Law & OrderCurated by Patrick Svitek and Terri Langford
Between two armed rallies, countless emails and phone calls, and at least one social media thrashing of the lieutenant governor, gun rights activists made their presence felt in the Capitol from the opening day of the Legislature.
Texas lawmakers passed a measure to let permit holders carry holstered handguns openly ("open carry"). Since 1995, Texans have been able to carry concealed handguns if they take training and obtain a license. But the state was one of six that specifically prohibited the unconcealed display of handguns.
The lawmakers also approved a measure allowing concealed handguns to be carried on university campuses ("campus carry").
Some proposed measures this session call for lifting licensing requirements altogether — "constitutional carry" — but those bills were not successful.
Updated: June 1, 2015
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The Texas Legislative Guide was designed and developed by Becca Aaronson, Emily Albracht, Daniel Craigmile, Annie Daniel, Ben Hasson and Ryan Murphy for The Texas Tribune. The Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that promotes civic engagement and discourse on public policy, politics, government and other matters of statewide concern.