Texas gun laws: a plain-English guide for buyers

Texas is one of the easiest states in the country to buy and carry a firearm, but a few rules matter a lot, especially the posted signs that businesses use to ban carry. This guide covers buying, carrying and transporting firearms as of September 2026. It is not legal advice; check the Texas Department of Public Safety or a Texas attorney when in doubt.

Buying a gun in Texas

Texas has no permit to purchase, no gun registration and no state waiting period. When you buy from a licensed dealer you show a valid photo ID, complete ATF Form 4473 and pass the federal NICS background check. If the check clears, the dealer can release the firearm the same day. Federal law sets the dealer minimum age at 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns. Handguns must be bought in your state of residence, so every pistol we sell to a Texan goes to a Texas dealer.

Ordering online

At checkout you choose a licensed dealer near you. We ship the firearm there, the dealer calls you, and you complete the paperwork and background check at the counter. Transfer fees are set by each dealer, commonly $25 to $50. Ammunition, magazines, optics and most parts ship to your door. See our city pages for 22 Texas cities.

Carrying a handgun

Since September 1, 2021, a person 21 or older who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a handgun in Texas without a license, either concealed or openly in a holster. The Texas License to Carry is still available from DPS and is worth having: more states recognize it, it can speed up purchases, and it lets you carry in some places unlicensed carriers cannot. Read our License to Carry guide.

30.06, 30.07 and other signs

Texas uses signs defined in the Penal Code. A business that posts a compliant 30.06 sign bans concealed carry by license holders; a 30.07 sign bans open carry. Businesses can also give notice to unlicensed carriers. Bars that earn most of their revenue from on-premises alcohol sales must post a red 51% sign, and carrying there is a serious offense. Other places are off limits by law, including schools, polling places, courts, racetracks and secured areas of airports. Federal buildings and post offices are off limits under federal law.

In your vehicle

If you can legally possess a firearm, you may keep a handgun in your vehicle in Texas; if it is in plain view, it must be in a holster. Employers generally cannot ban license holders from keeping guns locked in their private vehicles in the company parking lot, with some exceptions.

Magazines and rifles

Texas has no limit on magazine capacity and no ban on semi-automatic rifles. Standard-capacity pistol and rifle magazines ship to Texas normally. See how buying a gun online in Texas works.

Who cannot buy

Federal and state law bar people convicted of felonies, people under qualifying protective orders or family violence convictions, unlawful drug users and people adjudicated mentally incompetent. If you are unsure, speak to an attorney before you buy.