If you’re between 18 and 20 years old and live in Texas, you might be surprised to learn that you can now apply for a Texas License to Carry a handgun or LTC. This change came about because of a recent federal lawsuit filed by the Firearms Policy Coalition, which challenged Texas’ previous practice of denying licenses solely based on the applicant’s age. As a result, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has updated its policy to no longer reject applications based solely on age.  We’ll go over what you need to understand and the requirements for eligibility to apply for a Texas License to Carry if you fall into the 18-to-20-year-old age bracket.

Must Meet All Eligibility Requirements

Firstly, applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply for a Texas License to Carry. Moreover, all applicants, regardless of age, must satisfy the eligibility criteria established by the Texas DPS. These criteria include conditions such as no felony convictions, absence of specified medical conditions, and no chemical dependency issues. Importantly, being between 18 and 20 years old doesn’t guarantee automatic approval for the license, as all applicants will undergo a thorough background check.

LTC Application and Training

To apply for the license, you must complete an online application, pay the required fees and complete a License to Carry class. Once your application has been submitted, you will be able to complete the fingerprinting process, which can be done at a designated locations throughout Texas. Additionally, DPS will require you to complete a training course as part of the process to qualify for an LTC. The course must be completed with a DPS-approved LTC instructor and cover firearm law, handgun use, safety, and storage.

Required Steps:

1. Take the LTC class online
2. Complete the Proficiency Demonstration with an instructor in-person
3. Apply for the LTC with Texas DPS
4. Get fingerprinted (DPS will provide instructions after step 3)

Obtain Your LTC

Once all of these steps have been completed, DPS will then review your application and determine your eligibility for a license to carry. Due to the recent lawsuit filed by the Firearms Policy Coalition (https://www.firearmspolicy.org/texas-withdraws-appeal-in-lawsuit-that-struck-down-its-ban-on-handgun-carry-by-young-adults), DPS cannot reject an application from an 18-to-20-year-old applicant based solely on their age. However, if an applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements, their application will still be denied. Texas DPS has also posted this in their FAQ page under eligibility, number 9 (https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/handgun-licensing/faq/eligibility-faqs).

In conclusion, if you are an 18-to-20-year-old Texan interested in obtaining a license to carry, you can now apply without fear of automatic rejection based on your age. However, it’s important to remember that all applicants must meet the eligibility requirements set by the Texas DPS and complete the required training.  Take the online class from an instructor with real world experience and from the comfort of your own home from your smartphone, tablet or computer.