May 22, 2015 5:30 PM

Updated: Standoff over open carry in the Texas Senate

Sen. Huffines falsely claims CLEAT endorses his proposed change to the bill, which critics have said would effectively create “Constitutional Carry” in Texas

An unexpected but not entirely unpredictable standoff unfolded Friday afternoon in the Texas Senate over the issue open carry and what form it will take when this session has concluded.

Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, grilled Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, for almost an hour over his proposed amendment to the open carry bill sponsored by Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls.

During what effectively became a filibuster of Huffines’ amendment, Whitmire insisted that law enforcement agencies and groups across the state opposed and even feared the provision, which would bar police from asking citizens for proof of a handgun license solely because they had a visible weapon. This is an amendment that was added in the House but was later stripped out of the bill by Estes in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

When Huffines refused to believe Whitmire – a 42-year veteran of The Legislature – about police fears, Whitmire asked Huffines to delay a vote on the amendment for two hours to hear from law enforcement groups firsthand.

Huffines said this would be a waste of the Senate’s time.

By Emily DePrang