Texas bill allowing no-permit handgun carrying in public preliminarily passes state House

A piece of legislation that would allow Lone Star State handgun owners to carry their weapons in public without a permit was preliminarily passed in the Texas House on Thursday in an 84-56 vote, though it is anticipated that final passage out of the chamber will occur on Friday.

The legislation would also need to clear the state Senate before it would be heading to the governor's desk.

“This bill should be called common sense carry because this bill is about common law-abiding citizens being able to carry commonly owned handguns in common public places for the common reason of personal and family protection. Under this bill, people who are prohibited from possessing a handgun will still be prohibited of possessing a handgun. Sensitive places where the unlicensed carry of a handgun is prohibited will still be prohibited. But if you are a law-abiding citizen age 21 or older that can legally possess a handgun you will be able to carry that handgun in a holster in public places where it is not otherwise prohibited,” Republican state Rep. Matt Schaefer said, NBCDFW.com reported.