Today: House Vote on HB 910, Open Carry of Handguns
Today the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America condemns the House vote to pass HB 910, a bill that allows for the open carry of handguns in Texas and places new, burdensome requirements on businesses and private property owners. The House failed to pass the Nevárez Gun Signage Amendment, which would alleviate that burden and was supported by the Texas Association of Business. HB 910 heads next to the Senate to be reconciled with SB 17, the Senate open carry bill, which passed in March.”
Under current law, a business that wants to keep concealed handguns off of their private property must post a large sign. Under HB 910, to prohibit openly carried handguns a business will have to post a second, equally large sign. The signs are so large that many businesses simply do not have enough room on their storefronts to comply with this onerous new requirement. An amendment offered by Representative Poncho Nevárez would have created smaller, modern, easy-to-read graphic signage that a business could print and post in a manner immediately recognizable to CHL holders.
Despite opposition to the open carry of handguns from over two-thirds of Texans and 75 percent of police chiefs in Texas, both the Texas Senate and House prioritized these bills this session. Texas moms, gun violence survivors, gun owners, and law enforcement have testified in opposition to the expansion of handguns in Texas. Moms stood with Representative Nevárez and Texas business to support the The Nevárez Gun Signage Amendment as well.
“As a gun owning Texas mom, I am ashamed of our Texas lawmakers who voted in favor of extremist interests and petty politics instead of representing the majority of Texans who oppose the open carry of handguns,” said Angela Turner, volunteer with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Even more concerning is our lawmakers passed HB910 without the signage amendment, making a mockery of our private property rights and now our businesses will be forced to post two large and burdensome signs to keep CHL holders from carrying openly onto their premises. I expected better of my Texas lawmakers and will be keen to remember this when I return to the voting booth.”
About Everytown for Gun Safety
Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million supporters and more than 40,000 donors including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and help save lives. At the core of Everytown are Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of American mothers founded the day after the Sandy Hook tragedy. Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of American mothers fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million members and more than 40,000 donors. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand