How Easy is It to Get a Gun in Texas
Texas has some of the loosest gun laws in the United States — something the leader of the "lone star state" prides himself on.
Governor Greg Abbott last year signed into law several pieces of legislation to further ease restrictions, including making it easier to carry a handgun in public.
Today he described the killing of 19 children and two adults in a Texas school shooting as "incomprehensible".
An 18-year-old, who was shot dead by police, is believed to committed the atrocity using a handgun and possibly a rifle.
Here's what we know about gun laws in Texas.
Who can buy a gun in Texas?
There are two ways to legally buy a gun in Texas: in a private sale, or from a dealer with a federal firearms licence.
People aged 18 and over can buy a handgun from another Texas resident in a private sale.
A private sale has few restrictions:
- No background check
- No record of sale
- No permits required
However, the rules are different for dealers.
Dealers can only sell a handgun to people aged 21 and over.
However dealers can sell a long arm, such as a rifle or a shotgun, to people aged 18 and over.
A person buying a gun from a dealer must show a valid ID like a driver's licence and undergo a real-time background check.
There is no waiting period to buy a gun from a firearms dealer in Texas.
There is no state firearm registry in Texas.
A law introduced in September 2021 also allows people aged 18 to 21 to apply for a gun licence if they are under threat of family violence.
Who can't buy a gun in Texas?
A person cannot buy a gun in Texas if they are:
- Under 18
- Convicted of a felony and on parole
- Subject to a domestic violence order
- In the country illegally or on a non-immigration visa
- Dishonourably discharged from the military
- A psychiatric patient
- A fugitive from justice
- Using illegal drugs
A person convicted of a felony in Texas cannot buy a gun if they have been released from prison or been on parole in the past five years.
A person cannot buy a firearm on another person's behalf.
What is constitutional carry?
"Constitutional carry" means a person aged 21 and over can carry a handgun without a Licence to Carry permit.
The gun can be concealed or "open carry", meaning it is visibly worn in a holster.
Mr Abbott passed this into law on June 17, 2021, as well as several other pieces of legislation to relax gun control in his state.
"Texas will always be the leader in defending the second amendment, which is why we built a barrier around gun rights," Mr Abbott said.
Prior to June 2021, a person in Texas did not need a permit to carry a concealed long arm.
Half of the 50 states in the US have passed laws allowing "constitutional carry".
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What is a Licence to Carry?
A Licence to Carry (LTC) is a permit that allows a person to carry a gun in public.
It requires a person to undergo a background check, four to six hours of classroom training, pass a written exam and pass a shooting proficiency test.
A person with an LTC does not need to undergo a subsequent background check when they buy a gun from a licensed firearms dealer in Texas.
What is Greg Abbott's record on gun control?
Greg Abbott, a former Texas Supreme Court judge and attorney-general of Texas, is a long-term opponent of gun control.
As Governor, Mr Abbott has overseen the passage of laws that make it easier to get a gun in Texas.
He is due to speak at a National Rifle Association (NRA) leadership forum in Houston on Friday alongside former US president Donald Trump and Texas senator Ted Cruz.
The NRA gave Mr Abbott an "A+" rating ahead of the Republican primaries in March this year.
Here's what NRA Political Victory Fund chairman Jason Ouimet had to say about him:
"As both attorney-general and Governor, Abbott has tenaciously defended the second amendment rights of all law-abiding Texans.
"His significant impact on the advancement of gun rights cannot be overstated as Texas has become a model for other states to follow."
Mr Abbott was resoundingly elected as the Republican candidate and will face Democrat Beto O'Rourke in the November 8 election.
He has been Governor since January 2015.
Mr Abbott's tweet from October 2015, in which he encouraged Texans to "pick up the pace" to be number one in the nation for new gun purchases, often resurfaces after mass shootings.
Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-26/what-are-the-gun-laws-in-texas-school-shooting-uvalde/101098178
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