Texas AG forces Corpus Christi to allow license to carry guns at City Council meetings

One man wasted no time testing it.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — For the first time in Corpus Christi history, a legally carried handgun was brought into a City Council meeting.

The moment came after the city removed its no guns allowed signs, following an enforcement letter from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The ruling requires cities to allow licensed gun owners to carry handguns into public meetings including City Council chambers.

Open carry advocate Matthew Rankin wasted no time testing the change.

Rankin entered Tuesday night’s City Council meeting wearing a .45-caliber handgun in a holster on his hip becoming the first person to legally carry a firearm inside the chamber.

“Corpus has now had the pleasure of being the first ones to get an enforcement letter from Ken Paxton telling them to allow carry and take your signs down or else,” Rankin said.

Rankin argues the law has allowed licensed carry in government meetings for years, but says cities relied on outdated language to block it.

“They deleted that part so TML couldn’t say it’s there is a gray area anymore,” he said, referring to the Texas Municipal League.

Under the Attorney General’s ruling, anyone with a valid handgun license from Texas or another state can carry a handgun into a City Council meeting, either openly or concealed. Long guns, such as rifles, are still prohibited.

City Manager Peter Zanoni says the city had no choice but to comply.

“If you are a licensed gun operator, you can now, based on the Attorney General’s opinion, come into City Council when a meeting is going on,” Zanoni said.

Still, he acknowledged the sight of a firearm inside City Hall can make people uncomfortable.

“When you see someone come in who is not a peace officer that has a gun, that can raise concern,” Zanoni said.

In response, the city says it’s security that are in place such as metal detectors at 2 different checkpoints remain.  But, security officers will now be asking folks if they are heading to a public meeting, do they have a weapon and if they do they’ll have to produce their license to carry.

“We are putting safeguards in place to reduce risk,” Zanoni said.

As for Rankin, he says this is only the beginning.

“I just love the Second Amendment and the First Amendment, and in Texas, I get to practice both everywhere,” he said.

Rankin tells 3 News his next goal is pushing to allow licensed gun owners into more areas of the county courthouse.