Today is another big day in Austin, as a bill that we reported on last week that would remove short-barrel firearms from Texas’ list of prohibited weapons is scheduled for a hearing today before the Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
By definition, a short-barrel firearm is defined as a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches, a shotgun with a barrel shorter than 18 inches, or a shotgun or rifle shorter than 26 inches in total length.
As noted by our tv partner KPRC channel 2, the Senate debated an identical bill in March. House Bill 259 was filed by State Rep. Richard Hayes/R-Dist. 57.
At the moment, it is both a federal and state crime to own a short-barrel firearm unless the owner registers the weapons with the ATF, goes through a background check, and pays a $200 tax.
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