Texas is about to become a little more gun-friendly.
After a week of debate and amendments, the Texas legislature passed open carry and campus carry legislation. The bills are currently waiting to be signed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas).
According to The Texas Tribune, both bills passed the House and Senate, with some very passionate Democrats pleading to kill the bill.
The open carry law will allow licensed-holders to openly carry their firearms in a hip or shoulder holster, as opposed to the current law where those weapons need to be concealed.
Campus carry will allow students to bring handguns into dorms, classrooms, and college buildings.
Several top university officials attempted to stop the legislation, and in the end Republican lawmakers compromised on the issue of handguns. Universities and colleges will be able to make the rules on where handguns are carried and stored on campus.
Only licensed handgun holders over the age of 21 will be permitted to carry their guns on campus. There is also an exemption for private universities who will be allowed to opt out altogether.
Despite the victories and compromise, both supporters and detractors are not satisfied.
“Today’s vote to allow the open carry of handguns is not at all surprising — this session has been an alarming show of politicking that caters to a gun lobby agenda rather than listening to the majority of Texans and law enforcement who oppose the open carry of handguns. There is no evidence to show the open carry of handguns makes Texas safer,” said Sandy Chasse, a volunteer for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, slamming the open carry legislation.
On the other side of the coin, Students for Concealed Carry made an equally disparaging remark about campus carry.
“We at Students for Concealed Carry would appreciate it [if] the bill’s authors and sponsors would quit confusing the issue by claiming a victory for our side. We don’t need to hide behind a gutted bill to save face. We’ll try again in 2017,” said the group’s board of directors in a statement.
