The Fight is On in Texas to Protect Those Who Defend Themselves With Guns From Financial Ruin in Civil Courts

Gun owners across Texas may soon have expanded civil liability protections as House Bill 170, also known as Kyle’s Law, was heard in the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee. The bill, authored by Representative Ryan Guillen, seeks to protect law-abiding Texans from being financially destroyed by frivolous and politically motivated civil lawsuits after they lawfully use a firearm in self-defense.

A similar bill, Senate Bill 1730 by Senator Bob Hall, has been filed in the Texas Senate.

Leading the Charge for Kyle’s Law

During Wednesday’s hearing, Texas Gun Rights President Chris McNutt testified in support of HB 170, making it clear that self-defense isn’t just a right—it must be a protected right that can’t be stripped away by predatory lawsuits.

What happened to @ThisIsKyleR after his self defense case should never happen to a law abiding Texan.

Texans cleared of criminal charges after practicing their God-given right to self defense should never be subjected to frivolous lawsuits and hefty civil penalties.@McNutt2A pic.twitter.com/o6q1RhpxGX

— Texas Gun Rights (@TXGunRights) March 19, 2025

“You do not have a Second Amendment if you’re not able to use it without having the threat of bankruptcy and financial devastation,” McNutt said.

For Texas Gun Rights, this bill is personal. Its national affiliate, National Association for Gun Rights, was the only organization that stood by Rittenhouse during his legal fight, offering support when virtually every other group remained silent. Since his acquittal, Rittenhouse has formed a close relationship with TXGR’s president, Chris McNutt, who has taken him under his wing in recent years.

But the term “Kyle’s Law” wasn’t actually named after Kyle Rittenhouse — the namesake belongs to the Texas Legislative Director for Gun Owner of America, Kyle Carruth. Both TXGR & GOA are making it clear: HB 170 and SB 1730 must pass to protect gun owners from unjust lawsuits in the future.

Kyle Rittenhouse’s Legal Battle

Few cases highlight the need for HB 170 more than Kyle Rittenhouse’s ongoing legal battle.

In August 2020, Rittenhouse was attacked during the Kenosha riots, where he was hit in the head with a skateboard, chased by a mob, shot at, and had a gun pointed at his head — prompting him to use his firearm in self-defense.

Despite overwhelming video evidence proving he acted lawfully, he was charged with murder in a prosecution many saw as politically motivated. After an intense and highly publicized trial, a jury fully acquitted Rittenhouse of all charges in November 2021.

But while he won in criminal court, the war was far from over.

Rittenhouse is still facing $20 million in civil lawsuits, with anti-gun activists using the courts to financially ruin him for defending his own life. Without HB 170, this same legal nightmare could happen to any gun owner in Texas.

Kyle Carruth’s Fight for Survival

While Rittenhouse’s case was far more polarizing — and received a nationally televised trial — it is the nightmare Kyle Carruth lived through that led to the filing of “Kyle’s Law” in the Texas Legislature.

In November 2021, Chad Read was fatally shot during a child custody dispute at the residence of Carruth. Read’s ex-wife, Christina — who was employed by Carruth at the time —  was at the residence with Carruth and other employees.

A confrontation ensued, after Carruth repeatedly asked Read to leave the premises. But, following a struggle, Carruth shot Read after he tried ripping the firearm from Carruth’s hands — presumably to use it against him.

Subsequently, Read’s widow, Jennifer Read, and his mother, Jinx Read, filed wrongful death lawsuits against Carruth, seeking substantial damages. Thanks to overwhelming video evidence, a special grand jury declined to indict Carruth on criminal charges in April of 2022 — yet the civil lawsuits continued.

Notably, a report by former Lubbock police chief Greg Stevens, was filed in September 2024 and indicated that Chad Read was trespassing during the incident and had been advised multiple times to leave the property. By November 2024, the civil lawsuits were settled, with Carruth’s insurer agreeing to pay $20,000, divided equally among Read’s four children.

Additionally, Jennifer Read and Carruth agreed to a private settlement — a settlement that should have never had to happen. But Carruth felt a settlement was the only way to end his legal nightmare: legal fees had already cost him his life savings to the tune of $500,000, leaving him in financial ruin and forcing him to lose his businesses.

What Kyle’s Law Would Do

Sadly, neither HB 170 nor SB 1730 would do anything to help Rittenhouse nor Carruth, as Rittenhouse’s situation happened in Wisconsin, and Carruth’s legal battle is already over. However, these bills would ensure that no other Texan is ever forced to endure the same financial devastation simply for defending their life.

These bills would:

• Grant civil immunity to Texans who use force in self-defense if a grand jury declines to indict, if charges are dismissed, or a trial results in acquittal.
• Allow self-defense defendants to recover legal expenses, including attorney’s fees, court costs, and lost income, if they are wrongfully sued.
• Prevent anti-gun activists and politically motivated attorneys from using the courts to bankrupt gun owners who lawfully defend themselves.

The Path Forward

Now that HB 170 has been heard, it must be voted out of the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee and sent to the House Calendars Committee in order to be scheduled for a vote by the full body of the Texas House of Representatives.

Gun rights advocates across Texas are urging lawmakers to take swift action before more gun owners suffer the same fate as Kyle Rittenhouse or Kyle Carruth. With the stakes higher than ever, all eyes are now on the Texas legislature to see if it will stand for self-defense rights or allow gun owners to be punished in court for staying alive.

 

Chris McNutt is president of Texas Gun Rights.