USA: +1 508 290 1604 
Sign in
QUESTION
- Identify one bill passed by the Texas Legislature during the regular legislative session (or one of the special sessions) in 2021. Explain what law the bill is intended to establish. Using and citing at least one solid academic source from the list below, explain how the bill would or did change existing law and give at least two specific impacts it would have on life in Texas.
- Describe the main arguments for and against the bill or law. You are not taking a position at this point, just explaining the claims made by proponents and opponents of the bill as it was being debated. Use and cite at least one solid academic source from the list belowin doing so.
- Explain whether or not you agree with the bill or law and explain why (or why not). Use and cite at least one solid academic source from the list belowto make your case. I am not looking for statements of opinion or explanations or justifications of your opinion about the bill, but am looking for evidence-based argumentation using evidence in the form of things like statistics, research studies, case studies, expert analysis and the like from solid sources to support your position.
ANSWER
Texas Legislature TX House Bill 1927
During one of the regular legislative sessions, the Texas Legislature passed the TX House Bill 1927, which was passed into law and became effective on 1st September 2021. This Bill established the Firearm Carry Act of 2021 to allow Texas who meet the requirements to carry handguns without a permit. According to Menezes (2022), the carry laws in Texas before House Bill 1927 was signed into action required that holders undergo training to learn some safety measures and handling of guns. However, the new Bill does not require training, as anyone above 21 without a criminal record can carry one without training. Still, the state required people to have permits to carry, which is now stripped as Texans carry without a permit.
The Bill led to arguments against and for its effectiveness in the state of Texas. For instance, Sparber (2021) reports that prior to its signing, the Senate sponsor, Sen Charles Schwertner, representative of Georgetown, said that the Bill was simply a restoration of constitutional rights in Texas where people will have the right to keep and bear arms. Again, proponents argue that Texas is following what at least 20 other states are holding up with regard to gun laws Sparber (2021). On the other hand, Democratic Senators raised concerns that the Bill was an endangerment to Texans and the state police officers. Sgt. Hipolito Valle also argued that if there were fewer restrictions, then people would be less careful with gun handling (Menezes, 2022).
I can’t entirely agree with the Firearm Carry Act of 2021. Gun violence is not an entirely new event in the USA, as deaths are continuously reported together with traumas in survivors. Proponents may support that carrying would allow self-protection while ignoring the different intents of each individual in Texas. According to the CDC (2019), there were 14,542 firearms homicides deaths in 2017. Recent developments show that school and mass shootings are not decreasing either. Therefore, carrying permitless is an unfortunate decision for the Texas legislature. If, after all, the guns are to protect individuals, then people should be exposed to training, and the guns should be regulated, as in where to carry them. In light of Fridel’s (2021) argument on Americans’ individual gun-purchasing behavior to protect themselves from perceived mass shootings, I support restrictive and permissive firearms laws.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Web-Based Injury Statistics Query And Reporting Systems: Fatal Injury Data. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/fatal.html
Fridel, E. E. (2021). Comparing The Impact Of Household Gun Ownership And Concealed Carry Legislation On The Frequency Of Mass Shootings And Firearms Homicide. Justice Quarterly, 38(5), 892-915. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2020.1789693
Menezes, S. (2022). Permitless Carry, One Year Later. CBS19. https://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/politics/one-year-later-texans-give-their-thoughts-about-the-permitless-carry-law/501-cf23eba2-2542-4bd3-9571-8ba1732a734a
Sparber, S. (2021). Texans Could Carry Handguns Without A Permit Under Bill Headed To Gov. Greg Abbott’s Desk. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/24/texas-constitutional-carry-permitless-guns-legislature/?_ga=2.150523391.872058285.1676973404-84968886.1676973404
To get your original copy of this completed paper, please Order Now
Related Topics
National Rifles Association (ANSWERED)
