Texas Gov-Elect Abbott Has Open-Carry Bill to Sign

In the strong gun-rights State of Texas, we’ve been aligned with California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, New York, and South Carolina as jurisdictions that don’t allow open carrying of handguns. But that may change in a couple of months.

Texas’ Governor-elect Greg Abbott supported open carry of firearms throughout his campaign, and as the state’s next governor, he said he would sign an open-carry bill if the legislature sends him one.

“Texas, as I understand it, is one of only about seven or so states in the United States of America that does not have open carry. If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, it’s good enough for the State of Texas,” Abbott said.

“If an open carry bill is passed by the House and Senate and arrives at my desk, I will sign it into law,” he said.

And there’s already a bill filed to that effect. On the first day Texas lawmakers could file bills for the upcoming legislative session, Rep. Daniel Flynn has proposed an open-carry measure.

Now Abbott will have a chance to make good on a campaign promise that will endear him to many gun owners in Texas.

The Texas governor is sworn in on the third Tuesday of January every four years. In 2015, that’s January 20.

On Nov. 4, Abbott defeated Fort Worth Democrat Wendy Davis in the governor’s race 59.3% to 38.9%.

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