<P> Texas has no laws regarding possession of "long - barreled firearms" or "long guns" (shotguns, rifles and similar) by persons 18 years or older with valid identification, or handguns by persons 21 years or older, without felony convictions; all existing restrictions in State law mirror Federal law . NFA weapons are also only subject to Federal restrictions; no State regulations exist . Municipal and county ordinances on possession and carry are generally overridden (preempted) due to the wording of the Texas Constitution, which gives the Texas Legislature (and it alone) the power to "regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime". Penal Code Section 1.08 also prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting or enforcing any law that conflicts with State statute . Local ordinances restricting discharge of a firearm are generally allowed as State law has little or no specification thereof, but such restrictions do not preempt State law concerning justification of use of force and deadly force . </P> <P> In Texas a convicted felon may possess a firearm in the residence in which he lives once five years have elapsed from his release from prison or parole, whichever is later . Under Texas Penal Code § § 12.33, 46.04, the unlawful possession of a firearm is a third degree felony with a punishment range of two to ten years for a defendant with one prior felony conviction and fine up to $10,001 . </P> <P> There is no legal statute specifically prohibiting the carry of a firearm other than a handgun (pre-1899 black powder weapons, and replicas of such, are not legally firearms in Texas). However, if the firearm is displayed in a manner "calculated to cause alarm," then it is "disorderly conduct". Open carry of a handgun in public had long been illegal in Texas, except when the carrier was on property he / she owned or had lawful control over, was legally hunting, or was participating in some gun - related public event such as a gun show . However, the 2015 Texas Legislature passed a bill to allow concealed handgun permit holders to begin carrying handguns openly . The bill was signed into law on June 13, 2015, and took effect on January 1, 2016 . A License to Carry (LTC) is still required to carry a handgun openly or concealed in public . </P> <P> The Texas handgun carry permit was previously called a "Concealed Handgun License" or CHL . This has changed on Jan 1 . 2016 to LTC "License To Carry" and at the same time the laws changed to include "Open Carry". Permits are issued on a non-discretionary ("shall - issue") basis to all eligible, qualified applicants . Texas has full reciprocity agreements with 30 states, not including Vermont (which is an "unrestricted" state and neither issues nor requires permits), most of these having some residency restrictions (the holder must either be a resident of Texas or a non-resident of the reciprocal state for the Texas license to be valid in that state). Texas recognizes an additional 11 states' concealed - carry permits unilaterally; those states do not recognize Texas' own permit as valid within their jurisdiction, usually due to some lesser requirement of the Texas permit compared to their own . </P>

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