Governor Abbott Presents White Settlement Hero Jack Wilson With Texas’ Medal of Courage

Dear Texas NRA Member:

On Monday, Governor Greg Abbott presented the Governor's Medal of Courage to West Freeway Church of Christ hero Jack Wilson at the Governor's Mansion in Austin.  From the Governor's press release:

"When faced with an evil that few of us will ever comprehend, Jack Wilson responded with strength, bravery, and with love for those in the church that day," said Governor Abbott.  "The courage in his actions cannot be understated, and Jack is not only a hero to West Freeway Church of Christ -- he is a hero to the entire State of Texas."

NRA-ILA would like to thank Governor Abbott for recognizing Wilson's life-saving actions in White Settlement.  We would also like to extend our gratitude not only to Mr. Wilson himself, but to the sponsors and legislative supporters of NRA-backed laws passed in 2017 and 2019 which expanded the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves in churches, synagogues or other places of worship:

Senate Bill 2065 by Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) which included language from House bills by former Rep. Matt Rinaldi (R-Farmers Branch) and Rep. John Wray (R-Waxahachie) to allow volunteers providing armed security at places of worship to be exempt from certain requirements of the Private Security Act (2017); and

Senate Bill 535 by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) and Rep. Dan Flynn (R-Van) which removed these locations from the list of prohibited places for handgun possession in the Penal Code, clarifying once and for all that controllers of church property, rather than the state, may decide whether to allow License To Carry holders on-premises. (2019)