Can you bring a gun on a roller coaster? Here’s where you can — and can’t — open carry

Megan Cardona
·1 min read
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Texas is an open carry state and, as of September 2021, it is legal for most people 21 or over to open and conceal carry a handgun without a license to carry.

Handgun owners can open carry their firearm in a belt holster into city facilities. This includes permitless carry in the Texas State Capitol with a passed safety screening prior to entry.

However, there are a few places where handgun owners are not allowed to open carry.

Here’s where Texas law prohibits open carry.

Where can you not open carry in Texas?

The Texas Penal Code prohibits permitless open carry in the following places:

  • Amusement parks

  • Businesses that derive 51% or more of its income from the sale of alcohol

  • Places of business with visible signage prohibiting handguns

  • Secured areas of an airport

  • Courthouse

  • Schools

  • High school, college, interscholastic or professional sporting events unless the person is a participant and the event involves use of the weapon

  • Correctional facility

  • Civil commitment facility

  • Hospital

  • Nursing facility

  • Mental hospital

  • A room where an open governmental meeting is held

A person commits an offense if their handgun is partially completely visible and if they intentionally or knowingly display the handgun in plain view of another person, according to the Texas Penal Code.