Latest Pro-2A Gun Laws Changes

With half of the country still on “lockdown” and Texas “opening up”, it’s great to know that the state we all take pride in has our back; not only in the efforts to keep our economy from sinking any further, but also on our Second Amendment Rights.

If further proof is needed, look no further Than the ten bills that went into effect late last year.

1- Senate Bill 535

This is by far one of the biggest, most controverisal changes that went in to effect as it gives licensees the right to carry in churches, synagogues, and other places of worship.

The bill was passed largely due to a church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas where 26 people were killed, over dozen of them, were children.

Just a few short months after the law went in to effect, there was another church shooting not far from there in the small town of White Settlement. In the midst of what was supposed to be the most spiritual part of the service, a

disguised visitor stood up, pulled out a shotgun from his oversized coat and opened fire.

Luckily for the two hundred and fifty members in attendance, the law had been changed, so the criminal wasn’t the only one armed.

Just six seconds after the shotgun was pulled out by the criminal, Jack Wilson, a long time member of the church drew his own firearm.

Firing only once, the round made contact with the armed criminal, stopping him in his tracks……in just six seconds.

Here is the full story of the White Settlement Church Shooting:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/six-seconds-of-infamy/id1442176310?i=1000471202561

Senate Bill 535- Relating to the carrying of a handgun by license holders on the premises of certain places of religious worship.

Relating to the carrying of a handgun by a license holder on the premises of certain places of religious worship.
Amends Penal Code §46.035 to remove the prohibition against carrying in a church, synagogue or other established place of religious worship.
A place of religious worship may still post notice under Penal Code 30.06 or 30.07 prohibiting the concealed and/or openly carrying of a handgun on the premise.

2- House Bill 121

If you’ve been carrying for a while, then you know how easy it is to miss an anti-gun sign, whether it’s the fault of your own, or the establishments, do to poorly posted signage.

Regardless of the circumstances, one of the changes that went in to effect gives you the defense of “mistake”.

Prior to these changes, the licensee could have been prosecuted for entering an establishment with the aforementioned signage, but under new law; no crime has been committed if the licensee promptly leaves the establishment

once realizing firearms are prohibited.

To avoid turning law-biding citizens in to criminals, the state passed HB-121.

Relating to a defense to prosecution for the offense of trespass by certain persons carrying handguns.

Amends Penal Code §30.06 and §30.07 by providing license holders with a defense to prosecution when the license holder was personally given notice by oral communication and promptly departed from the property.

3- House Bill 302

As the old adage goes, “A man’s house is his castle” although the saying dates back to the 1600s, it remains true to this day; and your landlord shouldn’t have a say in the matter.

Just because someone is renting does not mean they don’t have the right to defend themselves and their families.

To ensure second amendment rights aren’t violated, HB302 was passed in to law, which will no longer allow landlords to prohibit tenants or their guests from possesing legally owned firearms.

House Bill 302-Relating to the carrying, storage, or possession of a firearm or firearm ammunition by certain persons on certain residential or commercial property.

Prohibits landlords from restricting tenants and their guests from possessing firearms and ammunition, unless possession on a landlord's property is prohibited by state or federal law.
Amends Penal Code §30.05, §30.06, and §30.07 by providing license holders with a defense to prosecution for individuals who are the owners, tenants, or guests.

4- House Bill 1177

If you are ever unfortunate enough to live through and be effected by some sort of natural disaster, the disaster alone is enough to worry about.

Hoping not to be victimized by looters or opportunistic criminals shouldn’t be on your list of things to do, whether you have a License To Carry or not.

Luckily, HB1177 was enacted which should give you a peace of mind that if anything ever happened, you’d be able to protect yourself and loved ones without leaving your guns behind.

House Bill 1177- Relating to carrying a handgun during a state of disaster.

Amends Penal Code §46.15, Removing The Provisions For Unlawful Carrying Of A Handgun If The Person Is Not Prohibited From Possessing A Firearm And Is Evacuating From Or Reentering To An Area Subject To Mandatory Evacuation During A Natural Disaster.
Provides That Certain Places Where The Carrying Of A Handgun Is Prohibited Does Not Apply In Situations Where The Premises Is Operating As An Emergency Shelter During A State Of Disaster And The Owner, Controller, Operator, Or Person Of Apparent Authority Authorized The Carrying Of A Handgun In The Shelter.

5- House Bill 1143

Unbeknownst to a lot of people, licensees have always had the ability to store their firearms in their locked vehicles while on school property.

Many schools unlawfully posted signage with additional rules that violated that right.

Thanks to House Bill 1143, that’s a thing of the past.

House Bill 1143- Relating to the transportation or storage of a handgun or other firearm or ammunition by a handgun license holder in a school parking area.

Prohibits school districts or open-enrollment charter schools from regulating the manner in which a handgun, firearm, or ammunition is stored in a locked, privately owned or leased motor vehicle that is in a parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area provided by the district or charter school.

6- House Bill 1552

Relating to firearms training for, weapons proficiency and carrying of a handgun or other firearm by county jailers and qualified retired law enforcement officers.

Amends the (LTC) application requirements for former Reserve Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) by reducing the total number of cumulative years of service with one or more state or local law enforcement agencies from 15 years to 10 years.
Removes the requirement for former Reserve LEOs to maintain and report a weapons proficiency certificate to the department as holder of an LTC.

7- House Bill 1791

Relating to the carrying of handguns by license holders on property owned or leased by a governmental entity.

Provides that a state agency or political subdivision of this state may not take any action to prohibit a License to Carry (LTC) holder from the lawful carrying of a handgun on the premises or other place owned or leased by that governmental authority.
Minor changes to existing law governing the complaint process for license holders to file with the Texas Attorney General's Office against governmental entities as it relates to this law.

8- House Bill 2137

Relating to an application made by certain retired state and federal officers to obtain a license to carry a handgun; waiving a fee.

Changes documentation requirements and waives the fee for a License to Carry (LTC) application for retired peace officers and retired federal officers.

9- House Bill 3706

Relating to a license to carry a handgun for active and retired railroad peace officers and special ranger of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Waives the fee for a License to Carry (LTC) application for active and retired Railroad Peace Officers and Special Rangers of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
Requires retired Railroad Peace Officer and Special Rangers of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association applicants to submit fingerprints as part of the license application.

10- House Bill 4428

Relating to the application for and expiration of a license to carry a handgun.

Changes the expiration date for a License to Carry (LTC) to reflect the expiration of the license holder's lawful presence in the United States.
If there is no definite expiration date for the applicant's lawful presence, the License to Carry (LTC) will expire one year after it is issued.
If an extension for the license holder's lawful presence is granted, the applicant may apply for a duplicate license with an updated expiration date. The duplicate license will expire on the earlier of the licensee's birthday (4th or 5th year, as applicable), the date lawful presence expires, or the first anniversary of the date of renewal (if no definite expiration date).

For More Information Regarding Texas State Handgun Licensing Laws Visit The Link Below.

DPS Website

LawsJulio SalazarMay 15, 2020articlesComment

Latest Pro-2A Gun Laws Changes

With half of the country still on “lockdown” and Texas “opening up”, it’s great to know that the state we all take pride in has our back; not only in the efforts to keep our economy from sinking any further, but also on our Second Amendment Rights.

If further proof is needed, look no further Than the ten bills that went into effect late last year.

This is by far one of the biggest, most controverisal changes that went in to effect as it gives licensees the right to carry in churches, synagogues, and other places of worship.

The bill was passed largely due to a church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas where 26 people were killed, over dozen of them, were children.

Just a few short months after the law went in to effect, there was another church shooting not far from there in the small town of White Settlement. In the midst of what was supposed to be the most spiritual part of the service, a

disguised visitor stood up, pulled out a shotgun from his oversized coat and opened fire.

Luckily for the two hundred and fifty members in attendance, the law had been changed, so the criminal wasn’t the only one armed.

Just six seconds after the shotgun was pulled out by the criminal, Jack Wilson, a long time member of the church drew his own firearm.

Firing only once, the round made contact with the armed criminal, stopping him in his tracks……in just six seconds.

Senate Bill 535- Relating to the carrying of a handgun by license holders on the premises of certain places of religious worship.

Relating to the carrying of a handgun by a license holder on the premises of certain places of religious worship.

Amends Penal Code §46.035 to remove the prohibition against carrying in a church, synagogue or other established place of religious worship.

A place of religious worship may still post notice under Penal Code 30.06 or 30.07 prohibiting the concealed and/or openly carrying of a handgun on the premise.

If you’ve been carrying for a while, then you know how easy it is to miss an anti-gun sign, whether it’s the fault of your own, or the establishments, do to poorly posted signage.

Prior to these changes, the licensee could have been prosecuted for entering an establishment with the aforementioned signage, but under new law; no crime has been committed if the licensee promptly leaves the establishment

once realizing firearms are prohibited.

To avoid turning law-biding citizens in to criminals, the state passed HB-121.

Relating to a defense to prosecution for the offense of trespass by certain persons carrying handguns.

Amends Penal Code §30.06 and §30.07 by providing license holders with a defense to prosecution when the license holder was personally given notice by oral communication and promptly departed from the property.

As the old adage goes, “A man’s house is his castle” although the saying dates back to the 1600s, it remains true to this day; and your landlord shouldn’t have a say in the matter.

Just because someone is renting does not mean they don’t have the right to defend themselves and their families.

To ensure second amendment rights aren’t violated, HB302 was passed in to law, which will no longer allow landlords to prohibit tenants or their guests from possesing legally owned firearms.

House Bill 302-Relating to the carrying, storage, or possession of a firearm or firearm ammunition by certain persons on certain residential or commercial property.

Prohibits landlords from restricting tenants and their guests from possessing firearms and ammunition, unless possession on a landlord's property is prohibited by state or federal law.

Amends Penal Code §30.05, §30.06, and §30.07 by providing license holders with a defense to prosecution for individuals who are the owners, tenants, or guests.

If you are ever unfortunate enough to live through and be effected by some sort of natural disaster, the disaster alone is enough to worry about.

Hoping not to be victimized by looters or opportunistic criminals shouldn’t be on your list of things to do, whether you have a License To Carry or not.

Luckily, HB1177 was enacted which should give you a peace of mind that if anything ever happened, you’d be able to protect yourself and loved ones without leaving your guns behind.

House Bill 1177- Relating to carrying a handgun during a state of disaster.

Amends Penal Code §46.15, Removing The Provisions For Unlawful Carrying Of A Handgun If The Person Is Not Prohibited From Possessing A Firearm And Is Evacuating From Or Reentering To An Area Subject To Mandatory Evacuation During A Natural Disaster.

Unbeknownst to a lot of people, licensees have always had the ability to store their firearms in their locked vehicles while on school property.

Many schools unlawfully posted signage with additional rules that violated that right.

Thanks to House Bill 1143, that’s a thing of the past.

House Bill 1143- Relating to the transportation or storage of a handgun or other firearm or ammunition by a handgun license holder in a school parking area.

Relating to firearms training for, weapons proficiency and carrying of a handgun or other firearm by county jailers and qualified retired law enforcement officers.

Amends the (LTC) application requirements for former Reserve Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) by reducing the total number of cumulative years of service with one or more state or local law enforcement agencies from 15 years to 10 years.

Removes the requirement for former Reserve LEOs to maintain and report a weapons proficiency certificate to the department as holder of an LTC.

Relating to the carrying of handguns by license holders on property owned or leased by a governmental entity.

Provides that a state agency or political subdivision of this state may not take any action to prohibit a License to Carry (LTC) holder from the lawful carrying of a handgun on the premises or other place owned or leased by that governmental authority.

Minor changes to existing law governing the complaint process for license holders to file with the Texas Attorney General's Office against governmental entities as it relates to this law.

Changes documentation requirements and waives the fee for a License to Carry (LTC) application for retired peace officers and retired federal officers.

Relating to a license to carry a handgun for active and retired railroad peace officers and special ranger of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Waives the fee for a License to Carry (LTC) application for active and retired Railroad Peace Officers and Special Rangers of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Requires retired Railroad Peace Officer and Special Rangers of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association applicants to submit fingerprints as part of the license application.

Relating to the application for and expiration of a license to carry a handgun.

Changes the expiration date for a License to Carry (LTC) to reflect the expiration of the license holder's lawful presence in the United States.

If there is no definite expiration date for the applicant's lawful presence, the License to Carry (LTC) will expire one year after it is issued.