Gun Owners of America Priority Legislation: HB 170 “Kyle’s Bill” – 89th Texas Legislative Session

Gun Owners of America (GOA) is actively supporting Texas House Bill 170, filed by Rep. Ryan Guillen, and Senate Bill 1730 filed by Sen. Bob Hall, which seek to protect law-abiding Texans from civil liability when they lawfully use or threaten to use force or deadly force in self-defense. This legislation ensures that individuals who justifiably defend themselves, their families, or their property are not subjected to financially crippling lawsuits by aggressors or their families.

The Kyle Carruth Case & the Need for HB 170

This bill is named “Kyle’s Bill” in recognition of Lubbock self-defender Kyle Carruth, who was forced to take defensive action in 2021. Despite a grand jury ruling his use of force justified, he still faced a costly and burdensome civil lawsuit from the family of the aggressor. This case highlights the urgent need for legal protections for those who lawfully act in self-defense.

Under current Texas law, even if a person is cleared of criminal charges, they can still be sued in civil court, creating a dangerous precedent that discourages lawful self-defense. HB 170 closes this loophole by granting civil immunity to individuals who are found to have acted lawfully under Texas self-defense laws.

Public Testimony – Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Kyle Carruth will testify on behalf of GOA before the Texas House Committee in Austin on Wednesday, March 19th at the Texas Capitol.

Public testimony may be limited to three (3) minutes per witness. This hearing is a critical opportunity to push for strong self-defense protections in Texas.

Call to Action

GOA urges all gun rights supporters to contact their Texas State Representatives and Senators and demand they SUPPORT HB 170 and SB 1730. Texans should not have to endure civil lawsuits for exercising their natural right to self-defense.

Help us ensure HB 170 becomes law!