Yes, We can carry in Church!
Houston, TX -(AmmoLand.com)- In 1995 when CHL law passed, Penal Code 46.035, Unlawful Carrying of Handgun By License Holder, prohibited license holders from carrying in church.
(b)(4) on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship.
In 1997, the Legislature added line (i) to PC 46.035 which reversed the prohibition on churches and certain other locations such as “governmental meetings”.
Subsection (i) reads:
(i)Subsections (b)(4), (b)(5), (b)(6) and (c) do not apply if the actor was not given effective notice under Section 30.06.
This allowed churches to be treated as they are, as private property. A church has been able to post PC 30.06 since 1997.
Effective notice could also mean that a person in authority representing the church asked the licensee to leave. The net result is Texans have had access to this important form of personal protection in church for over a decade.
The last attempt to prohibit licensees from carrying in church was during the 1999 Legislative session.
Pastor Willard Rother, a Lutheran minister, testified against the bill saying the peace of God was not disturbed by law-abiding citizens exercising their right to personal protection. He also told the committee that he did not need help from the State of Texas with managing his church or his congregation.
The measure to reinstate the prohibition never received a committee vote and that was that.
Most Texas licensees enjoy the right to carry including the opportunity to carry at church if they chose. Again, this has been possible for over a decade.
In Texas we are our own “first responders.”
Please mark your calendar: Support Texas Constitutional Amendment
Prop 6 the Right to Hunt and Fish!
November 3rd ballot.
Early voting will be October 19th thru October 30th.Also, members, we’re now officially in the campaign season and we have friends in high places who may be at risk for reelection. Please give to the PAC.
And as always,
Keep the faith.
Alice Tripp
Legislative Director
Texas State Rifle Association
the NRA state affiliate
About Texas State Rifle Association
The Mission of the Texas State Rifle Association is to protect and defend the inalienable rights of the individual Texan to acquire, possess, transport, carry, transfer ownership and enjoy the right to lawful use of firearms for self preservation, for the defense of family and property and the common defense of the Republic and the individual liberties of the people.
For more information, visit: www.TSRA.com.