Licensed carry is a better option than permitless carry
People with a handgun license may be able to take their gun some places where unlicensed people can't. For example, there are different rules for unlicensed carry and licensed carry near schools and at colleges. Also, businesses and other private property owners can usually choose whether to prohibit unlicensed carry, open carry by license holders, concealed carry by license holders, or some combination of those options.
The new permitless carry law makes Texas's License to Carry (LTC) program optional. It allows individuals to carry handguns in public without a license, background check, legal and safety training, or a shooting proficiency test. By making the licensing system voluntary, permitless carry eradicates an important tool to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals, gambling the safety and integrity of Texas communities and the Texas Capitol.
Proponents of permitless carry call the policy, “constitutional carry.” There is nothing constitutional in the policy. Sensible state laws designed to keep guns out of the wrong hands and calling for some minimum level of training are consistent with the “well regulated” environment referred to in the Second Amendment. The courts have upheld a great variety of laws regulating gun ownership to protect public safety.
Licensed carry is an effective way to reduce crime
“The most rigorous and recent studies are showing that states deregulating civilian gun carrying tends to elevate violent crime, particularly with guns,” explains Daniel Webster, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. “The people who get permits or licenses to carry tend to be in a pretty law-abiding group, but what we’re finding is that as gun-carrying gets deregulated and more people are doing it, a lot more guns are being stolen, particularly from motor vehicles.”26
Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police Vice President Patrick Flannelly believes the 2021 permitless carry bill signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) threatens the safety of police and the community. “What we have done now is we’ve taken away the one tool that police officers had out on the street to be able to act quickly and efficiently for not only their personal safety but for the safety of our communities.”51
Right-to-carry laws make it harder for law enforcement to solve violent crimes. According to a 2022 study, right-to-carry laws are associated with a 13 percent decline in the rates that police clear violent crime, “suggesting that RTC laws strike at the very heart of law enforcement’s abilities to address criminal conduct.”44
Licensed carry makes it easier to protect yourself and your family
It is very easy to go from legally carrying your handgun to committing a felony if you do not know Texas laws specific to carrying a gun. Taking a permitless carry class is inexpensive and gives the you knowledge to be confident as your practice your 2nd amendment right to protect yourself.
By making it easy for almost anyone to carry a concealed handgun in public, right-to-carry laws increase violent crime, firearm robberies, gun thefts, workplace homicides, and mass shootings. Right-to-carry laws make it harder for law enforcement to solve violent crimes and are opposed by many law enforcement leaders across the country. Similarly, permitless carry harms public safety by removing essential safety measures designed to ensure that those carrying handguns in public have been properly trained and vetted. Evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the removal of concealed carry permitting systems is associated with higher rates of gun homicide and violent crime.
With a License to Carry, background checks are waived when purchasing guns. Having to go through a background check can cause delays and extra unnecessary time at the gun store. With an LTC, the gun buying process and experience is much smoother and easier.
