Why Have a LTC
Why Have A License-To-Carry?
A LTC Says A Lot About You
- You do not have a criminal record
- You pay your child support
- You pay your taxes
- LTC individuals rarely are convicted of crimes
- No committed mental health issues
A License-To-Carry provides additional protections that an individual would not have under certain dangerous circumstances. For example:
- Firearms Confiscation During Natural Disasters. Became a big issue during the Hurricane Katrina Disaster. Texas, Louisiana, and many other states have statutes that allow local jurisdictions to confiscate firearms during a natural disaster. That has changed in both Federal and Texas State law and is no longer the case.
- Firearms Confiscation During Law Enforcement Encounters. Local jurisdictions can confiscate firearms from an UNLICENSED individual even if the individual is not arrested if the officers feel for the safety of others or themselves.
However, the law states that as long as an individual has a LTC, not under arrest, and/or the gun is used in an investigation, the firearm and ammunition will be returned to the individual once they are released.
Sec. 46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS
(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun, illegal knife, or club if the person is not:
(1) on the person’s own premises or premises under the person’s control; or
(2) inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person’s control.
(a-1) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun in a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person’s control at any time in which:
(1) the handgun is in plain view, unless the person is licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and the handgun is carried in a shoulder or belt holster; or
(2) the person is:
(A) engaged in criminal activity, other than a Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance regulating traffic or boating;
(B) prohibited by law from possessing a firearm; or
(C) a member of a criminal street gang, as defined by Section 71.01.
(a-2) For purposes of this section, “premises” includes real property and a recreational vehicle that is being used as living quarters, regardless of whether that use is temporary or permanent. In this subsection, “recreational vehicle” means a motor vehicle primarily designed as temporary living quarters or a vehicle that contains temporary living quarters and is designed to be towed by a motor vehicle. The term includes a travel trailer, camping trailer, truck camper, motor home, and horse trailer with living quarters.
(a-3) For purposes of this section, “watercraft” means any boat, motorboat, vessel, or personal watercraft, other than a seaplane on water, used or capable of being used for transportation on water.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(c) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree if the offense is committed on any premises licensed or issued a permit by this state for the sale of alcoholic beverages.