What Are the Permits and Licenses Required for Gun Possession in Texas?

Texas is seen as a unique state for gun control laws, simply because it is viewed as having more lenient regulations on gun possession. This is no excuse for not knowing the laws as a Texas native who owns a gun; all state citizens should be aware of the necessary permits and licenses that are needed or not needed in order to legally carry a firearm.

What Permits and Licenses Do I Need to Own a Gun?

There are four general aspects of gun control that every state needs to follow in order to ensure that people are legally carrying their firearms in a safe manner. These aspects are: permit to purchase, registration of firearms, licensing of owners, and permit to carry. For the state of Texas, you do not need a permit to purchase, a firearms registration or a gun owning license for rifles, shotguns, or handguns. However, Texas gun owners do need a permit to carry handguns, but not rifles and shotguns. If a Texas police officer finds that you are carrying a handgun knowingly and/or recklessly, you could be immediately arrested and subject to heavy fines and jail time. It is also illegal to possess, manufacture, transport, repair or sell a machine gun, explosive firearm, shore-barreled weapon or silencer in Texas, under the National Firearms Act.

If you have been charged with carrying a handgun or using a deadly weapon in association with another crime, you will need to hire a skilled criminal defense lawyer to represent you in criminal court. Contact the Goolsby Law Firm today for a free initial discussion of your case.

Mike Goolsby

A veteran in both civil court cases and criminal defense, Mike Goolsby is a respected lawyer with more than 16 years of experience practicing law. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of North Texas in 1990, followed by his J.D. from the prestigious Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1994. After earning his law degree, Mr. Goolsby worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. As a trial lawyer, he was able to gain exceptional access to the criminal court system in this major metropolitan area, giving him immeasurable, distinct experience that helped him build a solid foundation for his own private legal practice. Mr. Goolsby went on to practice civil law for Maverick Acceptance Group, a venture capital company. Here, he gained invaluable knowledge of the civil side of the law, adding to his already diverse portfolio of legal expertise. In 1999, he opened the doors of The Goolsby Law Firm and has been successfully serving the residents of North Texas ever since. As an attorney, Mr. Goolsby combines his experience in both the civil and criminal fields to offer unmatched legal representation to his clients. With a long list of satisfied clients, Mr. Goolsby continues to build his practice through fair and aggressive legal defense.