Does A Disaster Declaration Mean Texans Can Openly Carry Guns?

Our weekly check in with the Texas Truth-O-Meter.

By Alexandra HartJune 17, 2020 12:02 pm,

Social media posts making the rounds on Facebook claim that a state of disaster has been declared in Texas, and that during a declared state disaster, any Texan who can legally own a firearm can carry a gun for a week after the declaration.

Is that true?

Politifact Texas looked into this claim as a part of their partnership with Facebook to fact check viral posts on the site. The post in question claimed that a law adopted in 2019 “allows any Texan who can legally own a firearm to carry their handgun, open or concealed, for a full week after a state or natural disaster is declared.”

It goes on to encourage people to “arm yourselves, protect your family, loved ones and neighbors. Stand together, Stand your ground, protect your family and your property. If you feel threatened, You have every right to protect yourselves!  Be vigilant and look out for one another, stay safe.”

But, Politifact Texas’ Madlin Mekelburg says, there are some important details missing in this post.

See how this claim rated in the player above.

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