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 Perry, a possible candidate in the 2016 Republican presidential
race, has sought the spotlight since his indictment last week,
holding news conferences to denounce the charges as politically
motivated and turning his booking into a campaign-style event where
he spoke to cheering supporters.
Under state law, Perry, a staunch supporter of gun rights who said
he shot a coyote to death with a pistol while jogging in Austin in
2010, is no longer allowed a license to carry a concealed handgun
because of the indictment.
Someone whose license is revoked can appeal or reapply two years
after the date of revocation.
Perry has entered a not guilty plea to charges of abuse of official
capacity, a first-degree felony, and coercion of a public official,
a third-degree felony, handed down by a state grand jury last week.
He faces up to 99 years in jail if convicted of the first-degree
felony.
The longest-serving governor in the state's history, Perry became
the target of an ethics investigation last year after he vetoed $7.5
million in funding for the state public integrity unit run from the
Travis County district attorney's office. His veto was widely viewed
as intended to force the resignation of Travis County District
Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, a Democrat, after she had pleaded guilty
to drunken driving.
Edwin Walker, a gun rights attorney in Houston, said if someone is
indicted for a felony the state will suspend his or her concealed
handgun license during the indictment period. Texas does not
generally allow for the open carrying of handguns in public.
But a suspension would not prevent the governor from carrying a
handgun while at home.
"He is allowed to have a concealed handgun wherever anybody is
allowed to have one," Walker said. "That is on property that they
own or property that they control."
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At work, Perry is protected by an armed security detail.
Perry has been photographed firing weapons and posted a video called
"What to do on a Day Off" that shows him shooting weapons at an
Austin gun range. He has told reporters he owns several guns,
including family heirlooms and historic handguns.
Under federal law, he is prohibited from buying guns and ammunition
while under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a
term exceeding one year.
"What he has he can use, but he can no longer purchase new stuff
because of this felony charge," said Josh Felker, who runs Lone Star
Handgun, a shooting range near San Antonio.
Perry has waived his right to appear at an arraignment scheduled in
Austin on Friday, where his lawyers said they may seek to have the
charges dismissed.
Under state law, Perry can keep his handguns, including the Ruger
.380 he said he used to kill the coyote.
(Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Dan Grebler)
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