Texas Senate votes to let lawmakers carry guns.

Editor's note: Carrying in church is legal.

AUSTIN (AP) — Whether they're praying or politicking, Texas senators want to be able to pack heat wherever they go.

The Senate voted 25-6 on Monday to let legislators, statewide elected officials and some other federal and state employees who are licensed to carry concealed handguns take their weapons into places the rest of the public cannot. Those places would include churches, bars and other places that serve alcohol, businesses and sporting events.



Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, who is licensed to carry a concealed handgun, says lawmakers, judges and prosecutors are potential targets for assassins and should be allowed to carry lethal protection at all times.
On Jan. 8, a few days before the start of the Texas legislative session, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was severely wounded when she was shot at a campaign appearance in Tucson. Six people were killed and 12 others were wounded.

A handful of senators said lawmakers should not create special privileges for themselves that they are not willing to give the public at large.

"If we are going to expand when and where Texans can legally carry a concealed firearm, we should start with our citizens, not our lawmakers," said Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury.

The bill is supported by the Texas Rifle Association and the National Rifle Association. It now goes to the House for consideration.

Texas lawmakers are considering concealed handgun bills this session. A measure to allow people to carry weapons into parking lots where they work has already passed the Senate.

A few hours after the lawmaker exemption bill, the Senate also voted to allow concealed handgun license holders to carry their weapons into public university buildings and classrooms.

One of the six senators voting against the special exemption for lawmakers was Sen. Jeff Wentworth, the San Antonio Republican who is sponsoring the campus guns measure.

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