Texas-Book-Gun Law Armed And Educated - Flipbook - Page 272
carry a handgun and what signs apply to what category of handgun
carrier.
I. HOW TO CARRY A HANDGUN
A. Holster requirement simplified
Both license holders and constitutional carriers can carry openly
or concealed. To conceal carry a firearm, it is critical that no part
of the handgun be visible based on ordinary observation. Easy
ways to conceal carry include keeping the firearm in a pocket, bag,
holster, case, or jacket when no part of the handgun is visible in
plain view. This law is still the same as before the passage of Texas
Constitutional Carry.
However, the 87th Legislature’s passing of HB 1927, SB 550, and
HB 2112 did change the law of open carry in Texas. These bills
struck all “belt or shoulder” references from Texas law, allowing
an individual to carry a partially or wholly visible handgun in a
belt holster, shoulder holster, ankle holster, appendix holster, pilot
holster, chest holster, or backpack holster, to name a few. Whereas
before September 1, 2021, a person would be limited to only
carrying a visible handgun in a belt or shoulder holster, the types
of holster now legal under Texas law are endless. Additionally, this
change in law allows a person to use a mounted vehicle holster
(such as a magnetic dashboard holster) when carrying in his or her
vehicle.
B. Intentional display of a handgun when it is not in a holster
remains a crime
When a handgun is purposely displayed and is not in a holster, it is
the crime of “intentional display of a handgun” in public. Therefore,
our discussion will focus on what is legal under this standard.
See Tex. Penal Code § 46.02.
Law Of Handgun Carry: Part II | 261
