How Many Texans Can Actually Wrestle a Cactus? (Spoiler Alert: It's Not About Wrestling)
Ah, Texas. Land of wide-open spaces, ten-gallon hats, and enough barbecue to feed a small army. But there's one stereotype that lingers – everyone in Texas packs heat, right? Well, hold your horses (or should we say, long horns?) because things get a mite more interesting when you delve into the world of LTCs in the Lone Star State.
LTC? Hold on to Your Stetsons, We're Decoding!
LTC, for the uninitiated, stands for License to Carry. Basically, it's a permission slip for wranglers (or regular folks) to tote a concealed handgun around most parts of Texas. Now, before you picture a stampede to the nearest gun store, here's the kicker: Texas law changed in 2021. As of now, you no longer need an LTC to carry a handgun openly in most public places.
So, what's the big deal about LTCs then? Well, there's a few reasons. First, having an LTC allows you to carry concealed – which might be a tad more discreet than strolling down Main Street with irons on your hips. Second, some places, like schools and bars, might still require that LTC for carryin'.
But I Still Wanna Know, How Many Texans Are Licensed to Pack Heat?
That's a mighty fine question, partner! Unfortunately, there's no easy answer since folks can now carry without an LTC. However, we can look at the good ol' days of mandatory LTCs. Back in 2021, there were around 937,419 active LTC holders in Texas. That's a significant chunk of change, folks, constituting roughly 3.6% of the state's population.
So, can we extrapolate from there? It's a guessing game, really. Some folks speculate that the number of LTC applications might have dipped since the law changed. Others reckon folks who already had LTCs might just keep them for the reasons mentioned earlier.
The Bottom Line: More Than You Think, But It Ain't Quite Everyone
Here's the takeaway: While Texas has a strong gun culture, it's not quite a holster-on-every-hip situation. The number of LTC holders is a good indicator, but it doesn't paint the whole picture with the new laws in place.
So next time you're in Texas, don't be surprised if you don't see a six-shooter on every hip. But hey, you never know – maybe you'll run into a friendly rancher with an LTC and a darn good story to tell.
