After turning back last-minute attempts to let city voters opt out, the Texas House gave final approval to legislation allowing gun owners with concealed weapons licenses to carry their side arms openly, the Texas Tribune reports. Similar legislation has already passed the Senate, and Gov. Greg Abbott has promised to sign open carry legislation.
The Texas House debated the bill for more than five hours last week. Lawmakers opposed to open carry made last-ditch efforts to soften the legislation. Rep Rafael Anchia, a Dallas Democrat, filed an amendment that would allow large cities to vote to opt in or out of open carry. “Rural open carry is different than densely populated open carry,” Anchia said. “If you put this to a vote in big cities, I think people are going to say resoundingly no.”