If you have an LTC can you carry in neighboring states? Under Texas law, gun owners who want to open carry are required to obtain an LTC (License to Carry) which is issued to qualified applicants who are at least 21 years old or 18 for active-duty military. Because the law no longer requires your firearms to be concealed, Texas changed the licensing name from CHL (Concealed Handgun License) to LTC (License to Carry) in January of 2016. Obtaining a LTC requires a four to six-hour training course, as well as passing both a written exam and a shooting proficiency demonstration.
Although you can open carry while in Texas with an LTC, gun owners who travel may have open questions around LTC reciprocity. If you are traveling, which states recognize your License to Carry? According to Ft. Bend County attorney Shawn McDonald, a majority of states recognize Texas’ License to Carry, but you’ll need to do your research beforehand to check. The Texas Department of Public Safety is a reputable source to obtain a map of LTC reciprocity states. Most states do recognize Texans with an LTC, like its contiguous states and those along the Texas to Florida coastline.
It’s important to be aware of the existing state and federal restrictions on licenses to carry, such as federal buildings or sporting events. There are also stipulations against open carry in schools, hospitals, airports, and more. Do note this: Firearms must be carried in accordance with the laws of the state you are visiting. Be sure to check the laws of the other state before traveling there with your firearms.
Video Transcript:
Interviewer: “So if you have an LTC in Texas, can you carry your firearm in neighboring states or in other states?”
Shawn McDonald: “Yes, there is… the majority of states allow you and recognize your License to Carry in Texas. There’s some that don’t. Frankly, you just Google it. You know, Google ‘reciprocity Texas LTC’ and I think Texas Law Shield gives you a map. It is… they are green or red. Like you can go to these green states, you can’t go to the red states.”
Interviewer: “Gotcha.”
Shawn McDonald: “So majority of states. Especially all the contiguous states around us and all the way down the coast of Florida.”
Interviewer: “All the way to Florida.”
Shawn McDonald: “Yeah, so you can carry there.”
Disclaimer
*This blog post, “If you have an LTC can you carry in neighboring states?”, is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.