State Senate Republicans gave preliminary approval to legislation that would follow’s Governor Abbott’s call to make Texas a 2nd Amendment sanctuary state.
Republican State Senator Bob Hall’s bill would attempt to put a lid on any additional federal gun control laws in Texas. “Senate Bill 513 simply prohibits the use of public funds towards the enforcement of future federal firearms rules and regulations that exceed those of Texas,” said Hall as he rolled out the legislation on Tuesday.
Democratic State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa questioned the constitutionality of the bill. “I always thought federal law preempts State law, is that not the case?” Hall responded saying this wasn’t a question of federal law. “The States are not required to enforce a federal law if they choose not to, and that’s been upheld in multiple court cases.”
If the legislation is signed into law this will be one of the arguments used to challenge it in the courts.
The Texas Senate passed the legislation on second reading along strict party lines 18-to-13. The bill is expected to finally pass in the Senate by the same vote on Wednesday.