If Lawmakers Pass HB 2470 and HB 4201, Texas Would Become the First State in the Nation to Allow Teenagers to Carry Handguns at School
AUSTIN – Yesterday, Texas lawmakers heard a slew of dangerous gun bills that will put more guns into dangerous hands and in sensitive places. Volunteers with the Texas chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action spoke out against these dangerous, misguided bills that would do nothing to address the gun violence crisis in Texas, which kills more than 4,300 Texans each year. Further, three of the five worst mass shootings since 2015 have taken place in Texas.
“Instead of taking action against gun violence by strengthening our weak laws, our lawmakers are convinced that more guns in our communities is the answer. We know it’s not,” said Molly Bursey, a volunteer with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Putting more guns into dangerous hands, and in more sensitive places will only lead to one thing: more violence, more fear, more loss, and more mourning. We’re not going to let that happen, which is why we showed up at the statehouse yesterday and we won’t stop until we defeat these dangerous bills.”
“We went to the statehouse because our Texas lawmakers are trying to do what they care most about: putting guns everywhere, while our communities are torn apart and we are forced to live in fear of gun violence everyday,” said Hayden Presley, a student leader with the University of Texas at Austin Students Demand Action chapter. “It’s absolutely crazy that our lawmakers would think that putting more guns into the hands of young people – people younger than me – would make us safer. We know it won’t, and we demand better ‘solutions’ than that.”
If the gun lobby gets its way and lawmakers pass HB 2470, which would lower the age to possess a handgun and be issued a license to carry a handgun to 18, and HB 4201, which would allow license holders to carry a concealed firearm in all sensitive places, including schools, Texas would become the first state in the country to legally allow teenagers to carry handguns in their own schools. In 2024, there were at least 17 instances of gunfire on school grounds in Texas. Allowing students to legally bring their own handguns to school will only make it more likely that gun violence occurs on school grounds.
But, lawmakers aren’t stopping at HB 2470 and HB 4201, they are considering several bills that would make Texas communities less safe:
- HB 259, which would remove the prohibition on short barreled rifles and shotguns;
- HB 1128, which would allow election judges and early voting clerks serving to carry concealed handguns in polling places during early voting;
- HB 1794, which would allow anyone with a license to carry concealed firearms at polling places;
- HB 2470, which would lower the age to possess a handgun and be issued a license to carry a handgun to 18;
- HB 2771, which would significantly narrow the list of felonies that are disqualifying for firearm possession, making it easier for convicted felons to purchase firearms;
- HB 3053, which would prohibit localities from having gun buyback programs;
- HB 3428, which would limit the types of restaurants and bars that can prohibit firearms;
- HB 3924, which would expose children to more firearms at school campus by allowing uniformed school marshals to openly carry handguns; and
- HB 4201, which would allow license holders to carry a concealed firearm in all sensitive places, including schools, hospitals, bars, government buildings, and airports.
Texas lacks all foundational gun safety policies and currently ranks 32nd in the country for the strength of its gun laws. In an average year, 4,330 people in Texas die by guns and another 7,726 are injured. Gun violence costs Texas $51.3 billion each year, of which $1.1 billion is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Texas is here.