Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a pair of bills Saturday that expanded the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.
HB 910, known as “open carry,” allows one with a license to carry a holstered handgun openly in all locations that allow the licensed carrying of a concealed handgun. SB 11, known as “campus carry” allows one with a license to carry a concealed handgun on campuses of public institutions of higher education.
“Today I am proud to expand liberty in the Lone Star State,” said Governor Abbott. “By signing these bills into law, Texans can be assured that their Second Amendment rights will be stronger and more secure than ever before.”
Abbott tipped his cap to the National Rifle Association while signing the bills as well as the Texas State Rifle Association and Republican lawmakers who helped get the bill through the Legislature.
“I don’t think there are any groups in this state — or in this nation — who worked as profoundly to ensure that the Constitution is lived up to,” said the Republican governor.
Abbott also dismissed concerns over the bills in the wake of an incident over the weekend in Dallas where a gunman attacked police headquarters before he was shot and killed.
“The event in Dallas was an isolated incident by someone who had serious mental challenges, as well as a possible criminal background,” he said. “It is no indication whatsoever of empowering people with their Second Amendment right. In fact, the contrary is true.”
While many within the gun community applaud Abbott for signing the bills, some have voiced criticism arguing that the bills aren’t pro-gun enough as both require permits to carry and under the campus carry bill college and universities get to decide where handguns can be carried and how they must be stored.
“Greg Abbott is a tyrant,” said open carry activist Kory Watkins on his Facebook Page. “No strict constitutionalist would have signed that crap bill for open carry.”
Likewise, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the grassroots gun-control organization funded by billionaire business magnate Michael Bloomberg was not thrilled with the signing, albeit for different reasons.
No moms, women, police officers at @GovAbbott signing of #txlege #opencarry law #DallasPDShooting #gunsense #Texas pic.twitter.com/exTYBVcsTI
— Shannon (@shannonrwatts) June 13, 2015
Colorado has had campus carry for years. It was the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO) that took various colleges to court after the law was signed because certain universities refused to recognize the requirements of the law but they lost. Some sheriffs refused to accept people the campus cops tried to jail. The battle continues past the signing of a law. Now Colorado University, CSU, all Community Colleges are FORCED to accept campus carry.
Remember that some of the libs running higher ed institutions will try to work around such laws by having their enforcers charge carriers with disturbing the peace, menacing, or some other charge. Keep your mouth shut, be prepared to be hauled away and present your case only to a judge. Lessee what liberal college in CA let spoiled students smash windows and other goods?
One can not pass laws to Expand the peoples inalienable constitutionally guaranteed rights! You can not expand on “shall not be infringed”.
One CAN NOT “sign a law” that expands our inalienable 2nd Amendment rights! One can sign a law to unconstitutionally restrict our inalienable rights. The 2nd is very clear, the inalienable right to bear arms SHALL NOT be abridged, “SHALL NOT” means exactly that, just like a “shall issue” CCW law is different from a May issue law, shall not means the right can not be abridged, not by lawmakers or judges.