Bill pushed to governor’s desk said to be the strongest Second Amendment legislation in state history; firearms reporter Stephen Gutowski with insight. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a "constitutional carry" bill into law on Wednesday that will allow Texans to carry a handgun in public without a license starting on Sept. 1. Under current law, residents must go through training, submit fingerprints, show handgun proficiency and pay a $40 application fee in order to obtain a license to carry a handgun. Now, anyone who is older than 21 and isn't already prohibited from owning guns by state or federal law will be able to carry a firearm in public.