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Texas permitless carry, also referred to as constitutional carry, has passed in Texas. Watch the video and continue below to learn why people are still choosing to obtain a Texas License to Carry.
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Texas License to Carry |
Texas Permitless Carry |
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| Concealed Carry a Handgun in Public* | ||
| Open Carry a Handgun in Public* | ||
| Must Meet Eligibility Requirements | ||
| No license or testing required | ||
| Carry in 37 Other Sates | ||
| Bypass Background Checks when Purchasing Firearms | ||
| Carry in Federal Gun Free School Zones | ||
| Carry in Hospitals, Nursing Facilities, or Amusement Parks* | ||
| Carry in Public Place With Any Type of “No Firearm” Sign Posted | ||
| Legal Protections When Carrying at Certain Prohibited Locations | ||
| Carry inside College Campus Buildings and at College Sporting Events* | ||
| Airport Protections | ||
| Room of an Open Meeting of a Governmental Entity |
Texas HB 1927, which is the permitless carry bill for Texas, has passed the Texas House, the Texas Senate and has been signed by Governor Abbott. Going into effect on September 1st, 2021, Texas will become the 21st state to pass some form of constitutional carry in the United States. Referred to by many in Texas as permitless carry, Texas will not a be a true constitutional carry state. This is because Texas will have restrictive eligibility requirements as well as further restrictions on methods of carry, where you can carry as well as additional rules which do not apply to Texas LTC holders.
This is still a big win for gun rights in Texas. But even though a license will no longer be required to simply carry a handgun, there are many benefits and legal protections an LTC provides. The Texas License to Carry will not go away after permitless carry goes into affect and will be more important that ever before to have. Continue reading below to see why the license to carry is still recommended.
Our Texas permitless carry class will provide the information that is absolutely required to know before carrying a gun. It is your responsibility to know Texas law and stay up to date on new regulations and guidelines set by the state. Proper training and safety is crucial to effectively and proficiently carrying your firearm.
Benefits of a Texas LTC
The Texas License to Carry is recognized by 37 states in the United States. If traveling to one of those 37 states, you can carry your handgun.
For a complete list of states that recognize the LTC, please take a look HERE.
Under permitless carry, you can only carry in states that have also passed permitless carry.
With a License to Carry, background checks are waived when purchasing guns. Having to go through a background check can cause delays and extra unnecessary time at the gun store. With an LTC, the gun buying process and experience is much smoother and easier.
Under a License to Carry, there are fewer prohibited locations for carrying a gun. This includes being able to potentially carry in hospitals, college sporting events, amusement parks and more.
With the new permitless carry law (HB 1927), any sign that indicates guns are not allowed, such as the popular picture of a pistol with the red line through it, becomes a legal sign. With an LTC, you can still carry a handgun at locations with these signs posted. With permitless carry, carrying past ANY no gun sign becomes a crime.
With an LTC, you must be given the opportunity to leave private property that has no guns signs posted on private property. If carrying without an LTC, you can be fined/cited/arrested for simply being on the private property that has the no guns signs posted.
There are also additional protections at some prohibited locations, such as bars or other places that serve alcohol. Without property signage posted there are protections in place for LTC holders, but none under permitless carry.
Texas allows for concealed carry in college campus buildings and places on campus where college sporting events are taking place with an LTC.
With federal gun free school zone laws, no firearms can be brought into a school zone at all. There is one exception to this, if you have an LTC. As an LTC holder, you can have your handgun on you while on the school campus. This means when going to pickup your child at school, you do not have to leave your firearm at home.
Without the LTC, no firearm can be brought within 1000 feet of a school.
With a physical LTC card in hand, you can immediately show that you are legally in possession of your firearm to law enforcement if stopped.
Under permitless carry, you would need to prove to law enforcement that you legally possess the gun. Having an LTC makes for a much quicker and smoother interaction with police.
It is your responsibility to know the Texas laws and regulations having to do with carrying a gun in Texas. This includes where you can and cannot carry (prohibited locations), no gun signs, self defense laws and much more. The Texas LTC class goes in depth into the gun laws of Texas.
Whether you decide to get an LTC or not, the information gained from the LTC class is critical for everyone to have.
It is a defense to prosecution that upon possessing a handgun at the screening checkpoint for the secured area with a valid LTC, immediately exits the secure area when notified to do so.
Permitless/Constitutional Carry Explained
Permitless carry, often also called constitutional carry, refers to the ability to carry a handgun without a license or permit. HB 1927 is the bill in Texas that has been signed by Gov. Abbott. It will go into effect on September 1st of 2021.
Yes and no. They are two different terms that both refer to the same concept of carrying a gun without a license.
However, constitutional carry refers to the general idea that every person that is no prohibited by law from legally owning a handgun should be free to carry it openly or concealed in public without a license or permit. Unfortunately, this is not the case for Texas, which is why many will refer to Texas as a permitless carry state. Texas has placed eligibility requirements, carry method requires, location restrictions and other rules that must be followed.
Contrary to what many believe, the License to Carry does not go away with the new laws going into effect. In fact, the license to carry is being given additional legal protections and advantages for those that obtain one.
The primary advantages include:
- Ability to carry in 37 other states that recognize the LTC.
- No background checks when purchasing firearms.
- Protections when carrying past no gun signs.
- Ability to carry in more locations.
- Carry on college campuses
- Carry in School Zones
- Law Enforcement Interactions
Yes, you absolutely should. Not only does the LTC class cover Texas gun law that everyone should know, it also gives you multiple legal protections and advantages. Obtaining a license to carry is not difficult and should be completed by everyone in order to benefit from what it provides.
It is fairly easy to determine eligibility for permitless carry. If you meet the below criteria, then you should be able to carry a handgun once the new law passes and goes into effect.
- 21 years of age or older
- Ability to legally possess and purchase handguns under state and federal law
- Must not have a misdemeanor conviction from one of the following four offenses:
- Terroristic Threat
- Deadly Conduct
- Assault with Bodily Injury
- Disorderly Conduct with a Firearm
Texas HB 1927, the new permitless carry law, will go into effect on September 1st, 2021. Please do not attempt to carry a handgun in public without an LTC before then.
Even though Texas permitless carry does not require a license to open or conceal a handgun in public, it is still every persons responsibility to know the law. Ignorance of the law is not a defense for breaking the law.
It is very easy to go from legally carrying your handgun to committing a felony if you do not know Texas laws specific to carrying a gun. Taking a permitless carry class is inexpensive and gives the you knowledge to be confident as your practice your 2nd amendment right to protect yourself.
Disclaimer: none of the advice or content on this page, or through OnlineTexasLTC.com, should be taken as legal advice. Please consult an attorney for legal questions.
