MAY 2021 Blues Vol 37 No. 5 - Austin Cover

Bill allowing

Bill allowing permit-less carrying of handguns, doesn’t sit well with some Police Unions across the state. HB 1927 & HB 1911, known as “Constitutional Carry Bills” advance to Texas Senate Floor While Texas Republicans are already headed toward a collision course over platform priorities over a controversial election bill that recently made its way out of the state Senate and is headed to the House, they may have another juggling act on their hands over bills that would allow Texans to carry handguns both openly and concealed without a permit. In April, the Texas House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety passed two bills - House Bills 1911 and 1927 - which allow for unlicensed carry of a handgun - known as “constitutional carry” - if you are not prohibited by law to do so, with HB 1927 on the schedule to be discussed on the House floor. Ahead of this, several law enforcement leaders from across the state - including the Texas Municipal Police Association, Texas Police Chiefs Association, as well as police chiefs with Austin and San Marcos Police Departments and police unions for Austin, Houston, and Dallas - gathered outside the Texas Capitol to forcefully oppose these bills. “We are here not because we oppose the Constitution. We have all sworn to uphold the Constitution. You’ll notice I’m wearing a tie with the Constitution on it. We are here because of our concerns for public safety. We’re concerned that this bill passing will make the jobs for our law enforcement officers more difficult and more dangerous,” said Texas Municipal Police Association Executive Director Kevin Lawrence. “This bill is just bad public policy.” Lawrence went on to assert the way the law is now in Texas is actually constitutional carry, listing other constitutional rights - like driving a car - needing a license. Currently, you must have a license, which requires training, passing tests, and submitting fingerprints for criminal background checks. The timing of HB 1927 being placed on the House floor calendar has caught the attention of many, with so many deadly mass shootings scattered across the country, including two in Texas. Gun control advocates have pointed to these shootings as evidence. Bills like these should not be passed, and laws that make it harder - not easier - to get access to guns should be the priority. San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge, who is also the former president of the Texas Police Chiefs Association, emphasized how this could make things more dangerous not only for the public, but for law enforcement. “We are opposed to House Bill 1911, which - if passed - would make it legal for a person who meets the eligibility requirements for obtaining a handgun license to now carry a handgun without a permit, without any level of training or firearms awareness,” Standridge said. “To operate a boat in this state, you must have a boaters education certificate. To cut a person’s hair, you must have a license. To be a peace officer and carry a firearm, you must be 21 years of age and complete a minimum of 696 hours before licensure. Yet, some would suggest all citizens 21 years and older who do not have a criminal record should be allowed to openly carry firearms into all public venues that are not otherwise prohibited. These same citizens would not have to demonstrate proficiency with a firearm or even basic awareness of firearms safety. At least with a license to carry permit, citizens must demonstrate basic knowledge and awareness of the laws, and the course now even teaches how to de-escalate to forgo the use of the firearm to begin with.” Bills allowing for handgun carry without a permit have failed in previous legislative sessions, but gun control advocates are worried this time around because new House Speaker Dade Phelan has supported such bills as recently as last session. However, even if these bills make it out of the House, they still have to make it through the Senate, where presiding chair and Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick has expressed concerns with these bills, citing concerns law enforcement leaders have. In fact, after the deadly mass shooting in El Paso, Patrick even floated the idea of tougher background check measures. A major point law enforcement leaders brought up Tuesday morning was how bills that allowed handgun carry without a permit make their jobs more difficult and dangerous. “This begs a simple question: At a time when violent crime is rising, and police-community relations are strained, do we really want to inject more firearms into this complex equation?” Standridge asked. “Your police departments are already called almost daily to enforce or at least educate citizens to wear a mask in private businesses. Can you imagine the number of calls we’re going to receive if House Bill 1911 is ultimately passed, wherein businesses do not want armed citizens inside. They will consequently call 911, and officers will be dispatched. At a time in our state, when we need to be lessening the frequency in which we engage armed citizens, we’re going to, in fact, do the exact opposite.” 20 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 21