Gun Sense Victory: Texas Moms Demand Action, Everytown Applaud Defeat of Dangerous Gun Measures Including Permitless Carry and Bill That Would Have Allowed Guns at School-sponsored Activities

AUSTIN, Texas – Volunteers with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded the defeat of several dangerous legislative policies including:

• House Bill 1911 and House Bill 375, which would have removed the requirement that a person get a License to Carry (LTC) and undergo firearms safety training before they carry a loaded handgun in public places.
  
• House Bill 560, which would have allowed guns in elementary, middle and high schools, bars, sports arenas and several other locations where guns are currently prohibited.
  
• Senate Bill 349, which would have allowed guns at school sponsored activities not held on property owned by schools.
  
• Senate Bill 1736, which would have punished businesses for choosing not to allow guns on their property, by providing civil legal immunity to businesses that chose to allow guns while not providing the same protections to those that chose to prohibit guns.

“We are grateful that our lawmakers have rejected a slate of dangerous policies that would have threatened public safety in Texas,” said Lisa Epstein, volunteer chapter leader with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We know that our LTC system serves as a vital tool used by law enforcement to keep our neighborhoods safe. And it is common sense that guns have no place in sensitive areas including our children’s schools. Texas has a long and proud history of responsible gun ownership, and we will not jeopardize it by supporting legislation that would leave our communities and families even more vulnerable to the threat of gun violence. This session’s victories prove that gun sense is a winning issue in Texas, and we will continue to fight for the safety of our state.”

This legislative session, the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action supported lawmakers and law enforcement officials in their successful efforts to defeat these dangerous gun bills by:

• Organizing an advocacy day with gun violence survivors at the Capitol in January to urge the legislature to reject several gun bills that ultimately failed;
  
• Releasing polling that found a whopping 91 percent of Texas voters support requiring a license to carry a handgun in public;
  
• Running a full-page ad in the Austin-American Statesman calling for lawmakers to oppose permitless carry legislation;
  
• Testifying before legislative committees in opposition to reckless and unnecessary gun measures;
  
• Working with stakeholders and community leaders throughout the state to educate and mobilize them; and
  
• Driving thousands of calls and digital messages to state lawmakers.