Texas Votes to Repeal Weapons Bans, Restore Second Amendment Rights to Access Clubs and Knucks

The Texas legislature has voted to repeal the state ban on the possession, manufacture, transportation, repair, or sale of knuckles; and the ban on the carrying of a club. These bans clearly infringed on the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.  Texas continues to defer to federal law on the regulation of explosive weapons, machine guns, short barreled firearms, and firearm silencers.

They continue to ban armor piercing ammunition, chemical dispensing devices, zip guns, and a tire deflation device, all with rather esoteric definitions in the law.  Perhaps the legislature is saving the repeal of the bans on those devices for another day.  From dallasnews.com:

AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers have passed legislation lifting the state ban on brass knuckles, kitty keychains and other self defense items.

The Texas Senate gave the bill its final OK on Wednesday morning; it now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature or veto. Abbott’s staff did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday. Bill author Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, said the bill was “another step” toward getting rid of” antiquated laws regarding weapons.”

“We did it with switchblades. We did it with knives and now with knuckles,” Moody said Wednesday. “Hopefully, now, with this on the way to the governor, we can ensure these types of laws aren’t being used inappropriately to go after folks who have legitimate tools of self defense.”

HB 446 was passed in the House, on 9 April, 2019, 147-1, with 2 absent.

It passed in the Senate, on 15 May, 2019, unanimously, 31-0.

If Governor Abbott signs the bill into law, it will  take effect 1 September, 2019.