Texas has some of the most expansive gun rights in the country, with around 60% of households owning at least one gun, the second-highest rate in the country.
The number of mass shootings in Texas is directly related to the large number of guns in circulation
The state has loosened restrictions on gun ownership in recent years and is among states with weaker gun laws and higher rates of gun deaths. The number of mass shootings in Texas has tripled in the past five years, while mass shootings nationwide have nearly doubled from 2018 through the end of last year, according to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive.
The state has repeatedly loosened restrictions on gun ownership in recent years
In September 2021, legislation went into effect allowing most Texans who legally own a firearm to carry it openly in public without obtaining a permit or training. Republican supporters of the legislation have argued that by removing the licensing requirement, they are ensuring more Texans have access to the protection of themselves or their families in public.
The rate of gun homicides in Texas has increased by more than 90% from 2012 to 2021, compared to a 73% increase nationwide. Texas does not require background checks for all gun transfers, paving the way for people to potentially obtain guns in the illegal gun market, according to experts.