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Carrying a firearm comes with great responsibility. Texas House Bill 1927 (Permit-less Carry), which took effect September 1st, 2021, allows every law-abiding citizen within the State of Texas to carry a firearm with certain exceptions and conditions. The bill repeals Penal Code section 46.035, which addresses carry by a handgun license holder, and moves its provisions to prohibited carrying to other statutes. The bill also modifies references throughout the law to a shoulder or belt holster so that the references are to any holster. Provisions prohibiting open carry on campuses of higher education institutions, including community colleges like TSC, and provisions prohibiting permitting license holders to carry a concealed weapon on campus unless prohibited – consistent with law and by the college with proper notice – are moved to other statutes without modification.
- Penal Code 46.03 now contains the prohibition on open carry at an institution of higher education and the prohibition on carrying concealed weapons consistent with the institution’s regulations.
- Penal Code 46.03(a)(14) states governmental entities no longer have to post the 30.06 sign prohibiting carrying at the open meeting.
- Penal Code 46.15 addresses the list of persons permitted to carry in prohibited locations carrying at an open meeting of a governmental body.
- Penal Code 46.15 also contains the prohibition on carrying at a college sporting event, provided 30.06 signs are posted.
- Law enforcement may disarm a person at any time the officer reasonably believes it necessary for the protection of the person, the officer, or another individual.
- The officer shall return the handgun to the person before discharging the person from the scene if the officer determines that the person is not a threat to the officer, person, or another individual and the person has not committed a violation that results in the arrest of the person.
Click here to read the full text: Texas House Bill 1927
TSC has developed a policy regarding the locations a license to carry holder may carry a properly concealed and secured handgun. Refer to the section below for clarification of this rule and exclusion zones.
About Campus Carry
During the 84th Texas Legislature, lawmakers passed a law we know as the Campus Carry Bill (Senate Bill 11). It allows licensed individuals to carry concealed handguns on academic campuses. The law took effect on August 1st, 2016, for all institutions of higher education except for community colleges. The effective date for TSC and community colleges across the state was August 1, 2017.
Campus Carry Local PolicyAbout Open Carry
Since 1995, handgun license holders in Texas have been able to carry a handgun as long as the handgun is concealed. Effective January 1, 2016, handgun license holders may lawfully openly carry their handguns throughout the state of Texas as long as the handgun is secured in a shoulder or belt holster. A license holder can also carry a handgun in a concealed manner; however, the law does not permit concealed handgun carry on college campuses like TSC until August 2017.
Notwithstanding the ability to openly carry, the law on this subject remains relatively the same; specifically, it is still prohibited under the law to openly carry a handgun on any college campus and on any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk, or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area of the college.