AUSTIN, Texas (AP)--A Republican lawmaker has filed a bill that would allow Texans to openly carry handguns in public places.

Texarkana Rep. George Lavender introduced the bill Thursday, the same day that Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein of California filed a bill to ban the sale of assault weapons nationally.

Lavender's bill would allow people who hold concealed handgun licenses to also carry their weapons openly in public. Otherwise the license holder must follow the same rules they have to follow with concealed handguns.

Lavender tried to pass a similar bill in 2011, but in never came up for a final vote in the Texas House.

Texas Republicans have introduced a number of measures to expand gun rights as Democrats at the national level have authored legislation to increase restrictions on gun ownership.

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