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The concealed handgun law sets out the eligibility criteria that must be met. Your application packet will list them in detail.

For example, you must be qualified to purchase a handgun under the state and federal laws.

A number of factors may make you ineligible to obtain a license, such as: felony convictions and most misdemeanor convictions that are less than five years old, (including charges that resulted in probation or deferred adjudication), pending criminal charges, chemical or alcohol dependency, certain psychiatric diagnoses, protective or restraining orders, or defaults on taxes, governmental fees, student loans or child support. See Texas Gov’t. Code § 411.172.

After receiving completed application packets, DPS will conduct background checks of juvenile records for the previous 10 years, and of all adult records.

Yes. You must take a 4 to 6 hour class taught by a DPS certified instructor. The notification of completion form (CHL 100) you receive from the instructor must be sent to DPS with your other supporting documents.

Handguns and other weapons cannot be carried at schools or on school buses, at polling places, in courts and court offices, at racetracks, at secured airport areas or within 1,000 feet of the premises of an execution on the day of execution.

The law also specifically prohibits handguns from businesses where alcohol is sold if more than half of their revenue is from the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption, and from locations where high school, college or professional sporting events are taking place.

You may not carry handguns in hospitals or nursing homes, amusement parks, places of worship or at government meetings if signs are posted prohibiting them.

Businesses also may post signs prohibiting handguns on their premises based on criminal trespass laws. See Texas Penal Code 46.035. (Judges, prosecuting attorneys, peace officers and parole officers should consult Texas Penal Code 46.15 regarding exemptions from the “no-carry” rules of the Penal Code.)

You must contact the DPS Concealed Handgun Section to receive a change of address form, or you may send a letter including your full name, CHL number, old address and new address (or status) and a cashier’s check or money order for $25.

You may call 1-800-224-5744, write Texas Dept. of Public Safety Concealed Handgun Licensing Bureau, P.O. Box 4087, Austin, Texas, 78773 or online at:
http://www.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/txdps/chl/common/jsp/selectTask.jsp

No. Let’s take DWI as an example. DWI (first offense) is a Class B misdemeanor, and a person is not eligible for a license for five years after a conviction for a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or for the offense of disorderly conduct.

A “conviction” includes cases that were dismissed after you completed probation or deferred adjudication. If you have been convicted of two or more alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offenses within the last 10 years, you may not be eligible.

Yes. The handgun licensing law states that deferred adjudication will be treated as a conviction, except for orders of deferred adjudication over 10 years old for certain felony offenses not involving violence against a person. See Texas Gov’t. Code.

Yes. If you have a payment plan with a government agency for back taxes or child support and the agency sends DPS a clearance letter, you may apply. Include a copy of the agreement and letter with your application materials.

Unless you have been legally adjudicated as a mental defective, eligibility for a handgun license depends on your current diagnosis. Past psychiatric treatment will not necessarily make you ineligible.

When you submit your application you may wish to include a letter or statement from your treating physician regarding the current status of your condition.

Yes. Failure to disclose all of your arrests and convictions is an independent ground for the denial of your application.

Yes. In order to be eligible for a Texas License to Carry a Handgun, you must be fully eligible under both Texas and federal law to purchase a handgun (except for military applicants who are at least 18 years of age but under the age of 21).

No. Dismissals are not grounds for denial, as long as you were not placed on probation or deferred adjudication prior to the dismissal.

A list of certified handgun instructors can be found on the DPS website at www.txdps.state.tx.us You can also obtain the information by calling (512) 424-7293, (512) 424-7294 or 1-800-224-5744.

No. DPS only provides training for instructors.

DPS certifies and can review their records and monitor their classes to make sure they are following the required curriculum.

Not necessarily. You may legally demonstrate handgun proficiency with a borrowed or rented handgun.

Retired law enforcement officers are exempt from taking the handgun proficiency course. However, they must demonstrate weapons proficiency annually through a law enforcement agency. Active, commissioned peace officers also are exempt from taking the proficiency course.

Judges and district and county prosecutors are not required to take the proficiency course, provided they submit a sworn statement from a TCLEOSE-certified handgun instructor certifying that they have demonstrated handgun proficiency to the instructor within the previous twelve months.

Yes, but you may not carry before you receive the license.

No. You must have a currently valid license in your possession to carry a handgun legally.

“Concealed” means that the weapon cannot be visible, and that its presence cannot be discernible through ordinary observation.

“Carrying” while drinking is not prohibited, but it is a criminal offense to carry while intoxicated.

Yes. If a peace officer reasonably believes a safety risk exists, the officer may disarm you.

Yes. Private property owners may give notice excluding license holders from carrying handguns. If you carry a handgun on posted property, you can be charged with criminal trespass by a license holder.

A license holder is not prohibited from having a handgun in his or her vehicle in a school parking lot. (School employees should know and comply with their employer’s policy on this point.) However, it is a criminal offense for any person who is on school property to exhibit, use, or threaten to exhibit or use a firearm. See Texas Education Code 37.125(a).

Yes. The statute refers to carrying a gun “on or about” your person. Texas courts generally have considered this to include any gun within your reach, including one stored in your glove compartment or even in a passenger’s purse, if you can reach it without materially changing your position.

Effective September 1, 2007, a person who can legally possess a firearm may possess or carry a handgun in a motor vehicle (including a recreational vehicle with living quarters) that is owned by or under the lawful control of the person. However, the firearm must be concealed, the person may not be engaged in criminal activity, and may not be a member of a “criminal street gang.” The person may also carry the handgun to and from his vehicle without a license. See Texas Penal Code 46.02 (a). However, DPS recommends that you seek the advice of an attorney with any questions regarding the unlicensed carrying of weapons.

Under the concealed handgun law, you are only required to have your license with you whenever you are carrying your handgun. However, many license holders choose to carry their license with them at all times.

You may carry any type of legal handgun.

The law does not specify or limit the number of guns you may carry.

You may not apply until the reason of your revocation has not existed for two years. In other words, the revocation of a license brings with it at least two extra years on ineligibility.

Example 1: Your license is revoked on 08/15/2007 because you were subject to a protective order. The protective order expired on 10/15/2007. You may apply on 10/15/2009 if you meet all eligibility requirements.

Example 2: Your license is revoked on 08/15/2007 because you were convicted of a Class B misdemeanor on 04/01/2007. You may apply on 04/01/2014 if you meet all eligibility requirements. The misdemeanor conviction itself makes you ineligible until 04/01/2012 (five years after date of conviction); the two extra years of ineligibility that result from the license’s revocation make you ineligible until 04/01/2014.

Information about persons who are licensed to carry a handgun is confidential and may not be disclosed to an individual. However, upon proper request by a criminal justice agency, DPS must disclose to the agency whether or not a named individual is licensed to carry a handgun. Disclosable information includes the license holder’s name, date of birth, gender, and zip code. DPS must notify the license holder about the request and provide him/her the name of the agency making the request.

The department will make every effort to issue your license within 60 days or inform you that you did not meet the eligibility criteria. Once your application is complete, processing may take up to 180 days if your background check reveals potentially disqualifying events or information.

It depends. A resident alien who has been admitted to the U.S. under an immigrant visa category will generally be eligible for a handgun license. However, under federal law, an alien who has been admitted to the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa usually is not qualified to purchase a handgun and thus is not eligible for a license. If you legally reside in Texas and were not admitted to the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa, you may be eligible.

An initial LTC expires on the license holder’s first birthday following the four-year anniversary of the issuance of the license. In other words, an initial license is valid for four (4) years, and in many cases, for some additional months. All renewed licenses are valid for five (5) years.

No, while campus carry is legal as of August 1, 2016, it must remain concealed and you must have a handgun license. To get a license you must be at least 21 years of age.

Yes, as of January 1, 2016, you can carry any handgun openly or concealed as long as you are licensed by Texas or a state with reciprocity. By law, the handgun must be carried in a “shoulder or belt holster.” Long guns do not require a license.

No, you must have a Texas License to Carry a Handgun (LTC) or a handgun license recognized by the State of Texas.

Yes. There are no residency restrictions to legal open carry as long as you possess a handgun license that is recognized in Texas.

Yes. The law makes no distinction between a loaded and an unloaded firearm. Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.

No. Your concealed handgun license will “qualify” you to openly carry a handgun. Current CHL holders will be grandfathered in as handgun license holders. Upon your next renewal, the title of your license will change to License to Carry Handgun and a new card will be mailed to you.

No, Ellington Arms has been teaching the new curriculum since August 2015. No additional training required for current CHL holders. We do recommend attending our License to Carry a Handgun Class (LTC) or Legislative Update Class for an update or refresher.

No. While we recommend a retention holster to better ensure that your firearm remains secure while carried openly, there is no requirement to have any specific holster.

Yes, provided you have not received effective notice. A 30.07 sign will ban open carry, while the 30.06 sign will still apply to concealed carry. A business wanting to completely ban firearms is required to post both. However, if the owner requests removal of the firearm or asks you to leave the property, please respect his or her wishes. Failure to do so will result in the charge of Criminal Trespass and unlawful carry.

Yes, if any official or law enforcement officer asks you for identification and you are carrying a handgun, you must show your license or ID and your handgun license.

Yes. You will need a license to carry a handgun and the handgun will need to be carried in a belt or shoulder holster. If you do NOT have a license, you WILL need to keep your handgun concealed.