Austin, TX — With just days left in the 89th Texas Legislative Session, three major pro-Second Amendment bills are on the brink of passage — or being killed by inactivity in the Republican-led Texas House.
And Everytown for Gun Safety knows it.
The Bloomberg-funded gun control group sent out a statewide text blast this week celebrating the death of pro-gun bills in Austin, boasting that “most gun bills” have been defeated.
Their glee may be premature — but unless the Texas House takes swift action by Tuesday, May 27, it could become reality.
Pro-Gun Bills on the Chopping Block
Three of the most critical bills still alive and nearing the finish line are:
SB 1065 (Sen. Hall / Rep. Phelan) – Known as the “State Fair Bill,” this measure closes gun ban loopholes on taxpayer-owned property, ensuring Texans can’t be disarmed at events like the State Fair.
SB 1362 (Sen. Hughes / Rep. Hefner) – A direct strike against federal overreach, this bill would ban so-called “Red Flag” gun confiscation laws in Texas, preemptively rejecting unconstitutional disarmament orders and striking back at abuses by the Veterans Administration, and the enforcement of “red flag” orders from other states.
SB 1596 (Sen. Hagenbuch / Rep. Hayes) – This legislation would decriminalize short-barreled firearms in Texas, removing them from the state’s prohibited weapons list and protecting law-abiding Texans from prosecution for mere possession.
But these bills won’t move another inch unless the House Calendars Committee adds them to the legislative calendar by the end of this week.
And with the committee sitting idle, time is running out.
Grassroots Mobilization Ramps Up
Texas Gun Rights, one of the most active and uncompromising gun rights organizations in the state, is sounding the alarm — and calling on gun owners to act fast.
“Everytown is already claiming victory, but gun owners can still win this fight — if the Republican leadership steps up,” said Chris McNutt, President of Texas Gun Rights.
McNutt emphasized the urgency, warning that “unless these bills are placed on the calendar soon, they’re dead.”
How to Help Push the Bills Forward
Gun owners across Texas are being urged to call the House Calendars Committee at (512) 463-0758, and tell them to immediately schedule SB 1065, SB 1362, and SB 1596 for a floor vote.
Supporters are also being asked to contact Calendars Chairman Todd Hunter directly at (512) 463-0672 or by email at todd.hunter@house.texas.gov.
“Be polite, but be firm,” McNutt said. “These bills are the last hope this session to roll back federal-style gun control in Texas.”
The Clock Is Ticking
Unless the Texas House acts before Tuesday, May 27, these bills — and the rights they protect — may be lost for another session.
And if that happens, Bloomberg’s army of anti-gun lobbyists won’t hesitate to spin it as proof that even gun-friendly Texas is backing away from the Second Amendment.
Texans still have a chance to prove them wrong.
