Texas GOP Proposes Constitutional Carry Expansion

Gun Owners of America Texas dropped five Second Amendment resolutions for the 2026 Republican Party of Texas platform this week, targeting age restrictions federal courts already tossed and plugging holes in Texas self-defense law.

The legal groundwork is already laid. This isn't GOA throwing ideas at the wall — they're building on court victories like Andrews v. McCraw and recent session wins, including laws that took effect January 1st allowing short-barrel firearms and making red flag enforcement a felony. The platform push is designed to force lawmakers past the usual baby-step approach.

The court case: Federal judges keep striking down age restrictions on carry rights for 18-20 year olds, but Texas statutes still carry the unconstitutional language — which creates confusion for cops and legal gun owners alike. A 19-year-old can constitutional carry right now but can't get a license for reciprocity in other states. That's the gap these proposals aim to close.

What they're actually proposing: Five resolutions covering carry expansion, self-defense fixes, and lawsuit protection.

• Age equality: Let 18-20 year olds get licenses and carry handguns legally, matching what courts already ruled
• Pre-trial hearings: Give justified defenders a way to assert self-defense claims before trial instead of waiting months
• Civil immunity: Protection and attorney fee recovery for defenders facing frivolous lawsuits
• Expanded justification: Allow force or deadly force to prevent any violent felony, not just specific crimes
• Threat defense: Stop prosecuting licensed carriers for displaying weapons to deter threats

The self-defense gap is real. Texas law currently leaves you exposed even when you do everything right. You can't get pre-trial relief for self-defense claims, meaning innocent people burn through months of expensive litigation. Civil immunity rules are weak enough that frivolous suits keep coming. And you can still catch aggravated assault charges for showing a gun to stop a threat — even when that threat would justify deadly force.

Catch up quick: Recent sessions have steadily closed off new restrictions while expanding carry rights.

• Senate Bill 1362 made it a felony for officials to enforce out-of-state red flag orders
• Senate Bill 1596 eliminated state penalties for unregistered short-barrel rifles and shotguns
• House Bill 1794 eliminated the polling place carry ban during elections

By the numbers:

• 21 states have red flag laws — Texas now explicitly bans them and makes enforcement a felony
• Adults 18-20 can constitutional carry in Texas but still can't get licenses due to outdated statutes
• $442 million in local tax revenue lost from business inventory exemptions — part of the broader deregulation push

What to watch: If these platform planks get adopted, they'll drive the 2026 legislative session agenda. Young adults would get full carry rights with licensing options for out-of-state travel. Self-defense cases would move faster through pre-trial hearings. And civil lawsuits against justified defenders would face real deterrents. Texas is positioning itself as the national Second Amendment leader — and using federal court wins to get there faster than any other state.

Go deeper:

• GOA Texas proposed platform resolutions
• Texas Tribune coverage of recent gun legislation
• NRA-ILA analysis of Texas House bills
• Overview of new Texas laws taking effect