In the Wake of Tragedies, New Texas Gun Laws Are Meant to Protect

 Posted on August 12, 2019 in Criminal Defense

 It is no secret that mass shootings have plagued Texas, along with the rest of the country, over the last decade. According to a recent NBC News report, the shooting in El Paso left at least 22 people dead and 26 injured and falls within the top 10 deadliest shootings in modern American history. These shootings involving firearms have prompted two distinct sides: Those who want stricter gun laws and those who believe access to firearms will keep more individuals safe. The state of Texas recently passed new gun laws, which go into effect soon and will potentially impact many gun owners. 

What Are the New Texas Gun Laws?

In the last session, Texas lawmakers passed nine gun-related bills, a few of which will become laws and go into effect on September 1. There are two gun law changes that affect who can carry guns and where they can carry them. One of the laws allows handgun owners to carry their concealed firearms without a permit for up to one week if a disaster has been declared. Some may say that this new law violates the original law, found in section 46.02 of the Texas Penal Code, regarding concealed carry requirements. However, the new law specifies three instances in which section 46.02 does not apply to handgun owners:

1. The person carries the handgun while evacuating from an area after a state of disaster or a local state of disaster has been officially declared or while reentering the area that he or she just evacuated.

2. Less than 168 hours have passed since the state of disaster has been declared or the governor extended the 168-hour time frame that allows gun owners to carry a handgun.

3. The state or federal law has not prohibited the person from possessing a firearm.

Licensed gun owners will also be able to carry handguns in places of worship and certain locations previously noted as illegal for gun entry. These locales are now being considered private property and must have a specific posting viewable to the public that states guns are not allowed on the premises. Both of these laws are being enacted in an attempt to keep citizens safer in the case of an outbreak of violence. 

School safety is another hot-button issue that is consistently discussed by the public and by lawmakers. Texas legislators have also made adjustments to one of the laws regarding guns on school grounds. As of September 1, there will now be one school marshall for every 100 students rather than the previous limit of 200. There will also be one marshal per building of the campus where students regularly receive educational instruction. In other words, more officials will be carrying guns on school campuses in an attempt to reduce school gun violence.

Call a Floresville Firearm Violation Defense Lawyer

The passing of new gun laws can often lead to initial confusion, resulting in unnecessary charges or accidental law violations. Such mistakes may not be far away, since the legal adjustments go into effect on September 1. At BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys, our attorneys have extensive knowledge on Texas law changes, legal penalties for violations, and defense strategies for those facing such charges. If you are facing any firearm violation charges, whether as a result of new laws or those already in existence, contact our Jourdanton weapons charges defense attorneys at 830-769-1010 for help.

Sources:

https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/06/texas-gun-laws/

https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/slate-of-new-texas-gun-laws-go-into-effect-september-1st

https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/billtext/pdf/HB01177F.pdf#navpanes=0

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mass-shooting-el-paso-deadliest-2019-among-worst-modern-u-n1039016

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm#46.02

https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/billtext/pdf/HB01387I.pdf#navpanes=0