Texas Concealed Carry Laws
Texas concealed carry laws are complex and we are not just limited to concealed carry anymore. Where you can carry a handgun and the rules and restrictions that apply are different depending on what part of Texas law you are carrying under.
License To Carry Names
People call the license to carry different things in different states. Some of the common names are below.
- LTC (license to carry)
- CHL (concealed handgun license)
- CCW (concealed carry weapons)
- CHP (concealed handgun permit)
- CWL (concealed weapons license)
- CWP (concealed weapons permit)
If you are carrying with a Texas License to carry you will have more freedom and protections than those carrying without a license, there is an entire set of restrictions and penalties in the Texas penal code that apply to those carrying without a license.
Open and Concealed Carry
The state of Texas allows both open and concealed carry. Most people still refer to everything as “concealed carry” but open carry is also legal. You won’t see many people open carrying a handgun but you can.
Texas Constitutional Carry
Texas passed a law called “permitless carry”, people refer to it as “constitutional carry” although it is not true constitutional carry because of all the restrictions added to it that do not apply to those carrying with a license. Normally when states pass “constitutional carry” you get the same right as those that carry with a license but not in Texas, they created additional penalties for those carrying without a license.
Texas License To Carry
The Texas license to carry allows you to carry in the more places without all the restrictions that apply to “permitless carry”. Texas continues to ease restrictions and get rid of penalties for those who carry with a Texas LTC. Those carrying with a Texas LTC also have criminal trespass protection and prohibited places protections. Anyone wanting to carry is always better off with a license to carry.
Firearms in Vehicles
In Texas it is legal to have a loaded handgun or rifle in your vehicle with or without a license. Texas law requires the handgun to be in a holster so you can’t just have a handgun laying on your front seat unless it is in a case OR in a holster.
This only applies in Texas. If you are traveling outside of Texas and you don’t have a license to carry you need to unload all firearms and store them in separate place from the ammunition.