Today is a big day for introducing gun legislation in Austin.  For Open Carry, five separate bills have been introduced to Texas law makers by Dan Flynn, James White, J. Strickland, Dan Huberty and Drew Springer.  Most versions of the bills would allow the open carry of a handgun for residents who are licensed to carry a weapon, but not on property the owner has forbidden the presence of weapons.

What about OTHER gun legislation being introduced?  OC is stealing the most headlines, but there are other bills pending…

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HB176 – Only Texas laws apply

Author: T Kleinschmidt, R-Lexington

The bill would allow for punishment for those who enforce federal gun laws that infringe on Second Amendment rights, including taxes specific to gun purchases, the tracking of gun purchases or prohibitions on the ownership and transfer of handguns by law-abiding citizens.  Matt Krause and Craig Goldman have introduced similar legislation that would prohibit enforcement of federal gun laws

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HB206 – Tax holiday for guns

Author: Jeff Leach, R-Plano

The bill would create a sales tax holiday for firearm and hunting supplies, “if the sale takes place during a period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the Friday before the last full weekend in August and ending at 12 midnight on the following Sunday.”  Brandon Creighton also introduced a tax holiday bill in the Senate.

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HB223 – Pop Tart gun bill

Author: Ryan Guillen, D- Rio Grande City

The bill would prohibit schools from punishing students who use their hands, playthings and, yes, even pastry items to mimic firearms. The proposed legislation also would protect students through the fifth grade who play with toy guns or draw or possess pictures of guns.

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HB216 – Lowers the CHL age requirement

Author: James White, R-Hillister

The bill lowers  the age requirement for getting concealed handgun permits to 18 from 21.

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HB278 – Open carry for attorneys

Author: Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin

The bill would allow the open carry of a handgun by a district attorney, assistant district attorney, county attorney, assistant county attorney or municipal attorney.

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HB308 – Expands where a person with a CHL can carry a weapon

Author: Drew Springer, R-Muenster

According to the bill, the “premises” where CHL holders are not allowed to carry firearms would mean “a building or a portion of a building. The term does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area, or any portion of the building in which the activity prompting the prohibition is not then ongoing.”

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HB353 – Allows open carry for volunteer emergency services personnel

Author: Ken King, R-Canadian

The bill would expand the abilities of volunteer emergency personal to openly carry firearms. “‘Volunteer emergency services personnel” includes a volunteer firefighter, an emergency medical services volunteer …, Health and Safety Code, and other individuals who, as a volunteer, provide services for the benefit of the general public during emergency situations.”

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HB421 – Texas made weapons

Author: Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth

The bill would exempt from federal commerce clause regulations any guns manufactured wholly within the state of Texas.

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SB124 – Penalties for giving guns to criminals

Author: Royce West, D-Dallas

This is one of the few bills that would strengthen an existing gun law. The bill would increase penalties for one who knowingly gives or buys a firearm for someone intending to break the law from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.

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SB229 – Penalizes illegal firearm seizure

Author: Brandon Creighton

The bill puts penalties on those who seize firearms in conflict with state laws. An official could face a Class A misdemeanor if “while acting under color of the person’s office or employment, intentionally or knowingly seizes a firearm as permitted or required by a federal statute, order, rule, or regulation that imposes a prohibition, restriction, or other regulation on firearms that does not exist under the laws of this state.”

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(Note, I got this information from a couple of different articles in the Houston Chronicle.  I consolidated the info into one post, so I hope it is completely accurate.  Just wanted to cite the source.)

Let us know what you think.  Which one is your favorite?  Which is the worst?  What has the greatest chance of actually passing?  You tell us in the comments…

-Jason