The Republican governor of Texas on Wednesday, June 16, promulgated a law allowing the carrying of a weapon in public without a license, the latest in a series of measures expanding gun rights in conservative states in the United States.
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This law, passed in May by a Republican-dominated Senate and House of Representatives in the southern state, allows anyone aged 21 or over and not prohibited from owning a firearm, to wear one in public without a permit.
It is due to enter into force on September 1, 2021.
According to the
Texas Tribune,
Governor Greg Abbott intends to preside over a promulgation ceremony for the text on Thursday, June 17.
He had indicated that he would promulgate the law if the text was passed by both chambers.
"
It is something that a score of other states have adopted, and it is time for Texas to adopt it too,
" he said in April on local radio WBAP.
Democrats worried
But opponents, especially Democrats in Texas and across the country, have argued that easing gun rules will spark more violence.
They notably cited as an example the shooting in Austin, the capital of Texas, which left one dead and thirteen injured on the night of June 11 to 12, as well as that in a supermarket in El Paso in 2019 which left 22 people dead. and 23 injured.
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The elected Texan in the House of Representatives of the United States Veronica Escobar estimated Wednesday, June 16 that Greg Abbott had "
chosen to betray the victims of violence by firearms
" by promulgating the law. “
Despite overwhelming support for legislation to prevent gun violence, Republicans, led by a cowardly governor, would rather crawl for the attention of the gun lobby rather than prevent gun violence and pay homage to guns. victims and survivors of El Paso and all over Texas,
”she tweeted. Representative Vikki Goodwin asked the governor on Monday, June 14, to veto the law after the Austin shooting. "
We must intervene to break this vicious circle,
" she said.