This guide provides information on Texas and federal gun laws including: background checks, open carry, concealed carry, handgun licenses, restrictions for felons, and local regulation of firearms and shooting ranges.
Disclaimer: The State Law Library cannot tell you what a law means for your situation. Please contact an attorney for help determining what the law means for you. If you have questions or need help finding resources, please ask a librarian.
Disclaimer: The State Law Library cannot tell you what a law means for your situation.
Definitions of "firearm," "firearm silencer," "handgun," "machine gun," "short-barrel firearm," "armor-piercing ammunition," and "zip gun" are provided in this section of the Texas Penal Code.
This act, "Machine Guns, Destructive Devices, and Certain Other Firearms," regulates certain types of weapons such as machine guns and firearm silencers. This chapter includes provisions enacted by the National Firearms Act (1934).
This Texas Tribune article from 2019 gives a brief overview of Texas and federal laws on purchasing, possessing, and carrying various types of firearms.