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- Last summer, in the wake of this historic surge, Texas enacted one of the most dramatic expansions of gun rights the state had ever seen, establishing “permitless carry,” or, as its supporters prefer to call it, “constitutional carry.” True to at least one of its names, the law would allow almost any adult who set foot in Texas to carry a concealed or holstered gun without a permit in nearly all public spaces. Under previous regulations, being armed outside the home had required a half-day class on gun law and safety, a proficiency test, a background check, and a small fee. The new law removed all these barriers. Schools would still be off-limits, as they are for license holders; likewise, places of worship and private businesses could choose to ban guns with notice. But the status quo would change drastically.