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At a Glance

Texas

Texas has weak gun laws. The state does not require a person to pass a criminal background check before purchasing a firearm from an unlicensed seller. In 2021, the state also eliminated the requirement that a person obtain a permit before carrying concealed handguns in public, meaning that a person in Texas can get a gun and carry it concealed in public without ever passing a criminal background check or taking firearm training. Texas also allows people with carry licenses to carry concealed firearms on college and university campuses. Texas even allows some staff and teachers to carry firearms in K-12 schools.

3,996 In an average year, 3,996 people die by guns in Texas. More at EveryStat.
#32 in the country for Gun Law Strength. See why.

To become a safer state, Texas can improve its gun laws in many ways, including by requiring background checks on all firearm sales, repealing its permitless law, requiring domestic abusers prohibited from possessing firearms to relinquish the firearms they own, and enacting an Extreme Risk law to empower loved ones or law enforcement to intervene in order to temporarily prevent someone in crisis from accessing firearms.

The Latest

As Texas 2023 Legislation Session Wraps Up, Following 21 Mass Shootings in the State Since the New Year, Everytown, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond

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Victories

Survivor Story

Stories

Claire Hein Blanton: Governor Abbott has continued to fail Texans. He has continued to fail our children.

Fall means back-to-school. Like many other families in Houston, mine is settling into the beginning of a big year. My oldest started kindergarten recently. His little sister started preschool, following closely in his footsteps. The back-to-school period can be filled with mixed emotions for parents and caretakers. But as a… Continue