Texas Gun Law Changes and Guns Not Allowed Signage
Published on February 1, 2016
GovDocs has received many phone calls from customers regarding the Texas open carry gun licensing amendment, which allows permitted gun owners in Texas to carry licensed guns in public. Many businesses are concerned about customer and worker safety, and they contact GovDocs for help understanding their options.
Background on the Texas Open Carry Amendment
Previously, Texas’ conceal and carry gun law allowed licensed citizens to carry firearms in a concealed manner. If businesses did not want firearms on their premises, they were required to post a sign that complied with requirements of Texas Penal Code 30.06. The State of Texas did not provide the sign, but businesses need to meet the exact language, size, and language requirements for it to have any legal bearing.
Effective January 1, 2016, the open carry amendment went into effect. Just as in the previous conceal-and-carry scenario, businesses that do not want open-carry firearms on their premises, they must display signage that complies with Texas Penal Code 30.07; however, this law also amended the language of the previous 30.06 sign requirements as well. The result is that now businesses must post BOTH an amended 30.06 sign and the new 30.07 sign if they do not want guns on their premises.
Businesses are left to post two brand new signs with explicit language in specific languages (English and Spanish) and precise size requirements. In addition, the agency does not provide any templates or model signs. Each letter is required to be at least 1 inch in height – resulting in a large sign (estimated to be at least 2 feet by 2 feet per sign).
30.06 and 30.07 of the Texas Penal Code:
30.06 Specific Requirements (as laid out in the above statute):
1. Explicit Language Required: “Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun”2. Must be in English and Spanish 3. Appears in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height 4. Is displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public
30.07 Specific Requirements (as laid out in the above statute):
1. Explicit Language Required: “Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly” 2. Must be in English and Spanish 3. Appears in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height 4. Is displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public.
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