Here’s When the Second Amendment Does NOT Apply to You in Lubbock

The Second Amendment of the Constitution—the right to keep and bear arms—is commonly thrown around during times when carrying guns is highly contested, such as after a school shooting or someone being arrested at a rally while armed.

While it is true that owning a firearm is constitutionally protected, there are multiple factors and even public locations where carrying a gun, even if it's holstered, is against the law. Let's go over these factors for the City of Lubbock.

Open Carry in Lubbock

House Bill 910, effective back in January of 2016, authorized those with LTCs (License to Carry) to visibly holster their firearm wherever concealed carry was previously allowed.

The Lubbock Police Department trained their officers on the law, but they encourage citizens to call 911 if they spot clear violations, such as someone removing their gun from their holster for no apparent reason, if a gun holder seems drunk or intoxicated, and when someone is obviously committing a crime while holding a firearm or they are acting in a reckless manner.

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Beginning in 2021, qualifying handgun owners were then able to carry their firearm without an LTC. According to the Texas State Law Library, these are the stipulations required for U.S. citizens to carry without an LTC:

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must not be a member of a criminal street gang
• Must not be intoxicated outside of their private property
• Must not be restricted from possessing a firearm by law
• Must not have a prior felony conviction
• Must not have a recent conviction for certain misdemeanors
• Must not be subject to an unexpired protective order

Texas law states that gun owners must be at least 21 years old to open carry; however, a 2022 federal court case challenged this restriction on the basis that it was unconstitutional. As a result the Texas Department of Public Safety can no longer deny applications based solely on the fact that the applicant is between the ages of 18 and 20.

Gun-Free Zones

The recent laws still have not changed the fact that firearms of any kind, concealed or open-carry, are not allowed in gun-free zones.

These zones typically include educational institutions, government buildings, private properties, and public events or venues such as stadiums, festivals, and concerts.

Firearms are welcome, however, if there is a clearly marked sign on the property indicating that concealed or open carry is permissible. If a sign like this is not present at any of the previously mentioned zones, then it's safe to assume that guns are not allowed.