Nearly 60 Faith Leaders to Texas Legislature: Reject Permitless Carry
In a letter to members of the Texas Legislature, nearly 60 faith leaders from across the state called on their representatives to reject permitless carry bills like HB 1927, which would allow people to carry loaded handguns in public without a background check or any safety training and thereby dismantle Texas’ proud culture of responsible gun ownership that the License to Carry (LTC) system helps promote. From the letter:

“We write to you as representatives of the religious communities of Texas. As you consider legislation this session to address public safety and reduce gun violence, we wish to express our opposition to legislation aimed at weakening or eliminating the License to Carry (LTC). Existing Texas law requires that responsible gun owners must pass a background check and complete firearm training before carrying a handgun in public, and does not allow the public to carry guns in schools, courtrooms or places that serve alcohol.

“Please don’t eliminate these vital public safety measures that have long been Texas tradition.

…

“Religious institutions in Texas are leading the efforts to end gun violence. We are the ones who bury the dead; who pray with, console, and counsel families; and who help shattered communities try to put the pieces of their lives back together after incidents of violence.”

The full letter is available here. Yesterday, gun safety instructors and leading law enforcement officials held a press conference calling on the legislature to reject permitless carry.

More on permitless carry:
  • Passage of a permitless carry bill like HB 1927 would allow a person to carry an open or concealed handgun without a permit. This would make Texas one of the few states where it is legal to carry a concealed handgun in public without a permit and would dismantle the culture of responsible gun ownership that Texas’s License to Carry (LTC) helps promote.
  • Texas law currently requires a person to obtain a criminal background check and complete firearms safety training, including live-fire training, in order to obtain an LTC. Permitless carry would eliminate these safeguards, allowing unvetted and untrained people to carry handguns in public.
  • Texas currently prohibits most people from carrying firearms in K-12 schools, bars,  courthouses, polling places, and other places where the presence of weapons are inappropriate. HB 1927 would require that a person carrying a firearm be asked to leave and refuse before any criminal liability applies. This would effectively allow a person to carry a firearm almost anywhere until asked to leave. 
About Everytown for Gun Safety
Everytown for Gun Safety is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with nearly six million supporters and more than 375,000 donors including moms, mayors, survivors, students, and everyday Americans who are fighting for common-sense gun safety measures that can help save lives. Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown.
About Moms Demand Action
Moms Demand Action is the nation’s largest grassroots volunteer network working to end gun violence. Moms Demand Action is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization with nearly six million supporters and more than 375,000 donors. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our families. There is a Moms Demand Action chapter in every state of the country and more than 700 local groups across the country. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand.
About Students Demand Action
Students Demand Action is a national movement of high school and college-aged volunteers working to end gun violence. Students Demand Action volunteers organize within their schools and communities to educate their peers, register voters, and demand common-sense solutions to this national crisis. Students Demand Action has active volunteers in every state and more than 400 groups across the country. Students Demand Action is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with nearly six million supporters and more than 375,000 donors. For more information or to get involved visit www.studentsdemandaction.org. 


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