|
House Bill 1168 |
House Author: Anchia et al. |
|
Effective: Vetoed |
Senate Sponsor: West |
House Bill 1168 amends provisions of the Penal Code establishing the offense of possessing or going with certain prohibited weapons in or into a secured area of an airport to revise the definition of "secured area." The bill establishes as a defense to prosecution for that offense that the actor was authorized by a federal agency or the airport operator to possess a firearm in a secured area.
Governor's Reason for Veto: "House Bill 1168 would impose an unacceptable restraint on the Second Amendment rights of law‑abiding travelers. The Legislature may have intended simply to keep firearms off the tarmac, but the bill as drafted would newly prohibit carrying in any part of the airport terminal building, even ahead of the TSA inspection checkpoint. By vetoing this bill, I am ensuring that Texans can travel without leaving their firearms at home. I look forward to working with the next Legislature on the good idea behind this bill."