United States: In Texas, you can carry a firearm in public and without a license
Gun store in Forth Worth, Texas.
Getty Images via AFP - SPENCER PLATT
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
The Republican Governor of Texas on Wednesday, June 16, promulgated a law allowing the carrying of a weapon in public without a license, the latest in a series of measures extending gun rights in conservative states to the United States. United.
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The law, passed in May by a Republican-dominated Senate and House of Representatives in the southern state, allows anyone 21 years of age or older and not prohibited from owning a firearm to '' wear one in public without a permit.
It is due to come into force on September 1.
The text considers that the constitutions of the United States and Texas allow citizens to carry a firearm and that, therefore, there should be fewer obstacles in the matter.
Governor Greg Abbott plans to preside over a promulgation ceremony on Thursday, according to the Texas Tribune newspaper.
"Victims of gun violence betrayed"
He had indicated that he would promulgate the law if the text was passed by both chambers.
"
It is something that a score of other states have adopted, and it is time for Texas to adopt it too,
" he said in April on local radio WBAP.
But opponents, especially Democrats in Texas and across the country, have argued that loosening gun rules will generate more violence.
They cited as an example the shooting in the Texas capital Austin which left one dead and thirteen injured last week, as well as
that in a supermarket in El Paso
in 2019 which left 22 dead and 23 injured.
After the attack on El Paso, @GovAbbott promised that he would take action against gun violence.
Almost two years later, he has chosen to betray the victims of gun violence and legislators who believed him, proving he is neither a man of his word nor a leader with courage.
https://t.co/c5ylfI4T2Y
- Rep.
Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) June 17, 2021
Texas elected member of the United States House of Representatives Veronica Escobar said Wednesday that Mr. Abbott had
"chosen to betray the victims of gun violence
" by enacting the law.
"Despite strong support for legislation to prevent gun violence, Republicans, led by a cowardly governor, are more interested in attracting the attention of the gun lobby than they are in preventing violence. by firearms and to pay tribute to the victims and survivors of El Paso and across Texas,
”she tweeted.
Representative Vikki Goodwin had asked the governor on Monday to veto the law after the shooting in Austin.
"
We must intervene to break this vicious circle,
" she said.
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To read also:
United States: in Texas, the Republicans multiply the vote of controversial laws
(
with AFP
)
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