Open Carry in Texas
Whether open carry is legal in Texas, any permit or age rules, and where it is banned.
Short answer: Handguns may be carried openly only in a holster: it is an offense to carry a handgun and intentionally display it in plain view of another person in a public place unless it was partially or wholly visible but carried in a holster. Tex. Penal Code §§ 46.02(a), (a-5); 46.03(a-2); 42.01(a)(8)
| Open carry | Handguns may be carried openly only in a holster: it is an offense to carry a handgun and intentionally display it in plain view of another person in a public place unless it was partially or wholly visible but carried in a holster. Open carry of a handgun is available to people 21 or older who are not disqualified, with or without a license. License holders may not openly display a handgun on the premises, driveways, streets, sidewalks or parking areas of colleges and universities. Long guns are not covered by the handgun-carry statute; displaying any firearm in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm is disorderly conduct. Disorderly conduct: https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/pe/htm/pe.42.htm |
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| Guns in your car | Anyone not prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a handgun inside of, or directly en route to, a motor vehicle or watercraft they own or control, even if under 21 and without a license. In the vehicle the handgun may not be in plain view unless the person is 21 or older or holds a license and the handgun is in a holster; it is also an offense while engaged in criminal activity (other than a Class C traffic or boating violation) or while prohibited from possessing a firearm. No locking or unloading requirement appears in the statute. |
| Where guns are banned | Firearms are banned (with listed exceptions) on the premises of schools and school buses and at school-sponsored activities (license holders may carry concealed at colleges, subject to campus rules); polling places on election day and during early voting; courts and court offices; racetracks; secured areas of airports; near an execution site on execution day after notice; bars and other businesses earning 51% or more of income from on-premises alcohol sales; high school, college and professional sporting events; correctional and civil-commitment facilities; licensed hospitals, nursing facilities and mental hospitals (without written authorization); amusement parks; and rooms where a noticed open government meeting is held. License holders may also be barred from private property by a sign under § 30.06 (concealed) or § 30.07 (open carry), or by oral notice. Trespass by license holder: https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/pe/htm/pe.30.htm |
More Texas gun laws
- Concealed Carry in Texas
- Buying a Gun in Texas
- Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in Texas
- All Texas gun laws rules
FAQ
Is open carry legal in Texas?
Handguns may be carried openly only in a holster: it is an offense to carry a handgun and intentionally display it in plain view of another person in a public place unless it was partially or wholly visible but carried in a holster. Open carry of a handgun is available to people 21 or older who are not disqualified, with or without a license. License holders may not openly display a handgun on the premises, driveways, streets, sidewalks or parking areas of colleges and universities. Long guns are not covered by the handgun-carry statute; displaying any firearm in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm is disorderly conduct.
Can you keep a gun in your car in Texas without a permit?
Anyone not prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a handgun inside of, or directly en route to, a motor vehicle or watercraft they own or control, even if under 21 and without a license. In the vehicle the handgun may not be in plain view unless the person is 21 or older or holds a license and the handgun is in a holster; it is also an offense while engaged in criminal activity (other than a Class C traffic or boating violation) or while prohibited from possessing a firearm. No locking or unloading requirement appears in the statute.
Where can't you carry a gun in Texas?
Firearms are banned (with listed exceptions) on the premises of schools and school buses and at school-sponsored activities (license holders may carry concealed at colleges, subject to campus rules); polling places on election day and during early voting; courts and court offices; racetracks; secured areas of airports; near an execution site on execution day after notice; bars and other businesses earning 51% or more of income from on-premises alcohol sales; high school, college and professional sporting events; correctional and civil-commitment facilities; licensed hospitals, nursing facilities and mental hospitals (without written authorization); amusement parks; and rooms where a noticed open government meeting is held. License holders may also be barred from private property by a sign under § 30.06 (concealed) or § 30.07 (open carry), or by oral notice.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.