Texas LTC Class Test Study Guide

Information about the new Permitless or Unlicensed Handgun Carry Laws in Texas starting September 1, 2021: Link

9/01/2021 – This Study Guide is a little out of date. The information still applies but new laws have been added in 2021. This page is © copyrighted.

The Texas LTC class written test contains 25 multiple choice and true/false questions. The test is not hard if you pay attention in class and study this review.

Please Note: The information provided in this study guide is to help people prepare for the Texas LTC class and written test. Additional material will be presented in class. The Texas LTC Coach provides this study guide page for free (scroll down) and does not make any guarantee about the content or completeness. Please email texasltccoach@outlook.com if you notice an error or important information is omitted.

Handgun Use and Safety:

  • You must take responsibility for your handgun.
  • You must protect yourself and all others against the misuse of your handgun.
  • You must follow safety rules or you or someone will get injured or killed.
  • You must keep your handgun secure from children and unauthorized persons.
  • You must always treat a handgun as if it is loaded. (safely)
  • You are to keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
  • You must always keep your handgun pointed in a safe direction.
  • A “safety” lever/device on a handgun does not guarantee the handgun will not fire.  A “safety” is a mechanical device that can fail.
  • A semiautomatic handgun may still fire if the magazine is removed. Be sure to check the chamber of the barrel for a remaining round – the “sneaky round”.
  • You must carry your handgun in a holster that covers the trigger.
  • If you open carry, you should considering using a retention holster and use more situational awareness to help prevent someone from stealing your handgun.
  • If you open carry you must carry the handgun in a shoulder or belt holster on your person. Otherwise, it must be concealed. Even in a vehicle.
  • A handgun needs to be maintained by keeping it clean, lubricated and in reliable working condition.
  • When practice shooting, you should wear eye and ear protection and a hat and closed shirt.
  • When shooting, a shooter should know the target (safe target), backstop (stops bullets) and what is beyond it (in case of accident).

Safe and Proper Storage of Handguns and Ammunition

  • Handguns must be stored in a place that is not accessible to children and unauthorized persons.
  • A “child”, according to Penal Code SS 46.13, is a person who is younger than 17 years of age.
  • A “readily dischargeable firearm” is a firearm that is loaded with ammunition whether or not a round is in the chamber.
  • A person is legally responsible if a child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm and the person with criminal negligence left the firearm in a place they knew, or should have known, the child would gain access.
  • Hiding a loaded handgun is not a legally acceptable way to prevent children from gaining access to it.
  • To legally prevent a child from gaining access to your readily dischargeable (loaded) firearm, the only acceptable options are to put the handgun in a locked container (gun safe) or render the firearm temporarily inoperable with a trigger lock or some other means.
  • Ammunition should be locked up separately from firearms.
  • You should teach kids what to do if they see an unattended firearm: Stop, Don’t touch, Leave the area and Tell an adult. (NRA)
  • If a child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm and someone is seriously injured or killed, the owner may be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor.

Lawful Carry:

  • A Texas LTC/CHL (license to carry) is only valid for the license holder.
  • A license holder is not allowed to let non-LTC holders to borrow their handgun to carry out in public. Non-LTC’s cannot carry your handgun for you in public.
  • A person doesn’t need a LTC to keep a concealed handgun in his or her home or vehicle.
  • If concealed carry is required, the handgun must not be visible. It must be completely covered.
  • If open carry is allowed, the handgun may be partially or wholly visible as long as it is carried in a shoulder or belt holster on your person.
  • Places where a license holder is prohibited from entering while armed even with a valid LTC:
    A business that derives 51% of income from the sale of alcohol for on premises consumption
    High school, collegiate or professional sporting event
    Polling place on the day of an election or early voting
    Into a secured area of an airport (or beyond)
    Racetrack (horse or dog, gambling)
    Correctional facility
    Within 1000 feet of a TDCJ place of execution
  • Hospital or nursing home (if 30.06 or 30.07 sign posted)
    Amusement park (if 30.06 or 30.07 sign posted)
    Meeting of a government entity (if 30.06 or 30.07 posted)
    Note: A place of worship, like a church, is no longer listed as a prohibited place in Texas law. You can carry there unless proper legal notice is given or posted.
  • LTC holders must watch for and obey “30.06”, “30.07” and “51%” notice signs.
  • A property owner or authority can prohibit concealed or open carry by:
    • Oral notice – Verbal statement that “guns are not allowed”
    • Written notice – card or other document with 30.06 and/or 30.07 language
    • Sign notice – sign that meets legal requirements and is conspicuously displayed to the public with 30.06 and/or 30.07 language
  • A “30.06” notice sign prohibits concealed carry inside a premises.
  • A “30.07” notice sign prohibits open carry inside a premises.
  • Both a “30.06” and “30.07” notice sign must be posted to prohibit concealed and open carry inside a premises.
  • A sign with a large “51%” is used to prohibit the carrying of a handgun on the premises of a business that derives 51% or more of its income from the sale of alcoholic beverages for on premises consumption. (bar, restaurant)
  • A license holder commits an offense if he or she carries a handgun on the property of another without effective consent and received notice under Penal Code SS 30.06 or 30.07.
  • Premises, under PC SS46035(f)(3), is a building or a portion of a building.  It does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk, walkway, parking lot, parking garage or other parking area.
  • The only lawful way to enter prohibited areas is to securely lock the handgun out of sight in your vehicle and proceed unarmed.
  • A license holder does not have arrest privileges and should never expect the police to cut them any slack.
  • It is illegal for a LTC holder to carry a concealed handgun when they have the impaired use of mental or physical faculties, the definition of intoxication for an armed license holder that has been drinking.
  • When a peace officer demands identification, the license holder is required to display both the driver’s license (or Texas ID card) and License To Carry while carrying a handgun. (Do it anyway)
  • When pulled over on a routine traffic stop, a license holder should observe the following procedures:
    • Roll down the window before the officer approaches
    • Keep both hands in plain sight on top of the steering wheel
    • Give the officer both driver’s license and concealed handgun license
  • A law enforcement officer is allowed to disarm a LTC holder anytime he or she reasonably believes someone’s safety is at risk but must return the handgun before leaving the scene if no arrest is made.
  • If a LTC holder is arrested and taken into custody, the arresting officer is authorized to seize both the license and the handgun.
  • Reciprocity – A Texas LTC is valid in other states that honor the Texas license. When carrying a handgun in another state under a reciprocity agreement, a Texas LTC holder must abide by the laws of that state. The DPS website is a good place to find out which states recognize a Texas permit.
  • When taking a flight to another state which honors a Texas permit, check with the airports and states for rules and laws. To take your handgun along, you must unload it beforehand, declare it as checked luggage, check the handgun in at the airline counter outside the secured area and then place it in a lockable case.
  • An employer has the right to prevent licensed employees from carrying a handgun in the workplace with a simple “No Guns Allowed” sign and personnel policy. This sign does not have to meet the posting requirements of section 30.06 or 30.07.

Use of Force:

  • Situational awareness is paying attention to your physical surroundings, the people around you and being safety conscious at all times.
  • The purpose of using deadly force is to STOP the threat and is only be used as a last resort.
  • Deadly force is justified to prevent the imminent commission of aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated robbery.
  • Innocent bystanders, the actual threat and the severity of the threat should be considered before using deadly force.
  • A LTC holder can still face criminal charges and/or a civil lawsuit, even if he or she is justified in using deadly force.
  • A license holder does not have a defense to prosecution in criminal proceedings for recklessly injuring or killing an innocent third person.
  • Penal Code SS 9.31 does not require a person to “retreat” if the person has a right to be present where the force is used, has not provoked the person against whom the force is used and not engaged in criminal activity at the time the force is used (Stand Your Ground).

Non-Violent Dispute Resolution:

  • You must not use your handgun to settle personal conflicts.
  • Some people should not carry a handgun due to anger or self control issues.
  • You must know yourself and use self control when carrying a handgun.
  • You must use self control to make sure you do not harm others in conflict or anger.
  • You must do whatever it takes to avoid conflict situations that could lead to violence – avoid, leave or flee.
  • If you find yourself in a conflict situation, you must do whatever it takes to de-escalate or diffuse the conflict so that it does not lead to violence.
  • If you are going through a difficult time in your life, you should take whatever steps are necessary to make sure you do not harm yourself or others.
  • The are resources available to help a person through a difficult time and prevent suicide.
  • The best way to neutralize negative behavior in another person is through effective dispute resolution – not physical force.
  • There are four elements to any conversation: Sender, message, receiver and feedback. Feedback is the most important to ensure that your message was delivered or received correctly.
  • Miscommunication can occur when barriers are present (culture age, language differences), emotions get in the way of rational thought, and body language is misinterpreted or ignored.
  • In the Ego State Theory, behavior can be classified as falling into the following “ego states”: “child”, “parent” or the “adult”. An individual in the “adult” ego state carefully assesses the situation.  In a conflict situation, remaining in the “adult” state enables those involved to diffuse the conflict and keep their self-respect and save face.
  • In a simple two-person conversation, there were actually had six different identities present. These identities are – two real, two projecting and two receiving people.
  • In his book Verbal Judo, Dr. George Thompson offers the following advice, “Never use the first words that rise readily to your lips”. In layman’s terms, this translates to: think before you speak.
  • A license holder should always remember to respond, rather than react to what other people have to say.

Application:

  • A person must be 21 years of age or older to apply for a Texas concealed handgun license. A person who is 18 and on active duty in the military can apply for a license.
  • To be eligible for a license, the license holder must be capable of successfully passing the FBI background check to purchase a firearm.
  • To obtain a license to carry, you must be capable of understanding safe handling and storage of firearms (i.e. no disqualifying psychiatric conditions, etc).
  • The DPS does not disclose the contents of a license application nor releases mailing lists of licensees to anyone except law enforcement agencies.
  • A licensee can renew a license 6 months before expiration and one year after expiration.  Otherwise, the applicant must take a training class and go through the licensing procedure again.  A licensee cannot carry a handgun after a license has expired.
  • A LTC instructor cannot waive classroom or shooting requirements, even if the instructor knows the student is proficient.
  • The shooting proficiency test requires the use of a “B-27” target in four acceptable colors: Black, blue, green or red.

General:

  • If you move or change names you must notify Texas DPS within 30 days or you license may be suspended or revoked.
  • A LTC may be suspended if the license holder fails to destroy or return a previously issued license after a duplicate license was received in the mail.
  • A concealed handgun license may be revoked:
    • If the license holder was not entitled to receive one at the time of issuance
    • If the license holder subsequently becomes ineligible for the license
    • If the license holder is convicted of “Unlawful Carry of a Weapon
    • If the license holder gave false information on the application, or failed to disclose a material fact.

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The Texas LTC (CHL) Coach holds Texas License to Carry and other handgun classes in Azle, Texas for students in the Azle, Springtown, Weatherford, Decatur, Poolville, Aledo, Lake Worth, Saginaw, Mineral Wells and west Fort Worth area. TX