When a new round of laws goes into effect on Sept. 1, Texas will officially become a 鈥淪econd Amendment sanctuary.鈥� That鈥檚 one piece of a GOP-led effort to limit firearm restrictions and expand gun access in the state.
While was the highest profile gun bill to cross Gov. Greg Abbott鈥檚 desk during the 2021 legislative session, more than a dozen others received his signature.
Most loosen or limit firearm restrictions, like new laws allowing school marshals and hotel guests to carry guns. One law bans government contracts with companies that 鈥渄iscriminate against the firearm or ammunition industries,鈥� while another effectively designates gun stores as essential businesses that can't be shut down during a disaster.
But three new laws will also take effect that were written in response to back-to-back mass shootings in El Paso and Odessa in 2019. That includes one gun control measure, which makes it a state crime to lie on a background check in order to illegally purchase a gun.
Here is a rundown of the new laws:
- : Known as permitless or constitutional carry, it allows Texans to carry handguns in public without a license and the background check and training that a license requires.
- : Known as the 鈥淪econd Amendment Sanctuary State Act,鈥� it prohibits state agencies and local governments from enforcing new federal gun rules.
- : Prevents government entities from banning the sale or transportation of firearms or ammunition during a declared disaster or emergency.
- : Exempts firearm suppressors that are made and remain in Texas from federal laws and regulations.
- : Allows license holders to carry visible, holstered handguns anywhere in a motor vehicle, rather than having to wear the handgun in a shoulder or belt holster.
- : Allows certain foster homes to store guns and ammunition together in the same locked location, rather than requiring the items to be stored separately.
- : Allows certain first responders to carry handguns.
- : Removes the requirement that handguns must be carried in a 鈥渟houlder or belt鈥� holster, expanding what kinds of holsters are legal.
- : Creates a statewide active shooter alert system.
- Prohibits certain firearm restrictions on a property during the use of an easement.
- : Allows state-owned public buildings to provide self-service weapon lockers.
- : Expands and clarifies what constitutes a secured area of an airport in relation to possessing a firearm.
- : Requires the Texas Department of Public Safety to expedite the handgun license process for individuals 鈥渨ho are at increased risk of becoming victims of violence.鈥�
- : Makes young adults between the ages of 18-20 eligible for a license to carry a handgun if they are protected under certain court orders related to family violence.
- : Allows junior college school marshals to carry concealed handguns rather than storing them.
- : Allows school marshals in public school districts, open-enrollment charters, and private schools to carry concealed handguns rather than storing them.
- : Allows hotel guests to carry and store firearms and ammunition in their rooms.
- : Prohibits government entities from contracting with businesses that 鈥渄iscriminate against the firearm or ammunition industries.鈥�
- : Known as the 鈥渓ie and try鈥� bill, makes it a state crime to lie on a background check in order to illegally purchase a firearm.
- : Removes the requirement that handguns must be carried in a 鈥渟houlder or belt鈥� holster, expanding what kinds of holsters are legal.
- : Creates a sales and use tax exemption for firearm safety equipment.
- : Requires schools to use best practices when conducting active shooter drills, so they鈥檙e less harmful to students鈥� mental health and wellbeing; went into effect immediately.
Texas will join 19 other states with permitless or constitutional carry laws, and five other states that have declared themselves 鈥淪econd Amendment sanctuaries.鈥�
Gov. Abbott has celebrated many of these measures.
鈥淵ou could say that I signed into law today some laws that protect gun rights, but today, I signed documents that instill freedom in the Lone Star State,鈥� he said as he signed seven firearm-related bills into law, at a .
Many Democratic leaders and gun safety advocates hoped the 2021 session would result in more laws aimed at gun violence prevention. It was the first time lawmakers convened since the 2019 shootings in El Paso and Odessa.
In the aftermath of those attacks, some of the state鈥檚 top Republican leaders 鈥� including Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick 鈥� signaled an openness to change and voiced concerns about private, 鈥渟tranger-to-stranger鈥� gun sales that don鈥檛 require background checks.
However, legislation aimed at closing the background check loophole didn鈥檛 make it out of session, and most bills filed in response to the mass shootings never landed on the governor鈥檚 desk.
Mallory Falk is a corps member with , a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. Got a tip? Email Mallory at Mfalk@kera.org. You can follow Mallory on Twitter .
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