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Why You Should Get Your Texas LTC

If you can now carry a handgun without a license, should you get your Texas LTC. Yes! Yes! Yes! There are many circumstances where acquiring and renewing your LTC are beneficial and in some situations, necessary.

Texas Law gives LTC holders more rights.

  • Reciprocity: If carrying a handgun for self-defense in the following states you will be required to have an LTC: Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virgina, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

  • Federal Gun-Free School Zones: Federal Law generally prohibits carrying a firearm within 1000 feet of a public, parochial or private elementary, middle or high school. An exception to the law does not criminalize the carrying of a firearm by a person who holds a handgun license from the state where the school is located. This means that a parent who has an accessible handgun in their vehicle while picking up or dropping off their child without a Texas LTC violates federal law, but a Texas LTC holder does not.

  • Firearm Purchases With No Delay and No Additional Background Check: Purchasing a firearm requires the dealer to request a background check through the National Instant Criminal Check System ("NICS") which in many cases is not "Instant" and is subject to delays and erroneous denials due to mistaken identity. However, a NICS check is not required for holders of the Texas LTC. Showing the LTC serves as your background check which ensures you are not going to be delayed or blocked from a firearm purchase.

  • Private Property Owners May Not Allow Constitutional Carry: Property owners who have become comfortable with license holders carrying in their places of business but are uneasy with the thought of unlicensed people entering their places of business with a firearm can post simple No Guns signs. These signs will not apply to license holders who will be governed by 30.06 and 30.07 signs only. Simple "No Gun" signs will prohibit constitutional carry.

  • LTC Holders are Entitled to More Notice at Some Prohibited Locations: Hospitals, nursing facilites and amusement parks are prohibited places for a person carrying under the authority of the Constitutional Carry Act, but for license holders, they are only prohibited if they post 30.06 and 30.07 signs.

  • Governmental Meetings: Carrying in open meetings of governmental meetings is no longer prohibited for license holders but constitutional carry is prohibited in these meetings.

  • School District Employees Are Protected if They Have an LTC: If you are an employee of a school district, Texas law protects your right to keep a firearm and ammuntion concealed in your locked motor vehicle parked in a school parking lot if you have a Texas LTC. The law prevents the school district from imposing any duties, restrictions or reporting requirement on where and how your firearms and ammunition are stored. These protections are not given to employees who do not posess a valid LTC license. So, school employees should get an LTC license for legal protection.

  • Bars: The prohibition against carrying in bars does not apply to an LTC holder unless the bar has posted a 51% sign.

  • Campus Carry at institutes of higher learning: An unlicensed constitutional carrier will be allowed to walk the parking lots, parking garages, streets and sidewalks of college campus as well as grounds where a school activity is NOT taking place. However, that individual will not be allowed to carry into a building or sporting event at that college or university. A person who holds a Texas LTC will be able to conceal his or her handgun and walk into that building or sporting activity as long as there is not a 30.06 sign.

  • Evidence of Training: If you use your gun for self-defense, even if you just show it, you will very likely be caught up in the legal system, possibly both criminal and civil. Being able to show you took advantage of the state license and it's required training can be a valuable tool your attorney can use in your favor.