AUSTIN, Texas – On Sunday gun-rights activists gathered outside of the Texas State Capitol in Austin in support of the Second Amendment. Many of the protesters were armed, and the demonstration ended peacefully.

However, if legislation proposed by Texas state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, were to pass, the carrying of firearms in a scenario like the one described above would be illegal in the state.

Senate Bill 311 would make it illegal to display a firearm within 500 feet of a public demonstration in Texas.

According to the bill, public demonstration is defined as follows:

“A ‘Public demonstration’ means one or more persons in a public place who are demonstrating, picketing, speechmaking, marching, holding a vigil, or engaging in any other similar conduct that involves the communication or expression of views or grievances and that has the effect, intent, or propensity to attract a crowd or onlookers. The term does not include a casual use of property by visitors or tourists that does not have the intent or propensity to attract a crowd or onlookers.”

SB 311 makes allowances for law enforcement, Texas armed forces and security officers who hold personal protection authorization.

Texas law currently permits the carrying of firearms by those who are licensed to do so on Capitol grounds and inside the Capitol when it is open.

The bill comes in the wake of the violent January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that claimed the lives of five people and placed intense scrutiny on security.

The Texas Department of Public Safety last week closed the Capitol and the Capitol grounds to the public out of an abundance of caution in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration in Washington.

If the bill were to become law it would take effect on September 1, 2021.

-

Facebook Twitter