State Sen. Charles Schwertner Presented With NRA's Defender of Freedom Award This Week, As Landmark Pro-Second Amendment Bills Become Law

NRA-ILA Texas State Director Tara Mica presented State Sen. Charles Schwertner with NRA's Defender of Freedom Award this week at the Texas Capitol.  Sen. Schwertner authored SB 19, legislation prohibiting corporations which discriminate against the firearms industry from obtaining contracts with Texas governmental entities.  He also sponsored HB 1927, the historic Constitutional Carry bill, in the Senate.

Dear Texas Senate District 5 NRA Member:

The Texas Legislature passed groundbreaking legislation to restore and protect your Second Amendment rights in the Lone Star State during its 2021 Regular Session.​  As NRA-ILA reported to you earlier, a dozen new pro-Second Amendment bills take effect TODAY -- Wednesday September 1.  

Your State Senator, Charles Schwertner, authored and passed Senate Bill 19, which discourages banks, payment processors, insurers, and other financial services providers from discriminating against members of the firearm and ammunition industries.  The legislation prohibits businesses that engage in this practice from contracting with governmental entities in the State of Texas.  Taxpayer dollars should not be used to benefit the bottom-line of corporations that are actively working to erode the fundamental rights of law-abiding Texans.​

Senator Schwertner was also the lead Senate sponsor of House Bill 1927, NRA-backed constitutional carry legislation, this session.  HB 1927 allows law-abiding adults, age 21 or older, to carry a handgun concealed or unconcealed for personal protection without paying a fee and obtaining a license from the state.  Texas' existing License To Carry law remains on the books so that residents and non-residents may continue to obtain LTCs for purposes of reciprocity and NICS-exemptions ​when purchasing a firearm.  Upon the governor's signature, the new law will take effect on September 1.

Please take a moment to thank Senator Schwertner for his hard work to pass these two landmark pro-Second Amendment measures in the Texas Legislature and to congratulate him on receiving the distinguished NRA Defender of Freedom award.