New Texas Gun Laws Expanding Rights to Carry Went Into Effect One Day After Odessa Shooting

New Texas Gun Laws Expanding Rights to Carry Went Into Effect One Day After Odessa Shooting

The laws allow Texans to carry guns into houses of worship unless explicitly banned and clear gunowners to carry firearms on their person for a full week after a natural disaster is declared.

Just one day after a highway shooting claimed eight lives in Odessa, Texas, new gun laws went into effect that expand the ability of Texans to carry weapons in houses of worship and in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters.

Lawmakers passed about 820 bills earlier this year during the Texas legislative session, and they went into effect on Sept. 1. Thanks to House Bill 1177, residents who are already cleared to legally own a handgun will be able to carry it with them for a full week after a natural disaster is declared by the state.

Outside of that time span, only those with a specific license requiring firearms training and a background training can legally carry a gun at all times, The Dallas Morning News reported.

In addition, Texans will be allowed to carry guns into houses of worship unless faith leadership expressly forbid the practice, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did last month. The law came about as part of the state’s response to the 2017 mass shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs that killed 26 parishioners.

State Senator Donna Campbell, a Republican who filed the bill, said in a recent statement that the law does not restrict the rights of churches to prohibit weapons on their premises. Instead, Senate Bill 535 aims to reduce penalties for licensed citizens who unknowingly carry in prohibited areas, she said.

“It also increases the penalty for armed individuals who are told to leave certain premises where weapons are prohibited and fail to depart,” Campbell said, according to WFAA 8 News.

The Texas legislature also passed a law that lifts a limit on the number of trained employees, which the state calls “school marshals,” who can carry guns at K-12 schools. That program was created in 2013 following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that killed 26 people in Newtown, Connecticut, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Following the tragic shootings in El Paso a month ago and now the killing of at least eight people in Odessa last weekend, the state government looks poised again to implement new policies meant to curb gun violence.

Last month, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott established the Texas Safety Commission to come up with recommendations to address mass shootings in the state, and tweeted Monday night that “we’re working on a legislative package right now.” However, the Texas legislature only meets every two years, and already finished out its session earlier this year. Abbott has not yet indicated that he will call a special session, as he did in 2017.

The mayor of Odessa, David Turner, said on Tuesday that “one thing is not going to fix” the problems behind mass shootings and widespread gun violence.

“We need stronger mental health laws,” Turner told The Texas Standard. “I think there were red flags for this gentleman, or this person. As municipalities and as a state, we're very limited on what we can do when somebody shows that they are maybe spiraling down or they may have some mental issues. You can hold them for maybe 24 hours, 48 hours, but then you have to release them. That is something that is going to have to be addressed.”

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.