Texas Concealed Carry CCW Laws and Information


Texas Concealed Carry CCW Laws

Right-To-Carry Law Type: Shall Issue. The Gun Laws in Texas are reasonable and they have the strictest laws regarding crimes committed using a firearm – you go to jail. Other states should follow Texas with sending criminals to jail while allowing the private honest tax-paying citizen to protect what the constitution allows. I liked the last FAQ pulled from the Texas Government site.

 HB 1815 was actually passed to clarify some issues left dangling by a similarly-enacted law in 2005, according to Wendy Hopper, Texas Senator Craig Estes’ executive assistant. Now, it simply isn’t an offense to carry a gun in a vehicle, but with these three critical qualifiers: (1) the gun must be concealed; (2) the carrier cannot be involved in criminal activities; (3) the carrier cannot be a member of a criminal gang. The fourth rule isn’t mentioned in the bill, but stands from laws on the books for a long time, and that is that no felon can carry or even be around a gun.

The HB1815

Current Link for Texas Department of Safety

 

 

 

 

 

Proud Sponsors of the Texas Legal Page.

Texas Concealed Handgun Training!
One Day One Stop Shop
Includes; Fingerprinting, Photos, Range Qualification, Notary, &State Packet.
30 State License, Rental Handguns Available, Army Special Operations & Swat Instructors
Basic & Advanced Classess Available


State Legal Statute Source:

State Department Locations:

Texas Department of Public Safety
Concealed Handgun Licensing Section
P O Box 4143
Austin, Texas 78791-4143
Phone: (512) 424-7293 or (800) 224-5744
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us

Attorney General
P. O. Box 12548
Austin, Texas 78711-2548
Phone: (512) 463-2100
Fax: (512) 463-2063

http://www.oag.state.tx.us

State/Federal Park Locations:

STATE PARKS IN TEXAS
Abilene State Park
Acton State Park
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
Angelina National Forest
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Airport
Atlanta State Park
Avalon State Park
Balmorhea State Park
Bastrop State Park
Baylor University State Park
Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park
Big Spring State Park
Birch Creek State Park
Blanco State Park
Bonham State Park
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
Buescher State Park
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Caddo Lake State Park
Cleburne State Park
Copano Bay Causeway State Park
Daingerfield State Park
Davis Mountain State Park
Davy Crockett National Forest
Dinosaur Valley State Park
E O Siecke State Forest
Eisenhower State Park
Fairchild State Park
Falcon State Park
Falcon State Park Airport
Fannin State Park
Fort Belknap State Park
Fort Griffin State Park
Fort Parker State Park
Galveston Island State Park
Garner State Park
Goliad State Park
Goose Island State Park
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
Huntsville State Park
Inks Lake State Park
Jasper State Fish Hatchery
Jim Hogg State Park
John H Kirby State Forest
Kerrville State Park
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
Lake Brownwood State Park
Lake Corpus Christi State Park
Lake Whitney State Park
Lake Whitney State Park Airport
Lockhart State Park
Longhorn Cavern State Park
Mac Kenzie State Park
Martinez State Park
Medina Lake State Fish Hatchery
Meridian State Park
Mission Tejas State Park
Monahans Sand Hills State Park
Monument Hill State Park
Mother Neff State Park
Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge
Nails Creek State Park
Palmetto State Park
Palo Duro State Park
Possum Kingdom State Park
Sabine National Forest
Sam Houston National Forest
San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
San Jacinto State Park
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
Seminole Canyon State Park
State Fish Hatchery #1
State Fish Hatchery #2
Stephen F Austin State Park
Texas Point National wildlife Refuge
Texas State Park
Tyler State Park
W G Jones State Forest
Washington State Park
Wood State Fish Hatchery


FEDERAL PARKS IN TEXAS

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
Amistad National Recreation Area
Big Bend National Park
Big Thicket National Preserve
Chamizal National Memorial
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park
Padre Island National Seashore
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site
Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River
San Antonio Missions National Historic Park

Permit Costs & Info:

$140, $70 renewals 4 years.

Issuing Authority: Department of Public Safety

Click Here for CCW Permit Form
Send your comments and suggestions to CarryConcealed.net Carry Concealed CCW Laws Carry Concealed CCW Reciprocity Map for all U.S. States Pack-N-Go CCW Trip Planner
 

Texas CCW Reciprocity Map




States that Honor Texas's CCW Permit:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado*, Delaware, Florida*, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas*, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan*, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah*, Vermont*, Virginia, Wyoming

* Honors RESIDENTIAL Texas permits only.

State CCW Permits that Texas Honors:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming,

Frequently Asked CCW Questions:


Once I submit my application, when should I expect to receive my license?
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.

If I am a legal resident alien, can I get a license?
Under federal law, aliens who have been admitted to the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa usually are not qualified to purchase a handgun and therefore do not qualify for a license. If you were not admitted under a non-immigrant visa, you may qualify.

Can others find out if I am license to carry a concealed handgun?
No. Information on individuals who are licensed to carry a concealed handgun is confidential and not subject to requests under the Public Information Act. However, the Department may release information about a concealed handgun licensee to criminal justice agencies.

Can I carry a gun in the National Parks in Texas?
The laws for concealed carry in National Parks were amended on February 27, 2010. Pursuant to local and state law, you can now legally carry a firearm into a National Park if you have a concealed carry permit. Care must be taken though, when entering any building. All buildings (visitor center, admin buildings, maintenance buildings, etc.) are considered federal facilities and will be posted as "NO WEAPONS ALLOWED". Breaking that law is a Federal offense.

: If I move or change my name, how do I change the address or name on my license?
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 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.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/chlsindex.htm.

What are the requirements for obtaining a license?
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 some misdemeanor, including charges that resulted in probation or deferred adjudication, pending criminal charges, chemical or alcohol dependency, certain types of psychological diagnoses, protective or restraining orders, or defaults on taxes, governmental fees, student loans or child support. See GC § 411.172. The application packet also will include information about materials you need to return with your application packet. These include two recent color passport photos, two sets of fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency employee or a private entity designated by a law enforcement agency as an entity qualified to take fingerprints of an applicant for a license, a copy of your Texas driver license or identification card, and a notification of completion form (TR 100) from a DPSauthorized training course. After receiving completed application packets, DPS will conduct background checks of juvenile records for the previous 10 years and of all adult records.

: If I was convicted of DWI two years ago, can I still get a concealed handgun license?
No. DWI is at least a Class B misdemeanor, and you are ineligible for a license for five years after a conviction for a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or for disorderly conduct. This 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 offenses within the last 10 years, you may not be eligible

: I received deferred adjudication following my arrest. Is this considered a conviction even though the charges eventually were dismissed?
Yes. The concealed gun law states that deferred adjudication will be treated as a conviction, except for orders of deferred adjudication over 10 years old for certain felony offense not involving violence against a person. See GC § 411.171

If a judge ruled that I was delinquent on my child support in 1992, but I have since worked out an arrangement with the Attorney General’s office to pay off the debt, can I get a license?
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. The concealed handgun law was designed to encourage those who made no effort whatsoever to pay what they owe.

If I have spent time in a psychiatric care facility, will I be eligible for a license?
Eligibility for a concealed handgun license depends on your current diagnosis. Past psychiatric treatment will not necessarily make you ineligible. You should attach a letter from a licensed psychiatrist stating that your “condition is in remission and is not reasonably likely to develop at a future time,” as the concealed handgun law states.

If I was arrested for an offense but the charges were dismissed, will my application be rejected?
No. Dismissals will not be grounds for denial, as long as you were not placed on probation or deferred adjudication prior to the dismissal. Q: Do I have to meet all of the federal Brady Law requirements to get a license in Texas?

Yes. In order to be eligible for a Texas concealed handgun license, 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).
Should I list all arrests on my application even if the cases were dismissed or I was found not guilty?

Do I have to take a special class to get a license?
Yes. You must take a 10- to 15-hour class taught by a DPS-certified instructor. The notification of completion form (TR 100) you receive from the instructor must be sent to DPS with your other application materials.

How can I find out if someone is a certified handgun instructor?
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 or 424-7294 or 1(800) 224-5744.

Can I get a copy of the instructor certification test?
No.

What is HB 1815
This measure will clarify, once and for all, that it is legal to transport a handgun in your motor vehicle for personal protection without a Concealed Handgun License (CHL), provided you are eligible to possess the firearm under state and federal law, you are not a member of a criminal street gang, you are not committing any criminal activity at the time (other than a traffic violation,) and as long as the handgun is hidden from plain view. It was signed and is in effect. The link is in the main section.