Texas Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

Yes. As of Sept. 1, 2021, permitless open carry is legal for anyone at least 21 years old who may lawfully possess a handgun, provided the handgun is carried in a holster.

According to Texas Penal Code § 46.02(a-5), it is illegal to carry a handgun and intentionally display it in plain view of another person in a public place, unless the handgun is partially or wholly visible (openly carried) but is carried in a holster.

[Texas Penal Code § 46.035 be sure to choose 9/1/2021]

The minimum age to carry is 18 years old. On Jan. 10, 2023, the Office of General Counsel sent a memo to DPS offices directing them to no longer longer enforce the state law that bars adults under 21 from carrying handguns in public.

Yes. Stun guns and Tasers are legal to purchase and possess without a license.

No. Texas has no limit for handgun magazine capacity.

Yes. As of Sept. 1, 2021, permitless concealed and open carry is legal for anyone at least 21 years old who is not prohibited from lawfully possessing a handgun under federal law or Texas state law. The following individuals are prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm under Texas state law:

• Any individual convicted of a felony cannot possess a firearm:
  • For at least 5 years after release from confinement, supervision or parole (whichever date is later); or
  • After the period described above at any location other than the premises at which the person lives.
• Any individual convicted of Class A misdemeanor assault [under Texas Penal Code § 22.01] involving a member of the person's family or household cannot possess a firearm:
  • For at least 5 years after release from confinement or community supervision (whichever date is later).
• A person, other than a peace officer, who is subject to a protective order cannot possess a firearm after receiving notice of the order until expiration of the order [Texas Penal Code § 46.04].

• For at least 5 years after release from confinement, supervision or parole (whichever date is later); or
• After the period described above at any location other than the premises at which the person lives.

• For at least 5 years after release from confinement or community supervision (whichever date is later).

Provided a person has not been convicted of any of the following offenses within the preceding 5-year period:

• Assault [Texas Penal Code § 22.01(a)(1)];
• Deadly conduct [Texas Penal Code § 22.05];
• Terroristic threat  [Texas Penal Code § 22.07];
• Discharging a firearm in a public place [Texas Penal Code § 42.01(a)(7)]; or
• Displaying a firearm in a public place [Texas Penal Code § 42.01(a)(8)].

A public or private employer may not prohibit an employee who holds a valid concealed carry license from transporting or storing a firearm or ammunition the employee is authorized by law to possess in a locked, privately owned motor vehicle in a parking area the employer provides for employees except in locations prohibited by state or federal law. This includes school districts or open-enrollment charter schools per Texas Education Code ​​​§ 37.0815 and institutions of higher education per Gov. Code § 411.2032 provided that the firearm or ammunition is not in plain view. There are exceptions including oil and gas refineries.

[Tex. Labor code § 52.061]

Yes, without a license for anyone at least 21 years old who may lawfully possess a handgun.

Carry is prohibited in businesses that sell alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption whose alcohol sales constitute more than 50% of gross receipts that display a red sign with, "51%" in large red letters superimposed over a warning that says possession of a concealed weapon on the premises is a felony. As of Sept. 1, 2021, only permit holders have a legal defense if effective notice is not given by the business.

You can concealed carry in the restaurant area of an eatery that serves alcohol (those that make less than 51% of their profits from alcohol) without a license. 

[Texas Penal Code § 46.03(p)]

Yes. Texas does show if the registered driver of the car has a license to carry (LTC). So when pulled over, the license plate trace shows that data. If the DL is run independently of a license plate it will also show that you have a LTC.

No. Texas does not have a red flag law.

Yes. The process is the same as for residents.

Yes, the state has preemption of firearms laws in Texas, except local municipalities may:

• Regulate the discharge of firearms within their limits, other than at a sport shooting range;
• Regulate the carrying of a firearm or air gun by a person other than a person licensed to carry a concealed handgun under Texas law at:
  • A public park;
  • A public meeting of a municipality, county, or other governmental body;
  • A political rally, parade or official political meeting; and
  • A non-firearms-related school, college, or professional athletic event.

In addition, in any county building that houses a justice court, county court, county court at law, or district court, or in any office used by these courts, any person who possesses a firearm without the court’s written authorization, or without complying with any written regulation of the court, is subject to criminal liability.

Based on an Attorney General opinion, counties may prohibit concealed handgun license holders from carrying concealed handguns in county parks and rapid transit authorities may prohibit concealed handgun licensees from carrying handguns while on public transportation.

[Tex. Local Gov't Code § 229.001(b)(6)][Tex. Local Gov’t Code § 291.010(c)]

As of Sept. 1, 2021, carry is prohibited If you are intoxicated anywhere other than:

• On your own property or property under your control or on private property with the consent of the owner; or
• Inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle or watercraft:
  • That is owned by you or under your control; or

• That is owned by you or under your control; or

With the consent of the owner or operator of the vehicle or watercraft. [Texas Penal Code § 46.02(a-6)]

"Intoxicated" is defined as:

• Not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug, a dangerous drug, a combination of two or more of those substances, or any other substance into the body; or
• Having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.

[Texas Penal Code § 49.01(2)]

As a responsibly armed American, regardless of the laws in your state, it is unwise to carry while under the influence of any substance that could impair your judgment, slow your reaction times or impact your decision-making abilities. Any decision you make while carrying a firearm could have life-altering consequences.

No. Texas has no mandatory waiting period for handgun purchases.

You must be at least 18 years old to possess or transport a handgun in Texas.

[Tex. Pen. Code § 46.06]

No. Permits are not required when buying a handgun in Texas. A Texas LTC qualifies as an alternative to background check requirements for up to 5 years from the date of issuance. Therefore, an LTC expedites a firearms purchase by allowing a licensee to not have to submit to and wait on the results of a background check.

Yes.

Moving to Texas and interested in applying for a resident license? How soon can you apply?Texas issues resident and non-resident licenses, so you can apply for your license at any time. In order to apply for a resident license, you need to be a legal resident of Texas for six months or have relocated with the intent to establish residency in the state.

Moving from Texas and have a Texas resident license? Does that license transfer to your new state? Is there a grace period during which your Texas license remains valid?If a person with a Texas license to carry establishes residency in another state, the license is valid until it expires provided he or she submits the above referenced name/address change form.

An applicant must:

• Be a legal resident of Texas for 6 months or have relocated with the intent to establish residency in the state;
• A federal judge ruled that 18 to 20 year olds must be allowed to carry a handgun outside the home in Texas. He allowed this to be done by letting them get a Texas license to carry and Texas DPS will now issue a Texas LTC to anyone that is at least 18 years old, or 18 and either:
  •  A member or veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard or discharged under honorable conditions; or
  • As of September 1, 2021, be protected under certain court orders related to family violence;
• Meet training requirements;
• Have not been convicted of a felony;
• Have not been charged with the commission of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense, or of an offense under Section 42.01, Penal Code, or equivalent offense, or of a felony under an information or indictment;
• Not be a fugitive from justice for a felony or a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense;
• Not be chemically dependent;
• Be capable of exercising sound judgment with respect to the proper use and storage of a handgun;
• Not, in the 5 years preceding the date of application, have been convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense or of an offense under Section 42.01, Penal Code, or equivalent offense;
• Be fully qualified under applicable federal and state law to purchase a handgun;
• Not have been finally determined to be delinquent in making a child support payment administered or collected by the attorney general;
• Not have been finally determined to be delinquent in the payment of a tax or other money collected by the comptroller, the tax collector of a political subdivision of the state or any agency or subdivision of the state;
• Not be currently restricted under a court protective order or subject to a restraining order affecting the spousal relationship, other than a restraining order solely affecting property interests;
• Not, in the 10 years preceding the date of application, have been adjudicated as having engaged in delinquent conduct violating a penal law of the grade of felony; 
• Not have made any material misrepresentation, or failed to disclose any material fact, in an application submitted pursuant to Section 411.174; and
• Meet federal law requirements.

*Consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your eligibility. If you don’t have an attorney, you can find one by contacting the State Bar of Texas.

5 years

Out-of-state residents must supply a color copy, front and back, of a state driver’s license or ID card and a proficiency certificate not greater than 2 years old from a course approved by the Texas Dept. of Public Safety. Applications may be submitted online or via mail. 

You can submit a request for a new license online. You will be issued a new license number for security reasons.

• Carry in bars/restaurants that serve alcohol? Firearms are prohibited in a business that derives 51% or more of its income from the sale or service of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption (posted with a red sign with “51%” in large red letters superimposed over a warning that says possession of a concealed weapon on the premises). You can concealed carry in the restaurant area of an eatery that serves alcohol (those that make less than 51% of their profits from alcohol), unless posted. However, concealed carry is not allowed in bars or the bar areas of restaurants.
• Carry in my vehicle without a permit/license? Yes. 
• Carry in roadside rest areas? Yes.
• Carry in state/national parks, state/national forests, and WMAs? Yes.
• Carry in places of worship? Yes, unless they have posted signs prohibiting firearms.

Anyone under the age of 18 can open or concealed carry a knife with a blade that is less than 5.5 inches in length nearly anywhere. An adult can open or concealed carry any knife with a blade longer than 5.5 inches in length anywhere other than the same locations that are off-limits to firearms, which includes schools. 

[Tex. Pen. Code §§ 46.01, 46.02, 46.03]

Yes, with a Texas LTC or a concealed carry license/permit from a state that Texas honors.

Yes. No person may intentionally interfere with another person lawfully engaged in the process of hunting or catching wildlife.

[Tex. Parks & Wildlife Code § 62.0125]