Austin (1080 KRLD)- Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick says the Senate doesn’t have the votes to pass the constitutional carry bill that passed in the Texas House last week. House Bill 1927 would allow Texans eligible to own a handgun to carry it in public without a permit.
Patrick released the following statement on Monday:
“If we have the votes to pass a permit-less carry bill off the Senate floor, I will move it. At this point we don’t have the votes on the floor to pass it. I plan to meet with law enforcement who oppose permit-less carry and with the NRA (National Rifle Association) and GOA (Gun Owners of America) who support it to see if we can find a path that a majority of senators will vote to pass.”
RICE University Political Science Professor Mark Jones doesn’t believe that Patrick actually has any desire to pass the Constitutional Carry bill. “If this was a high priority for Dan Patrick he would either make sure that all 18 Republicans are onboard, or he would have brought over (Democratic State Senators) Eddie Lucio Jr or Chuy Hinojosa,” said Jones.
Another example of Patrick’s empathy on the legislation according to Jones was that the Senate’s companion bill wasn’t given a low number and hasn’t even been given a committee hearing yet.
Jones isn’t buying Lt. Governor Patrick’s claim about working with law enforcement either. “It’s going to be tough to come up with a compromise on this bill (HB-1927) because there isn’t much to compromise with,” said Jones.