, repeatedly pointed out that despite arguments from [legislative sponsors] that more guns make a safer Texas, gun violence has increased year over year, [saying] "Why
does Texas still have high gun violence, yet they have a higher rate of gun ownership?"
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 82-62-2 on May/23/21; Rep. Carl Sherman voted NO; passed Senate on May/24/21; signed by Governor Jun/16/21
Source: Texas Tribune on TX State Legislature voting records HB1927
May 31, 2021
Craig Goldman:
Support concealed carry without training or permit
Summary by Texas Tribune: The new Texas gun law allows anyone 21 years or older to carry a handgun in public without need for a permit or training as long as they aren't otherwise prohibited from owning a firearm by law, such as people
with felony or domestic violence convictions. Before Sept. 1, Texans were mostly required to be licensed to carry handguns. To attain a license, applicants were required to submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training, and pass a written
exam and shooting proficiency test.The founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, repeatedly pointed out that despite arguments from [legislative sponsors] that more guns make a safer Texas, gun violence has increased year over year,
[saying] "Why does Texas still have high gun violence, yet they have a higher rate of gun ownership?"
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 82-62-2 on May/23; Rep. Goldman voted YES; passed Senate on May/24; signed by Gov. Abbott Jun/16/21
Source: Texas Tribune on TX State Legislature voting records HB1927
Jun 16, 2021
Craig Goldman:
Favor open carry of holstered handgun
Favor open carry of holstered handgun
House Bill 910 authorizes a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun. This open carry legislation allows individuals with a CHL license to carry their guns openly, without concealment, in a holster in any location
Any private businesses seeking to prohibit open carry within their establishments must abide by strict signage requirements that some within the business community consider onerous.Legislative outcome:
Passed Senate 20-11-0 on May/29/15; Rep. Goldman co-authored & voted YES; passed House 102-43-1 on May/29/15; signed by Governor Greg Abbott Jun/13/15.
Source: Texas Gun Sense on Texas legislative voting records: HB910
May 29, 2015
Julie Johnson:
Oppose concealed carry without training or permit
Summary by Texas Tribune: The new Texas gun law allows anyone 21 years or older to carry a handgun in public without need for a permit or training as long as they aren't otherwise prohibited from owning a firearm by law, such as people
with felony or domestic violence convictions. Before Sept. 1, Texans were mostly required to be licensed to carry handguns. To attain a license, applicants were required to submit fingerprints, complete four to six hours of training, and pass a written
exam and shooting proficiency test.
The founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, repeatedly pointed out that despite arguments from [legislative sponsors] that more guns make a safer Texas, gun violence has increased year over year, [saying] "Why
does Texas still have high gun violence, yet they have a higher rate of gun ownership?"
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 82-62-2 on May/23/21; State Rep. Julie Johnson voted NO; passed Senate on May/24/21; signed by Governor Jun/16/21
Source: Texas Tribune on TX State Legislature voting records HB1927
May 31, 2021
Sylvester Turner:
Oppose open carry of holstered handgun
House Bill 910 authorizes a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun. This open carry legislation allows individuals with a CHL license to carry their guns openly, without concealment, in a holster in any location
that CHL holders were previously able to carry concealed weapons. There are close to 900,000 CHL holders in Texas, and the state has agreements whereby permit holders from over 40 states may also carry handguns in Texas.
Any private businesses seeking to prohibit open carry within their establishments must abide by strict signage requirements that some within the business community consider onerous.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 20-11-0 on May/29/15; passed House 102-43-1 on May/29/15; State Rep. Sylvester Turner voted NO; signed by Governor Greg Abbott Jun/13/15.
Source: Texas Gun Sense on Texas legislative voting records: HB910
May 29, 2015
Page last updated: Sep 02, 2025