Where to purchase a handgun in texas

The Texas Tribune's primary political correspondent, Patrick Svitek, says "this legislative session we saw lawmakers go in the totally opposite direction and continue to loosen gun restrictions in Texas.

Listen to the interview with Svitek above or read the transcript below for more on Texas' new permitless carry law, including law enforcement concerns about not being able to know whether a person who's carrying a gun has had the "right training.

KUT: What are the provisions of the new law that goes into effect Sept. What does it actually do? Patrick Svitek: The law that's going into effect gets rid of the requirements that Texans who want to carry a handgun have to get a license to do so, whether it be open or concealed. Currently, Texans are mostly required to be licensed to carry handguns whether they are open or concealed.

And to get that license, applicants have to submit fingerprints; to go through a background check; they have to complete four to six hours of training; and they have to pass a written exam and shooting-proficiency test. This new law gets rid of all that and allows anyone 21 years or older to carry a handgun in public without the need for that permit or that training or that background check as long as they aren't otherwise prohibited from carrying a firearm under law, such as having a felony or domestic violence conviction.

So no training, no paperwork. As long as they're legally allowed to purchase a gun, they can carry a gun in Texas? Yeah, that is mostly true. And it's important to note when it comes to the background check, because I think there's been a little bit of misinformation around this.

This law does not touch purchase or ownership requirements when it comes to guns in Texas. I think people are most concerned about what this means for background checks in Texas. This does not change the fact that anyone who buys a gun in Texas from a federally licensed dealer still has to go through the FBI background check. Now, we know that not everyone who is buying a gun in Texas is buying it through a federally licensed arms dealer.

There are certainly background check loopholes that still exist. For example, a sale between private parties right now, just between two friends or two family members, for example. Those kinds of sales aren't covered by background checks. But it is important to note that when it comes to this law that's going into effect, it is only getting rid of the background check that in some ways was an additional layer of peace of mind and security. But it's not getting rid of that background check that's still required at the point of sale if you are buying a gun from a federally licensed gun dealer in Texas.

The idea of permitless carry is not new to the political landscape in Texas, but what brought about its passage now? Why did this happen in as opposed to any of the other times? This is an issue that really, despite some of the energy on the right around this issue, that really never made it that far in the Legislature. It was often stopped by the concerns of the law enforcement community. It really divided Republicans because of that. In this most recent regular legislative session, it broke through very quickly, honestly, in a way that I think some people not did not see coming.

In the middle of this regular legislative session, the new House Speaker Dade Phelan , who's been a supporter of this proposal in the past, allowed it to get to the floor and it passed pretty decisively, even with some Democratic votes. And so the law that is going into effect right now really can be traced back to the election of this new speaker who supported the proposal as a House member and then his decision to let it reach the floor of the House.

And then after that, it was really — I wouldn't say on a glide path to the governor's desk — but there was really some mostly unstoppable momentum behind it at that point. It really became suddenly a political hot potato for the Senate, where the lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, had also had some reservations about it due to law enforcement concerns.

But when it came out of the House, that put a lot of political pressure on the Senate to act on this. And the lieutenant governor, to his credit in the eyes of supporters of this legislation, was able to find a way to at least soften some of the law enforcement opposition and get it through the Senate and gather the votes for it.

Some of the tweaks that were made to this bill to satisfy the concerns of law enforcement included a requirement that the Texas Department of Public Safety offer a free online training course. That's free and voluntary, but it certainly addressed some of the concerns, at least, that you're getting totally rid of any training for a Texan who may want it once they are carrying a gun.

One other key change for the law enforcement community was getting rid of a provision that was in the House version of this bill that would have banned police officers from questioning a person based solely on their carrying of a gun.

If you buy online, you will need to fill out a federal background check and give your identification information. Upon passing the background check, you will be able to purchase the gun and pick it up at a licensed dealer.

When you come in-person you will first talk with an expert about what gun you want. Then they will let you look, feel, and test the selection. They will walk you through the whole process and make sure you understand everything about buying a handgun in Texas. After this, you will complete the federal background check, and, once approved, you will then be able to purchase the gun and any accessories.

After you are done buying your first handgun, you need to practice. Practice, above all else, will help you become more comfortable with the gun and better with safety procedures.

Review relevant changing gun laws and get involved within the gun community. You just found your new favorite hobby! Are you considering buying a handgun in Texas for the first time? Do you want help in selecting the perfect gun for you? Want access to a shooting range to practice or try out new firearms? However, you do have to be licensed. Q: Can I carry a firearm in my vehicle? A: Yes. With the passage of the Motorist Protection Act you may now readibly carry handguns, loaded and within reach, so long as you conceal the firearm.

All NFA rules apply. A: No. Q: Is there a limit on the number of rounds a magazine may hold?