SAN ANTONIO – Record-breaking gun sales during the pandemic combined with multiple Texas law changes regarding firearms have led to some confusion about what’s legal and what isn’t in terms of firearms.
According to FBI statistics, there have been more firearm background checks in 2020 and 2021 than any other year in history. So far this year, there have been nearly 1.8 million background checks initiated for firearm sales in Texas. Only Illinois and Kentucky have more.
During this surge in gun sales, Gov. Greg Abbott also signed seven pieces of legislation related to firearms that went into effect on Sept. 1.
Ad
The most sweeping piece of new legislation, referred to as constitutional carry or permitless carry, removed the requirement for a license in order to carry a handgun in Texas.
Removing the requirement of a state-issued license also removed the required training that was part of the process to get a license.
“Texas will always be the leader in defending the Second Amendment, which is why we built a barrier around gun rights this session,” Abbott said in June.
KSAT spoke with the owners of Top Shot Concealed Handgun Training and got feedback on the new laws, including some clarification about what is and isn’t legal in terms of firearm use in Texas.
“We are strong supporters of the Second Amendment but feel permit less carry needs to be revisited. With no training mandated, a person can carry a handgun without knowledge of the legal aspects involved and no training in the handgun they will be carrying,” said Top Shot lead instructor Kevin Saxon. “This can be dangerous to those carrying and those around them.”
Ad
Saxon is a retired Texas master peace officer with 38 years of experience in teaching handgun use and instruction and he co-owns the business with his wife Michelle Saxon. Both are members of the National Rifle Association and LTC holders.
“You can open carry and conceal carry with both the LTC and permitless carry,” said Saxon.
While constitutional carry allows Texans to carry a handgun without a state-issued license, there are still places only a person with a license to carry (LTC) is allowed to possess a firearm.
An LTC holder cannot carry a weapon into an establishment with a 30.06 sign, which prohibits concealed carry per the Texas Penal Code. However, an LTC holder can conceal carry in an establishment with a 30.07 sign, which only prohibits open carry.
A permitless carry person cannot carry in an establishment that displays the above-mentioned 30.06, 30.07, or a 30.05, which prohibits unlicensed persons to carry a firearm, according to Saxon.
Ad
KSAT published an article in June that includes a list of public places firearms are not allowed, even under constitutional carry, unless you are a licensed peace officer.
“Handgun owners need to know where and when they can carry and when they are legally authorized to use deadly force,” Saxon said. “Deadly force is only justified in an occupied habitation, an occupied motor vehicle, your place of business or employment, to protect yourself (self-defense), to defend a third person, or to protect your property under specific circumstances.”
He specifically mentioned that the use of deadly force is not allowed when someone has broken into an unoccupied vehicle.
“The laws are complex and specific as to where you can carry and what authority you have to defend yourself and others as well as your property. Circumventing these laws can lead to your arrest and prosecution,” Saxon said. “People also need to know how to conduct themselves while being stopped by the police. Guns must be concealed or in a belt or shoulder holster while in your vehicle. It cannot be in plain sight.”
Ad
LTC holders take a 4-6 hour course that covers state gun laws and includes light firearm training in order to obtain their license. They are also allowed to carry a handgun in 37 other states under the reciprocity agreement.
“For those choosing the permitless carry route, we strongly recommend that people attend two classes, one to understand the laws governing weapons, and the other to learn how to properly operate the handgun you will be carrying,” said Michelle Saxon.
LTC applications range in price from free to $40, depending on eligibility.
There are also laws in Texas that cover firearm storage. For example, if anyone under age 17 lives in your home, your weapon must be secured by a lock that prevents that child from gaining access to the firearm.
“Knowledge and training is paramount to protect yourself and loved ones within the guidelines of the law. If you do not wish to get your LTC, then educating yourself is paramount,” said Michelle.
Ad
Related:
Copyright 2021 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
563174 940926Hoping to go into business venture world-wide-web Indicates revealing your products or services furthermore companies not only to ladies locally, but nevertheless , to a lot of prospective clients in which are online in most cases. e-wallet 307524
148416 966249But wanna admit that this is very helpful , Thanks for taking your time to write this. 874213
434683 416187I like the way you conduct your posts. Hmm 924885
767589 368739So funcy to see the article within this weblog. Thank you for posting it 942530
288254 260816Hi there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any solutions to protect against hackers? 663416
651684 276939I recognize there is certainly a fantastic deal of spam on this blog. Do you want assist cleansing them up? I could help in between classes! 178901
761803 434827Dead written topic matter, Truly enjoyed reading by means of . 785824
304322 837053hello!,I actually like your writing quite a lot! percentage we maintain up a correspondence extra about your post on AOL? I want an expert on this area to unravel my issue. May be that is you! Taking a look forward to peer you. 163761
105337 312404Its excellent as your other articles : D, regards for posting . 544283
332738 136546Good read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing some research on that. And he truly bought me lunch as I identified it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! 558965
830533 597490Aw, this became an extremely good post. In notion I would like to set up writing like that in addition – taking time and actual effort to generate a great article but what / points I say I procrastinate alot by means of no indicates appear to get something completed. 335945
410099 691120I believe other internet site proprietors ought to take this internet web site as an example , very clean and amazing user genial style . 801514
112753 788601Some truly good stuff on this internet site, I love it. 773324
498974 801328I havent checked in here for some time as I thought it was finding boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess Ill add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 665429
298548 122022Fantastic post man, maintain the good work, just shared this with my friendz 540931
13318 688256Hey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a marvellous job! 497327
333878 493507Exceptional read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a bit research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I discovered it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! 122932
88367 899406Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything in this way before. So nice to uncover somebody with some original tips on this subject. realy appreciate starting this up. this excellent site is something that is needed over the internet, a person if we do originality. valuable function for bringing something new towards the web! 480784
943525 645334Particular paid google internet pages offer complete databases relating whilst personal essentials of persons while range beginning telephone number, civil drive public records, as properly as criminal arrest back-ground documents. 560871
318521 172298I genuinely enjoy reading on this website, it holds fantastic articles . 423034
280912 393643An intriguing discussion is worth comment. Im sure that you basically write regarding this subject, could possibly not be considered a taboo subject but typically persons are too small to communicate on such topics. To yet another. Cheers 533655
815533 241164Admiring the time and energy you put into your weblog and in depth info you offer. It is very good to come across a weblog every once in a even though that isnt the same old rehashed material. Wonderful read! Ive bookmarked your site and Im adding your RSS feeds to my Google account. 444753
62975 979412I respect your piece of work, appreciate it for all the fascinating content . 188447
260454 175342I was wondering if you ever considered changing the page layout of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space it out better? 517982
459566 274026Wow, incredible weblog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging appear effortless. The overall look of your website is great, as nicely as the content! 793750
145535 636710Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot attempt you put to create this kind of fantastic informative web site. 469800
816516 790308Would really like to always get updated wonderful internet site ! . 839709
219812 757279Wow, great weblog layout! How lengthy have you ever been running a weblog for? you make running a weblog glance easy. The total look of your web web site is magnificent, well the content material material! 736109
665504 377074I agree with you. I wish I had your blogging style. 69083