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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of modern sporting rifles by certain |
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municipalities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 229.001(a), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 43.002 |
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of this code and Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, and except as |
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provided by Section 229.005, a municipality may not adopt |
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regulations relating to: |
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(1) the transfer, possession, wearing, carrying, |
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ownership, storage, transportation, licensing, or registration of |
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firearms, air guns, knives, ammunition, or firearm or air gun |
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supplies or accessories; |
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(2) commerce in firearms, air guns, knives, |
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ammunition, or firearm or air gun supplies or accessories; or |
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(3) the discharge of a firearm or air gun at a sport |
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shooting range. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 229, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 229.005 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 229.005. MODERN SPORTING RIFLES IN CERTAIN |
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MUNICIPALITIES. (a) In this section, "modern sporting rifle" |
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means: |
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(1) a semiautomatic centerfire rifle that has the |
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capacity to accept a detachable magazine that has: |
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(A) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously |
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beneath the action of the firearm; |
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(B) a folding or telescoping stock; |
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(C) a thumbhole stock; |
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(D) a second handgrip or a protruding grip that |
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can be held by the non-trigger hand; |
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(E) a flash suppressor, muzzle break, or muzzle |
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compensator; or |
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(F) a grenade launcher or flare launcher; |
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(2) a semiautomatic centerfire rifle that has a fixed |
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magazine that holds more than 10 rounds of ammunition; |
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(3) a semiautomatic centerfire rifle that has an |
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overall length of less than 30 inches; or |
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(4) a semiautomatic centerfire pistol that has the |
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capacity to accept a detachable magazine and has: |
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(A) a second handgrip or a protruding grip that |
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can be held by the non-trigger hand; |
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(B) an ammunition magazine that attaches to the |
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pistol outside of the pistol grip; or |
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(C) a shroud that is attached to or partially or |
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completely encircles the barrel and that permits the shooter to |
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hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand without being burned. |
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(b) For purposes of this section, "modern sporting rifle" |
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does not include any rifle that: |
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(1) is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or |
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slide action; |
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(2) has been rendered permanently inoperable; or |
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(3) is an antique firearm or a curio or relic. |
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(c) This section applies only to a municipality with a |
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population of 600,000 or more. |
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(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a municipality may |
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regulate the carrying of a partially or wholly visible modern |
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sporting rifle on or about a person in a public place. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |