Texas-Book-Gun Law Armed And Educated - Flipbook - Page 245
It was not necessary for people who held a Texas CHL to apply for
a new license, undergo any additional training, or otherwise alter
or supplement their valid CHL. Once a CHL holder renewed their
license, they would receive a Texas LTC.
In Texas, qualified individuals may still obtain an LTC, which
allows the carrying of a concealed or visibly carried holstered
handgun on or about their person for any lawful purpose. To obtain
an LTC, a person must meet certain requirements and submit an
application to the Texas Department of Public Safety (“DPS”). An
LTC only allows for the lawful carry of handguns; the license does
not cover long guns or any other type of weapon.
The latest major change occurred on June 16, 2021, with the
signing of House Bill 1927 (The Firearm Carry Act of 2021), which
allowed for “Texas Constitutional Carry.” Although people can still
acquire, renew, and retain an LTC, HB 1927 primarily allowed an
additional subset of qualifying individuals to carry a firearm in
non-prohibited places without first obtaining a recognized license
or permit to carry a handgun.
I. THE EVOLUTION OF THE TEXAS HANDGUN CARRY LAW
Despite its reputation as being a “gun-friendly state,” various
concealed carry laws were proposed but ultimately defeated in
every Texas legislative session from 1983 to 1991. In 1993, the
legislature passed a law calling for a statewide referendum on CHLs,
but Governor Ann Richards vetoed the bill. It wasn’t until 1995 that
the legislature finally passed “shall-issue” concealed carry, which
then Governor George W. Bush signed into law. The law went into
effect on January 1, 1996, and the Texas Department of Public
Safety was able to train 2,000 instructors in time to meet the more
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