Legislature Currently Considering Bills that Would Dismantle State’s License to Carry Permitting System despite Strong Voter Support for the Current System
AUSTIN, Texas – Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown, today released a new poll conducted by SurveyUSA that found 91 percent of Texas voters – including 90 percent of gun owners, 94 percent of current permit holders, 96 percent of Republicans and 91 percent of Democrats – support the state’s current License to Carry (LTC) permit requirement for carrying a handgun in public. Despite overwhelming voter support for the current system, the legislature is currently considering House Bills 1911 and 375 that, if passed and signed into law, would dismantle Texas’ LTC permit system.
The poll also found an overwhelming majority of Texas voters oppose allowing people to carry handguns in bars, at sporting events, in courthouses and at open government meetings. In addition to its attempts to dismantle the LTC system, the Legislature is currently considering a host of other dangerous bills that would allow individuals to carry handguns in sensitive places, including HB 560, which would allow people to carry handguns in all of these places.
“We now know for sure that the vast majority of Texans have a deep respect for the License to Carry permit system and we have made it clear that we want to keep it in place,” said Emily Keown, volunteer chapter leader of the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “So why are our elected leaders putting the interests of gun extremists above that of the people they serve? The LTC system helps keep Texans safe and there’s no question that dismantling it would put our families and communities at risk.”
Among the poll’s additional findings:
- 75 percent of Texas voters – including 75 percent of Republicans, and 64 percent of gun owners – oppose allowing people to carry handguns in bars;
- 71 percent of Texas voters – including 68 percent of Republicans, and 60 percent of gun owners – oppose allowing people to carry handguns at sporting events;
- 78 percent of Texas voters – including 71 percent of Republicans, and 64 percent of gun owners – oppose allowing people to carry handguns in courthouses;
- 73 percent of Texas voters – including 62 percent of Republicans, and 59 percent of gun owners – oppose allowing people to carry handguns at open government meetings; and
- 89 percent of Texas voters – including 94 percent of Republicans and 87 percent of gun owners – support requiring background checks on all gun sales.
More information on the bills currently being considered by committees in the Legislature:
- HB 1911 and HB 375 would remove the requirement that a person get a License to Carry (LTC) and undergo firearms safety training before they carry a loaded handgun in public places.
- HB 560 would force elementary, middle and high schools to allow guns and allow guns into sports arenas, courthouses, hospitals, bars and several other sensitive areas across the state.
- HB 447 would subject businesses that prohibit the carry of handguns to legal liability if they make that choice and would provide immunity from civil liability to businesses that allow handguns to be carried on their property.
- HB 497 would provide immunity from civil liability to businesses that allow handguns to be carried on their property.
- HB 556 would subject businesses that prohibit the carry of concealed handguns to legal liability if they make that choice and would provide immunity from civil liability to businesses that allow handguns to be carried on the property.
- HB 606 would provide immunity from civil liability to businesses and other entities that allow handguns to be carried on their property.