Many hikers and people who enjoy the outdoors are interested in owning a firearm for hunting and self protection. Among this population exists a subset that is interested in obtaining a Texas license to carry. Hiking often affords the possibility of hunting (when in season and in an area where hunting is legally permitted). Moreover, sometimes a hiker might have occasion to use a firearm for self protection when on a hike and away from areas where law enforcement can easily police.
It is a fairly straight forward process for a hiker to obtain a Texas license to carry from the Texas State Department of Public Safety. According to the State of Texas Government Code Chapter 411, Subchapter H all applicants for a license to carry a firearm must meet the following criteria for eligibility:
- All applicants must be at least twenty-one years old. There is an exception for active duty military.
- All applicants must comply with all Federal requirements to buy a firearm (See Federal statute 18 USC 44 §922).
- No applicant may have a felony conviction.
- No applicant may have certain misdemeanor conviction resulting in probation or adjudication that has been deferred.
- No applicant may have certain pending criminal charges (see Texas state statute GC §411.172).
- No applicant may have a dependency on alcohol or narcotics
- No applicant may be diagnosed with certain psychiatric or psychological illnesses (see Texas state statute GC §411.172).
- No applicant my have an outstanding protective order or restraining order issued against them.
All applicants for a license to carry a firearm in the State of Texas in addition to the above eight requirements must then complete the following additional steps:
- All applicants must submit a complete application.
- All applicants must pay all required fees.
- All applicants must complete the required training courses.
- All applicants must submit all required supplemental forms.