Online Course $49: Your First Step Toward a Texas LTC!
No matter how you carry (LTC holder or Constitutional Carry), you need to know the signage. Texas signage creates significantly different outcomes and consequences. As a Texas LTC holder, you will have fewer restrictions when carrying in Texas.
- Generic “No Guns” Signage: No legal force.
- Overall Risk: Possible criminal trespass if you refuse to leave when asked by the property owner.
- Always respect the property owner’s right to prohibit firearms, regardless of what the law technically allows. You both get a vote in the outcome.
- 30.05 Signage: Targets constitutional carriers.
- LTC Risk: Minimal. Once again, always respect the property owner’s right to prohibit firearms, regardless of what the law technically allows. You both get a vote in the outcome.
- Constitutional Carry Risk: Class C misdemeanor with a $200 fine. If you receive oral notice from a person with authority and refuse to leave, it escalates to a Class A misdemeanor (up to one year in jail plus a $4,000 fine).
- 30.06 and/or 30.07 Signage? Applies only to LTC holders. It technically doesn’t apply to constitutional carriers.
- What is the risk if an LTC holder ignores it? Aside from willfully ignoring all of your training, expect a Class C misdemeanor (up to $200 fine). When given oral notice and you refuse to leave, expect a Class A misdemeanor (up to one year in jail plus a $4,000 fine).
- Constitutional carrier encounters it? Untested gray area. 30.06 and 30.07 signs apply specifically to LTC holders and don’t explicitly list constitutional carriers. Your primary risk is the uncertainty and the chaos that follows poor decisions.
- 51% Establishments (Bars, Restaurants with Alcohol): This one applies equally to both LTC holders and constitutional carriers.
- Risk: Third-degree felony. 2-10 years in prison. Up to $10,000 fine.
- Constitutional Carry Risk: Technically, no signage requirement at every entrance. Missing a sign doesn’t protect you, even if it’s faded or obscured. If the business derives 51%+ of revenue from alcohol, carrying a firearm inside the establishment is a felony.
- Key Difference: For LTC holders, if a 51% location fails to post the required sign, there is a statutory affirmative defense to prosecution. For constitutional carriers, no statutory defense exists. Both can still be arrested, but LTC holders have a better legal footing.
Parting thoughts: Always respect the property owner’s right to prohibit firearms, regardless of what the law technically allows. You both get a vote in the outcome.
Check back tomorrow for the follow-up highlighting real-world problems with the signage..
Ready to Begin? Click “enroll now”. The page will open to the Texas Carry Academy enrollment portal.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Firearm laws vary by state and are subject to change. Always verify current laws and regulations before traveling or carrying. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a qualified attorney or legal professional.
Information sourced from Texas Penal Code statutes, Texas Government Code §411.204, and established Texas firearms law guidance.
