Texans can carry loaded guns in churches unless signs announce ban, attorney general says

Texas Attorney General KEN PAXTON released an opinion Thursday saying it’s

legal to carry a loaded gun into church as long as there are no signs banning

weapons.

The issue arose in the wake of last month’s mass shooting at First Baptist

Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, which left 26 people killed and 20 others

injured. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had requested the legal evaluation so churches

would know their options for improving security.

“If a church decides to exclude the concealed or open carrying of handguns on

the premises of church property, it may provide the requisite notice, thereby

making it an offense for a license holder to carry a handgun on those premises,” 

Mr. Paxton wrote. “However, churches may instead decide not to provide notice

and to allow the carrying of handguns on their premises.”

The Texas legislature this year also passed a bill to exempt churches from

having to pay fees to have their own security personnel. The bill was passed

because lawmakers worried it imposed financial hardship on small churches,

according to Mr. Paxton’s opinion.

Other private institutions pay fees to the state of Texas for security teams.

source,

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