Everything You Need to Know about Texas’ Open Carry Law

Everything You Need to Know about Texas’ Open Carry Law

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Jan 04, 2016

Open carry has always been a touchy subject in Texas, but starting January of 2016, citizens will be able to openly carry firearms legally in the state of Texas.

The new law, commonly referred to as 30.07 for its section in the Texas Penal Code, went into effect January 1. It lets licensed holders carry their handguns in plain view, as long as the gun is in a shoulder or belt holster.

Licensed holders will still be prohibited from carrying openly in many places, including bars, schools, or private businesses that chose to prohibit open carry, like grocery giants H-E-B and Whole Foods.

Most police officers believe they are ready for the new law after weeks of training for the new change.  Law enforcement believes they will see a few more calls about “suspicious activity” concerning people openly carrying their guns, it is a pretty interesting scenario that someone could walk up to a bank teller and be open-carrying.

To handle an increase in calls, Dallas police have created a signal specifically for monitoring and tracking open carry concerns from the public. They remind people to call 911 only if a gun holder is violating the open carry law. Violations include:

  • Removal of the gun from its holster
  • An intoxicated gun-holder
  • Committing a crime
  • Acting recklessly

Dallas police recognize that there will be a bit of a learning curve, an adjustment to the new law, but they also are quick to point out that Texas license holders have been legally carrying around guns for years – you just haven’t been able to see them.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.