FAQ
It is unlawful for a License To Carry license holder to carry a handgun on the premises of:
- A government court.
- A business that derives 51 percent or more of its income from the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption.
- A school or educational institution, high school, collegiate, or professional sporting event or interscholastic event that is taking place.
- A hospital or nursing home.
- An amusement park.
- A place of religious worship.
- A polling place on the day of an election.
- A meeting of a governing body.
- A race track.
- A secured area of an airport.
- A correctional facility.
- A correctional facility or within 1000 feet of such, on the day of an execution.
- The property of another after receiving notice that concealed handguns are forbidden on that property.
- It is unlawful to possess a firearm in a penal institution.
- It is unlawful for a handgun license holder to carry a handgun while intoxicated.
- It is unlawful for a handgun license holder to carry a handgun and intentionally fail to conceal the handgun.
Handguns
- Permit to purchase handgun? No.
- Registration of handguns? No.
- Licensing of owners of handguns? No.
- Permit to carry handguns? Yes.
Caution: This summary is meant for general purposes only. Firearm laws frequently change. You can see the current TEXAS LICENSE TO CARRY A HANDGUN LAWS AND SELECTED STATUTES by clicking here.
Purchase
A Texas resident, if not otherwise precluded by law, may purchase rifles and shotguns, ammunition, reloading components, or firearms accessories in contiguous states.
It is unlawful to sell, rent, loan or give a handgun to any person if it is known that the person intends to use it unlawfully.
It is unlawful to knowingly sell, rent, give or offer to sell, rent or give any firearm to a person under 18 years of age, without the written consent of his parent or guardian.
It is unlawful to knowingly or recklessly sell any firearm or ammunition to any person who is intoxicated.
Possession
No state license is required to possess a rifle, shotgun or handgun.
There are restrictions on possession by a person:
- Convicted of a felony or a Class A misdemeanor involving the person’s family or household.
- Or subject to certain orders issued under the Family Code or Code of Criminal Procedure.
Carry
A person commits an offense of unlawfully carrying a weapon if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun on or about his or her person unless the person is on one’s own premise or premises under the person’s control or inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle that is owned by the person or under the person’s control.
It is unlawful to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly carry on or about one’s person a handgun in a motor vehicle if the handgun is in plain view or the person is engaged in criminal activity (other than a misdemeanor traffic violation), prohibited by law from possessing a firearm or is a member of a street gang.
A person applying for a License To Carry a handgun must apply by obtaining a request for application materials from a handgun dealer, the Department of Public Safety, or any other person approved by the department.
The Department of Public Safety shall review all applications materials and make a preliminary determination as to whether or not the individual is qualified to receive a handgun license.
The Department will forward application materials to qualified applicants, or send written notification with the reasons that that the preliminary review indicates the individual is not qualified to receive a license.
On receipt of the application materials a criminal history record check is conducted by the Department of Public Safety. The Department must issue or deny the license within 60 days of receipt of the completed application.
The Department must be notified within 30 days of a name or address change.
A new license expires on the first birthday of the license holder occurring after the fourth anniversary of the date of issuance.
A renewed license expires on the license holder’s birthday, five years after the date of expiration of the previous license.