In 2015, the Texas legislature amended several statutes to permit license carriers to openly carry handguns (HB910). These changes took effect on January 1, 2016. In a nutshell, HB910 simply changes current law related to licensed carriers of concealed handguns to permit licensed carrier to either openly carry handguns or to carry concealed handguns. Openly carrying a handgun requires the carrier to have the handgun properly holstered. A CHURCH or a place of business MAY PROHIBIT concealed handguns or openly-carried handguns, or both, in its buildings by providing notice under the statute. Notice may be accomplished in several ways: A) One may post signs at the public entrances of the building in a clearly visible manner. The text in the signs must be exactly as the statute prescribes in both English and Spanish. B) One may give NOTICE face-to-face, orally or in writing, to a licensed carrier that concealed handguns or openly carried handguns or both are not permitted in a building. Written notices must contain the same text as the signs.
Effectively immediately, IT IS TO BE KNOWN THAT OPENLY CARRIED HANDGUNS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE CHURCH OR ANY OF THE BUILDINGS OF ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AUSTIN, TEXAS.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.07, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY LICENSE HOLDER WITH AN OPENLY CARRIED HANDGUN), A PERSON LICENSED UNDER SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (HANDGUN LICENSING LAW), MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A HANDGUN THAT IS CARRIED OPENLY.
CONFORME A LA SECION 30.07 DEL CODIGO PENAL (TRASPASAR PORTANDO ARMAS DE FUEGO AL AIRE LIBRE CON LICENCIA) PERSONAS CON LICENCIA BAJO DEL SUBCAPITULO H, CAPITULO 411, CODIGO DE GOBIERNO (LEY DE LICENCIA DE PORTAR ARMAS, NO DEBEN ENTRAR A ESTA PROPIEDAD PORTANDO UN ARMA DE FUEGO AL AIRE LIBRE.
A written and oral notice will be presented to anyone openly carrying a handgun to remove the handgun from the building. If a licensed carrier violates the statute by not removing an openly carried handgun from the church or other building once written and oral notice is given to the person, the carrier may be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 1 year in jail, a fine up to $4,000, or both jail time and fine. The penalty may be enhanced for repeat offenses. Additionally, the licensed carrier may lose his/her license for such a violation.