Churches and Synagogues will no longer be prohibited locations in Texas for concealed handgun owners with the recent passage of SB 535.
In December of 2017, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick requested an opinion from Attorney General Paxton Ken Paxton to clarify handgun licenses in churches for church security as well as personal security purposes.
This was after the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs that ended with twenty-six killed and at least twenty injured. During the incident, the active shooter was shot by a bystander as he exited the church.
SB 535 removes from Texas law the 1995 reference to churches and synagogues, which effectively means that these places will be treated as all other private property, in regards to allowing for concealed handgun carry.
As such, licensed gun holders may carry onto such property unless notified that gun carrying is prohibited.
Notification may be received verbally or in writing from the owner or other person with apparent authority, or via signage using language as stipulated in the Penal Code 30.06.
