<P> Gun laws in Texas regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the U.S. state of Texas . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Subject / Law </Th> <Th> Long guns </Th> <Th> Handguns </Th> <Th> Relevant Statutes </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> State permit required to purchase? </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Firearm registration? </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Owner license required? </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Assault weapon law? </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Magazine capacity restriction? </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Carry license required? </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> GC Ch . 411.172 </Td> <Td> Licensed carry of a handgun requires a "shall - issue" license, and is subject to specific laws governing trespass while armed . People who are barred from licensing include those under age 21, felons, fugitives, people who are "chemically dependent" or "incapable of exercising sound judgment", and those in arrears for taxes or child support . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Open carry? </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> PC 46.02 </Td> <Td> Long gun and black powder weapon (including handgun) open carry is not forbidden by law, unless in a manner "calculated to cause alarm ." Effective January 1, 2016, individuals with a handgun carry license are permitted to carry openly, per House Bill 910 of the 2015 legislative session . Non-residents from states whose permits are recognized by Texas are also allowed to open carry under the new law . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Concealed carry on college campus? </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> May carry in parking lots, parking garages, outdoor walkways on campus . <P> Public four - year universities (as of August 1, 2016) and public two - year colleges (as of August 1, 2017) must allow concealed carry in campus buildings as well . Universities will be allowed to designate certain sensitive areas as "gun free zones"; these will be subject to legislative analysis . </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> State preemption of local restrictions? </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> LGC § 229.001 . </Td> <Td> State law prohibits municipal governments from regulating the ownership, transfer, storage, or licensing of firearms, ammunition, or accessories . Local ordinances can regulate the discharge of firearms (such as for noise, nuisance or public safety), but not in contradiction of state law concerning justified use of a firearm . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> NFA weapons restricted? </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> PC 46.01, PC 46.05 </Td> <Td> Texas Penal Code Section 46.05 requires that "explosive weapons", "machine guns", "short - barrel firearms", and "firearm silencers", as defined in Section 46.01, be "registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or classified as a curio or relic by the United States Department of Justice". Prior to May 22nd 2015, Section 46.05 called "registration pursuant to the National Firearms Act" a "defense to prosecution". </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Peaceable journey laws? </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> PC 46.02, PC 46.15 </Td> <Td> A person may carry a loaded handgun without a permit while in or heading directly to a motor vehicle or watercraft they own or control . The statute does not specifically state the handgun must be concealed while heading to the vehicle or watercraft, and 46.02, which requires concealment of a handgun while in a motor vehicle or watercraft, is not applicable to a person while the person is traveling, pursuant to said activities . 46.15 (b) (2). </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Castle doctrine / stand your ground law? </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> PC 9.32 </Td> <Td> A person is presumed justified in using deadly force to protect themselves against an unlawful, forceful intrusion into their dwelling, or to prevent an unlawful, forceful attempt to remove a lawful occupant from the dwelling, or to prevent certain serious felonies such as burglary or arson . There is no duty to retreat from any place where the shooter has a legal right to be . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Background checks required for private sales? </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Subject / Law </Th> <Th> Long guns </Th> <Th> Handguns </Th> <Th> Relevant Statutes </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr>

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