Texas allows concealed carry without a permit under House Bill 1927 (effective September 1, 2021), known as "constitutional carry" (Tex. Penal Code § 46.02). Anyone 21 or older who can legally possess a firearm may carry a concealed handgun in most public places. A License to Carry (LTC) is optional under Tex. Gov’t Code § 411.172, offering benefits like reciprocity and bypassing some federal background checks. LTC applicants must be 21 (or 18 if military), complete a 4-6 hour training course (covering laws, safety, and proficiency), pass a background check, and submit fingerprints. Concealed carry is prohibited in places like schools, polling places, courthouses, and bars (Tex. Penal Code § 46.03). Private property owners can ban firearms with signage (Tex. Penal Code § 30.06). Violations can lead to a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail) or felony charges (up to 10 years) for restricted areas.
Costs: An LTC costs $40 for residents ($140 for non-residents), plus $25-$40 for fingerprints and $50-$100 for training. Total cost is typically $115-$180.
Processing Time: LTC applications are processed within 60 days, or 180 days if additional review is needed.
Renewal: An LTC lasts 5 years. Renewal costs $40 with no retraining required.
Reciprocity: Texas honors permits from 46 states, including Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma. A Texas LTC is recognized by 37 states, like Alabama and North Carolina. Permitless carry applies only within Texas for eligible individuals.
Texas permits open carry of handguns without a permit under House Bill 1927 (Tex. Penal Code § 46.02), effective September 1, 2021. Anyone 21 or older who can legally possess a firearm may openly carry a handgun in a holster. Long guns (rifles and shotguns) can also be openly carried without a permit in most public places (Tex. Penal Code § 46.02). An LTC is optional but allows carry in more locations. Open carry is banned in the same restricted areas as concealed carry (Tex. Penal Code § 46.03), and private businesses can prohibit it with signage (Tex. Penal Code § 30.06). Violations can result in a misdemeanor (up to 1 year) or felony (up to 10 years) in restricted zones.
Texas has minimal state-level restrictions on firearm types. Assault weapons and large-capacity magazines are legal with no capacity limits (Tex. Penal Code § 46.01). Silencers, short-barreled rifles/shotguns, and machine guns are allowed if registered with the ATF under federal law (26 U.S.C. § 5861). Ghost guns are legal and do not require serialization (Tex. Penal Code § 46.01). Felons and certain others cannot possess firearms (Tex. Penal Code § 46.04). Violations of federal restrictions can lead to felony charges (up to 10 years in prison).
Costs: Federal tax stamps for NFA items (e.g., silencers) cost $200 each. Serialization is not required.
Texas follows the federal Firearms Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA) (18 U.S.C. § 926A) for interstate travel. Firearms must be unloaded and in a locked container (not the glove box) if passing through restrictive states. Texas law allows permitless carry in vehicles for those 21 or older (Tex. Penal Code § 46.02), and an LTC extends this to more locations. Firearms are banned in federal facilities and restricted areas (Tex. Penal Code § 46.03). Violations can lead to misdemeanor (up to 1 year) or felony charges (up to 10 years).
Texas has permissive purchasing laws. No state permit or waiting period is required to buy firearms (Tex. Penal Code § 46.06). You must be 21 for handguns or 18 for long guns, and pass a federal background check via the NICS for dealer sales (18 U.S.C. § 922). Private sales require no background check unless the buyer is a prohibited person (e.g., felons) (Tex. Penal Code § 46.06). Violations can lead to felony charges (up to 10 years).
Costs: Background checks are free at point of sale; dealers may charge a $10-$20 fee.
Texas does not require firearm registration (Tex. Penal Code § 46.01). There’s no mandate to report lost or stolen firearms, and ghost guns need no serialization. Federal registration applies to NFA items (e.g., machine guns) (26 U.S.C. § 5861). Non-compliance with federal law can result in felony charges (up to 10 years).
Costs: None for state registration; federal NFA tax stamps are $200.
Texas has no state-mandated storage laws for firearms. There’s no child access prevention law, but reckless endangerment applies if a child accesses a firearm and causes harm (Tex. Penal Code § 22.05). No reporting is required for lost or stolen firearms. Penalties for endangerment can be a misdemeanor (up to 1 year) or felony (up to 10 years) if injury occurs.
Texas has a strong Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground law (Tex. Penal Code § 9.31, § 9.32). You can use deadly force in your home, vehicle, or workplace if someone unlawfully enters and you reasonably believe it’s necessary to prevent harm. There’s no duty to retreat in any location where you have a legal right to be. Excessive force can lead to manslaughter charges (up to 20 years).