Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill on Friday that reduces the financial burden for those who have a license to carry a handgun in the Lone Star State. The legislation applies to those obtaining or renewing licenses.
Here's how I celebrate signing a law that lowers the license to carry fee. #guns @NRA pic.twitter.com/eZbYd4jQIW
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 26, 2017
Texas Senate Bill 16 (SB 16), authored by Texas Senators Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) and Joan Huffman (R-Houston), also waives the licensee fee for law enforcement officers and those in the Texas military forces.
The law, effective September 1 of this year, reduces the fee for first-time license holders from $140 to $40. The fee to renew a license is cut down from $70 to $40.
Early on, the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) commended Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Senators Nichols and Huffman “for prioritizing and pre-filing legislation for the 85th regular session to address License To Carry (LTC) fees in Texas. This is important legislation for the 2017 Texas Legislative Session–License To Carry (LTC) fees in the Lone Star State are some of the highest in the nation. No hard-working, law-abiding Texan should be priced out of the ability to exercise his or her right to self-defense,” the statement from the legislative arm of the NRA said.
Lt. Governor Patrick named passage of SB16 as one of his 2017 top legislative priorities. In January, the Lt. Governor released a statement that said, “SB 16 will make lawful carry more affordable for law-abiding citizens across the state. No Texan should be deprived of their right to self-protection because of onerous licensing fees imposed by the state.”
The bill had tremendous support by senators and representatives in Texas. There were 18 co-authors in the Senate, five sponsors in the Texas House, and 36 co-sponsors in the House.
“Texas is known for its strong Second Amendment rights laws, and I’m proud to further strengthen those rights today,” said Governor Abbott in a statement obtained by Breitbart Texas. “No law abiding Texan should be priced out of the ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights. I’d like to thank Senator Robert Nichols and Representative Phil King for their work in expanding liberty in Texas.”
Nearly two years ago, Governor Abbott signed a bill into law authorizing those with a License to Carry the ability to open carry a holstered handgun, Breitbart Texas reported. The law became effective January 1, 2016.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Facebook.
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