Volunteer Emergency Services Personnel in Texas Can Now Carry a Handgun

During the 2017 legislative session, Texas passed a new handgun law that became effective today, September 1^st. Under the new law, volunteer emergency services personnel with a license to carry a handgun will be allowed to carry a handgun while on duty. A volunteer emergency services personnel includes a volunteer firefighter, an emergency medical services volunteer, and any individual who, as a volunteer, provides services for the benefit of the general public during emergency situations. If a handgun is discharged by a volunteer emergency services personnel licensed to carry a handgun, a government unit is not liable in a civil action arising from the discharge of a handgun. A government unit is defined as:

(a) this state [Texas] and all the several agencies of government that collectively constitute the government of this state, including other agencies bearing different designations, and all departments, bureaus, boards, commissions, offices, agencies, councils, and courts;

(b) a political subdivision of this state, including any city, county, school district, water control and preservation district, freshwater supply district, navigation district, conservation and reclamation district, soil conservation district, communication district, public health district, and river authority;

(c) an emergency service organization; and

(d) any other institution, agency, or organ of government the status and authority of which are derived from the Constitution of Texas or from laws passed by the legislature under the constitution.

Furthermore, the law permits state hospitals to prohibit a license holder from carrying a handgun on property by posting a written notice. The written notice must include text from section 552.002 of the Health and Safety Code, in both English and Spanish, and appear in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height. A civil penalty may be imposed on a license to carry holder who carries on the property of a state hospital in which a written notice is provided. To purchase this poster, click here.