The Dallas Morning News reported on Sunday that the Texas Senate approved a surprising bill that would consequently allow any Texan who is eligible to own a firearm to be able to take it either open or concealed for exactly one week after the state declares a natural disaster.
The bill, which was narrowly passed 16-15, has been heavily contested. Three Republicans, Sen. Joan Huffman, R- Houston included voted against the measure. The paper reported that she questioned House Bill 1177’s effect on policing after a powerful storm.
“It’s really, really poor public policy that is not well thought out,” she said, according to the paper.
The bill definitely has to be accepted by the House and will then be sent to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk, The Texas Tribune reported. The bill would take effect in September 2019.
The bill’s sponsor, a Republican by the name of Rep. Dade Phelan said earlier that he doesn’t “want someone to feel like they have to leave their firearms back in an unsecured home for a week or longer, and we all know how looting occurs in storms. Entire neighborhoods are empty and these people can just go shopping, and one of the things they’re looking for is firearms.”