Between state-level legal overhauls and the current cultural climate, the choices surrounding how we carry and train have fundamentally evolved. The biggest point of confusion for many Texans is the difference between the traditional License to Carry (LTC) and the current state of Constitutional Carry (no permit).

TEXAS CARRY LAWS CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY

• No permit/training required 
• Age 21+ (some 18-20 exceptions)
• Higher risk of verbal trespass   
• Restricted in more locations 

LICENSE TO CARRY (LTC)

• 4-6 hour class + shooting test
• Reciprocity in 30+ states
• Streamlined gun purchases
• Legal buffer on private property

1. The Carry Rule (Constitutional Carry)

Texas allows eligible adults to carry a handgun, either concealed or openly in a holster, without a permit. While this expanded firearm access across the state, it did not change where you can legally carry. In fact, open carriers face stricter boundaries and face steeper trespass penalties if they cross onto private property displaying a firearm where prohibited. 

2. The Open Carry Evolution

When open carry was first popularized, the law required a very specific “belt or shoulder holster.” Today, the law is simpler: a handgun carried openly must simply be in a holster, whether that is an appendix rig, a chest holster or a holstered bag. However, displaying a firearm in an aggressive manner “calculated to cause alarm” remains a criminal disorderly conduct charge. 

3. Why the LTC Course Still Matters

With a permit no longer mandated by the state, why has interest in the LTC course remained incredibly high at Cordillera Ranch? Because an LTC provides vital advantages that open carry simply cannot match:

• Reciprocity: An LTC allows you to legally carry when traveling across more than 30 other states. 
• Private Property: Private clubs use specific legal signs (30.05 for open carriers, vs. 30.06/30.07 for LTC holders). Having an LTC often grants you access to venues that bar the general public carrying without a license. 
• No NICS Background Check: Showing a valid LTC allows you to bypass the FBI background check delay when purchasing a new firearm from an authorized dealer. 
• The Critical Knowledge Base: The 4-to-6-hour state course doesn’t just teach you how to shoot; it explicitly covers conflict resolution, civil liability and the strict legalities of non-lethal vs. deadly force. 

The Impact on Our Cordillera Ranch Community

How do these sweeping legal changes interact with life inside our 9,100-acre Hill Country community? It comes down to balancing individual rights with the shared peace of the community.

While Texas is highly permissive of firearm carry in public spaces, private property owners retain full legal authority to dictate their own rules. The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch operates under strict private club regulations. 

Carrying open firearms while playing a round of golf, visiting the Clubhouse or dining is not permitted. This boundary ensures that all members, whether gun enthusiasts or not, feel entirely safe and relaxed.

The current social and political climate has naturally driven a surge of interest in personal defense. However, at Cordillera Ranch, the philosophy is that safety is rooted in proficiency, not just possession.

Our Gun Club provides a controlled, expert-led environment where members can transition from simply “owning a gun” to masterfully understanding it. Through the network of professional shooting instructors available at the Club, members don’t just check the box on a state law, they actively practice situational awareness, weapon retention and safe storage practices necessary to protect their families.