Texas isn’t the wild west, free-swinging gun mecca most people think it is. The Lone Star State has a proficiency requirement for concealed handgun licenses. That’s right, you need to prove that you can operate your firearm effectively. You’d think the type of firearm you qualify with wouldn’t matter — but you’d be wrong. The state records the type of firearm you used (revolver or semi-auto) and restricts your ability to carry firearms based on that record. Qualify with a semi-auto and you’re good with any handgun, but qualify with a revolver and semi-autos are verboten. But a new law passed by the Texas legislature yesterday puts an end to that nonsense . . .
From the Associated Press:
The Texas Legislature has changed the law for concealed handgun license holders to allow them to carry any category of weapon.
Lawmakers gave the bill final passage on Sunday and the measure now goes to the governor for his signature.
Previously, people licensed to have concealed handguns could only carry the type of pistol they used during their training and qualification.
The new bill allows license holders to carry any type of handgun, regardless of what category of weapon they used to qualify.
I never understood that requirement to begin with, and no other state I’ve been licensed in has ever made that distinction. I’m sure there’s some sort of twisted logic behind the original law, perhaps something about semi-autos being more complex and requiring more skill to use. But as anyone who knows guns can tell you, with the ease of use of today’s handguns it doesn’t make any sense. It’s one law I’m glad to see stricken from the books, and I’m sure RF will appreciate it when he goes for his Texas CHL.