AUSTIN — The Texas Senate has given its final approval to a bill that would allow licensed gun permit holders to openly carry handguns, sending the bill to the House.
Tuesday’s 20-10 vote in the Senate comes on the heels of Monday’s 20-11 vote to approve Senate Bill 17, which would make open carry legal for those with a concealed handgun license.
The bill would allow concealed handgun license holders to display their guns in shoulder or belt holsters.
Texas is one of six states — California, Florida, Illinois, New York and South Carolina — along with Washington, D.C., to prohibit open carry. According to OpenCarry.org, 14 states require a permit or license to open carry; 30 states allow open carry without a permit or a license, and in some cases the gun must be unloaded.
Texas easily has the most gun-friendly reputation. From manufacturers to dealers, Texas has the most federal firearms license holders in the country. It has few restrictions on gun ownership, and the state has actively lobbied gun makers to move to the state.
Texas also allows the public display of long guns, such as rifles and shotguns, and open carry advocates have staged high-profile rallies at the Alamo and state Capitol. Concealed handguns are allowed inside the Capitol, where license holders can bypass metal detectors.
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Associated Press Published By USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/17/texas-senate-gun-open-carry/24892513/
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