There are many reasons to choose a Texas Department of Public Safety accredited online program to do the classroom portion that is required to get your Texas license to Carry or LTC. It’s self-paced, can be done from home or most anywhere you access an internet connection, and cost. You still have to go to a range for to meet the shooting requirements.
While Texas has Constitutional Carry, there are still good reasons to get a LTC.
1. The Texas LTC is recognized by a total of 38 states. You must still understand and abide by the laws of the states you are traveling through or to, but your permit is good in those states.
2. A set of statistics shows that individuals who go through the trouble and cost of getting a permit are 5.7 times less likely to be arrested than the general population and are 1.5 times less likely to be arrested for non-violent crimes than the general population. This can have a positive impact if you are ever involved in a defensive shooting. A permit puts you into the group with the great statistics while Constitutional carry does not, you are lumped in the group with the bad guys.
3. In Texas, there are more restrictions on where you cannot enter with Constitutional carry while LTC holders are allowed to go. This is at the discretion of business owners and if they put up a sign that meets the state’s criteria, you can be charged with criminal trespass if you enter while armed but don’t have a LTC that Texas recognizes.
Many shooting ranges and gun clubs will accommodate you for the shooting portion of the requirement. Be aware that instructors will not fill out your application for you, but will give you some proof that you finished the requirement as well as report it to the state.