Texas Carry Laws

Duty to Inform - No Requirement to Volunteer

Texas: No duty to volunteer that you are carrying. Must display LTC when asked for ID by peace officer (Gov't Code 411.205)

DUTY TO INFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT
TEXAS REQUIREMENT
Type: NO DUTY TO INFORM
Must display LTC when asked for ID by peace officer (Gov't Code 411.205)
WHAT THIS MEANS
Texas law does not require you to volunteer that you are carrying. Under Government Code 411.205, if a magistrate or peace officer demands that a License to Carry (LTC) holder who is carrying display identification, the LTC holder must display both their driver's license or ID and their handgun license. There is no equivalent requirement for someone carrying without a license under Texas permitless carry.
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE
There is no criminal penalty for not volunteering that you are carrying, and failure to display an LTC is not among the license suspension grounds listed in Government Code 411.187.

No-Carry Signs Have Force of Law

Texas: Posted 'No Firearms' signs have legal force. 30.06 (concealed) and 30.07 (open carry) signs have force of law. Violation is Class C misdemeanor.

"NO FIREARMS" SIGN LAWS
TEXAS LAW
SIGNS HAVE FORCE OF LAW
30.06 (concealed) and 30.07 (open carry) signs have force of law. Violation is Class C misdemeanor.
AR, IL, KS, MO, NC, NM, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
AZ, CO, FL, GA, MI, PA, WI

Prohibited Places - Where You Cannot Carry

Texas: Firearms prohibited even for LTC holders (usually a 3rd-degree felony, Penal Code 46.03) on school/college premises and transport (licensed concealed campus carry excepted at postsecondary schools), polling places, courts and court offices, racetracks, secured airport areas, 51%-alcohol businesses, correctional and civil-commitment facilities, hospitals, nursing and mental facilities, sporting events, amusement parks, and open meetings.

PROHIBITED PLACES - WHERE YOU CANNOT CARRY
Texas

Texas: Firearms prohibited even for LTC holders (usually a 3rd-degree felony, Penal Code 46.03) on school/college premises and transport (licensed concealed campus carry excepted at postsecondary schools), polling places, courts and court offices, racetracks, secured airport areas, 51%-alcohol businesses, correctional and civil-commitment facilities, hospitals, nursing and mental facilities, sporting events, amusement parks, and open meetings.
Authority: Tex. Penal Code 46.03 (places weapons prohibited).

Constitutional Carry State

Texas allows permitless carry for adults 21+. No license required to carry a handgun openly or concealed. LTC still available for reciprocity benefits when traveling.

Texas allows permitless carry for adults 21+. No license required to carry a handgun openly or concealed. LTC still available for reciprocity benefits when traveling.

No Magazine Capacity Limit

Texas has no state-level magazine capacity restrictions. Standard and extended magazines are legal.

MAGAZINE CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS
TEXAS LAW
No state restrictions on magazine capacity.
FEDERAL FACILITIES
Note: Some federal facilities may have their own restrictions regardless of state law.

No Red Flag Law

Texas: No red flag (ERPO) law is in effect as of February 2026.

RED FLAG / EXTREME RISK LAW
Texas

Texas: No red flag (ERPO) law is in effect as of February 2026.

Authority: no extreme-risk (ERPO) statute in the state code as of February 2026; Johns Hopkins National ERPO Resource Center state tracker.

Stand Your Ground - No Duty to Retreat

Texas: Stand Your Ground state. No duty to retreat before using force in self-defense anywhere you have a legal right to be.

SELF-DEFENSE LAWS
TEXAS LAW
Stand Your Ground: YES
Castle Doctrine: YES
Stand Your Ground (Penal Code 9.31). No duty to retreat.

WHAT THIS MEANS
A person who has a right to be present at the location, has not provoked the other person, and is not engaged in criminal activity is not required to retreat before using force or deadly force in self-defence (Tex. Penal Code 9.31(e)-(f), 9.32(c)-(d)).

A failure to retreat may not be considered by a jury in deciding whether the use of force was reasonable, where those conditions are met.

Vehicle Carry - Loaded Firearms Allowed

Texas permitless carry (HB 1927, effective Sept. 1, 2021) lets eligible adults 21+ carry a loaded handgun without a license, including in a vehicle they own or control; in a vehicle a handgun in plain view must be in a holster (and carried by someone 21+ or licensed).

VEHICLE CARRY - LOADED FIREARMS ALLOWED
Texas

Texas permitless carry (HB 1927, effective Sept. 1, 2021) lets eligible adults 21+ carry a loaded handgun without a license, including in a vehicle they own or control; in a vehicle a handgun in plain view must be in a holster (and carried by someone 21+ or licensed).

Authority: Tex. Penal Code § 46.02(a), (a-1), as amended by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 809 (H.B. 1927), effective September 1, 2021 (permitless carry; vehicle carry conditions). Vehicle-carry defense lineage: 2007 Motorist Protection Act (§ 46.02(a-1))..