Pistol-Packing Permitted In Texas Now

Texans can legally carry concealed guns for the first time since frontier days come January, thanks to a bill Gov. George W. Bush signed into law Friday.

“This is a bill to make Texas a safer place,” Bush said.

Not everyone agreed.

“It makes me consider moving out of the state,” said Loren Charter, who works at Border’s Book Shop in Houston. “It’s a return to the Wild West - every man for himself. It doesn’t frighten me as much as it embarrasses me.”

People over 21 can begin seeking permits in September and can carry pistols as of Jan. 1, if they undergo 10 to 15 hours of training and pass a proficiency exam.

A four-year permit costs $140, except for individuals 60 or older and the indigent, who get a 50 percent discount.

The law excludes people who face criminal charges or have prior convictions, those who haven’t paid child support or student loans, and those who are chemically dependent or of “unsound mind.”

It will still be illegal for people to carry hidden weapons in some places, including bars, amusement parks, athletic events, hospitals, churches, and police stations and prisons.