Gov. Abbott today traveled to a south Austin firing range to sign the most significant gun bill expected to emerge from the 2017 Legislature, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The measure significantly reduces the cost of getting and keeping a handgun license. The cost of the initial application for the license goes from $140 to $40, and the annual renewal cost goes from $70 to $40.
Josh Felker, who runs Lone Star Handgun in Converse, tells News Radio 1200 WOAI its a good first step.
"It allows more Texans to possibly get their license to carry, but at the end of the day, I would like to see Constitutional Carry pass," he said. "That means you would not be licensed or taxes by the government."
Supporters of lowering the cost of the license and of Constitutional Carry, which would allow anyone who can legally buy a gun to carry it would government approval, point out that no other right granted by the Constitution comes with a fee. They say it would be immediately declared unconsitutional if a government required a fee for people to exercise free speech or to be free from improper search and seizure.
Many people, mainly single moms, told the Legislature the $140 cost puts their need for protection and security out of their price range.
Felker says it is important that as many good, law abiding people be allowed to carry guns as possible.
"It's a good thing," he said. "The more good guys that carry guns, the better it is. Bad guys won't get a license, because they can't pass a background check, and they won't want to attract attention."
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