Legal Protection and Reciprocity Explained
If you are considering carrying a firearm for personal protection, it is essential to understand the gun laws in Texas. A License to Carry (LTC) gives you the right to carry a handgun in public in a manner that is consistent with the law. The license can provide a measure of comfort as well – it’s a certification that you have passed a criminal background check, and you have demonstrated an ability to handle a firearm.
If you are carrying a gun and use it to defend yourself, the Texas LTC helps you prove that you have followed Texas law, receiving the proper training in the use of a handgun. If you have an LTC and carry your handgun to another state (like I do when we visit relatives), you want to ensure that the state where you travel recognizes a Texas LTC through a reciprocal license agreement.
Understanding the Texas LTC
A Texas License to Carry (LTC) permit, as the name suggests, is a permit that allows a person to legally carry a handgun in public — either openly or in a concealed manner. The intent of the LTC is simple: to responsibly let law-abiding Americans exercise their Second Amendment rights, and by doing so, elevate the country’s aggregate public safety record. As such, the emphasis here isn’t so much the license as an adherence to the law, but the importance of fostering a culture of responsible gun ownership.
Before an applicant is granted the LTC permit, they must fill out an application, pass a background check, and obviously, complete a training course. It is difficult to measure or even describe the importance of gun safety and training — not to mention learning the gun handling skills that are taught or learning about the legal aspects of when a weapon can be carried. The bottom line is, when citizens learn how to responsibly handle a firearm and safely shoot, your/our communities will undeniably be far better off.
LTC Reciprocity: What You Need to Know
LTC reciprocity is where other states recognize your Texas License to Carry (LTC) so that you may legally carry in those states as well. This is important for travelers who want to keep their guns on them for self-defense. It may also dictate vacation plans for gun owners as they have to decide whether or not they are comfortable going to a place where they cannot take their gun.
Many states recognize Texas LTC:
Arkansas, Louisiana, Utah and many more!
You can travel to these states with your guns, but you must follow the laws of the state you’re in. For instance, states have different off-limits areas, and some states have peculiar specifications that you can or can’t do with your concealed carry. Be sure to educate yourself on the laws of your destination state.
