The Texas House has approved a bill that would allow handguns to be carried without a permit, marking a win for gun rights activists who have for years pushed the measure at the Legislature but a blow to El Paso Democrats who have been fighting for gun safety measures since the 2019 massacre in their hometown.
Initial approval came Thursday in a 84-56 vote after several hours of some of the most emotionally charged debate yet this legislative session, with Democrats pleading to their colleagues to reconsider their position on the legislation. The House on Friday gave the legislation a final stamp of approval, sending it to the Senate, where the bill's fate is less clear.
, spearheaded by state Rep. , R-Tyler, would nix the requirement for Texas residents to obtain a license to carry handguns if they鈥檙e not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a gun. Texans under current state law must generally be licensed to carry handguns, either openly or concealed.
鈥淭his bill should be called common-sense carry,鈥� Schaefer said as he laid out the bill Thursday. He described a scenario in which two women 鈥� one who had time and resources to obtain a license to carry and another who did not 鈥� went for walks in different neighborhoods, arguing that the latter did not feel safe or well-equipped to protect their family.
Seven Democrats voted for the bill, according to an unofficial vote total: of Edinburg, who was a joint author; of Rio Grande City, another joint author; of Houston; of Laredo; of Batesville; of San Antonio and of Eagle Pass. One Republican, of Dallas, voted against it. State Rep. , R-Richardson, was present but not voting.
Early on in Thursday's debate, state Rep. , D-El Paso, who serves as speaker pro tempore, pushed an amendment to the bill that would have effectively killed the legislation.
Moody, surrounded by other El Paso lawmakers at the House floor鈥檚 front mic, recalled the day of the El Paso massacre in August 2019, when a gunman killed 23 people. Moody said there has been no action in the wake of that mass shooting and others to prevent future tragedies.
鈥淎fter those shootings ... there were roundtable discussions and stakeholder meetings and a lot of promises 鈥� and I was hopeful, members, even knowing the political realities, I was hopeful,鈥� Moody said. 鈥淢embers, I鈥檓 so tired of doing nothing. 鈥� When are we going to do something?鈥�
Moody鈥檚 proposed change to the bill failed, 63-79. Nearly two dozen other proposed tweaks to the bill to the bill, many authored by Democrats, also failed.
The House will need to give a final stamp of approval to the legislation before it heads to the Senate, where the bill鈥檚 fate is less clear. Permitless carry measures have been filed in the typically more ideologically conservative Senate, though that legislation has not yet advanced.
Lt. Gov. , who heads the Senate, has previously expressed hesitation over the measure, saying in a 2017 radio interview that, 鈥渨ith all the police violence today we have in our state 鈥� law enforcement does not like the idea of anyone being able to walk down the street with a gun and they don鈥檛 know if they have a permit or not.鈥�
In the days leading up to Thursday鈥檚 debate, some , citing safety concerns. A group of faith leaders and veterans have also criticized the measure.
During Thursday鈥檚 debate, state Rep. , R-Bedford, offered an amendment that would have lowered the minimum age for permitless carry from 21 to 18 years. Schaefer and other Republicans voiced opposition to the proposal, and Cason鈥檚 amendment failed overwhelmingly, 12-121.
Two Democrats 鈥� of San Antonio and of Dallas 鈥� tried unsuccessfully to amend Schaefer鈥檚 bill to bar domestic terrorists, or 鈥渧iolent white supremacist extremist[s], as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security鈥� from carrying a handgun without a permit.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 always the right time to be talking about denouncing white supremacists and preventing guns from falling into their hands,鈥� Anch铆a said before his proposed amendment failed.
Soon after, freshman Democrat of Dallas, delivered a tearful speech before laying out an amendment that would have carved out courthouses from the legislation. Other House Democrats rushed to Crockett鈥檚 side as she stood at the House鈥檚 front mic.
鈥淎s the only new Black member of this body, I must say some of the discussion today has not only been eye-opening, but hurtful,鈥� Crockett said. 鈥淲hen I got here, the one thing everyone told me 鈥� is that we aren鈥檛 D.C. 鈥� we didn鈥檛 do partisan politics. 鈥� Can we truly consider some of these amendments and not make them so partisan?鈥�
Her amendment failed, 59-80.
Gun rights activists, faith leaders and gun violence prevention activists sat in the chamber for parts of Thursday鈥檚 debate, watching as lawmakers on the floor considered the legislation.
After state Rep. , D-Austin, raised a point of order against Schaefer鈥檚 bill, which temporarily paused debate but ultimately was overruled, a group of activists wearing all-white began singing Amazing Grace. They were quickly escorted out of the House gallery.