My LTC expired about ten years ago, I didn’t renew.
Now I’m thinking about renewal and even open carry.

Pros and Cons.

Come on.

I am not going to open carry unless there is absolutely no alternative. If I had to, it would be in a level three retention holster. Entirely too easy for some rando to grab your firearm with open carry. I don’t want anyone to even know I’m carrying unless the SHTF.

LTC i can agree with.

Never seen a need to "open carry".

What is the need to advertise?

First ones to go are the ones that show.

I haven’t seen anyone open carrying in a long time. Went to breakfast today at Cracker Barrel and there were 2 people open carrying. Younger guy with a Glock and an older guy with a big revolver looked like a Taurus Tracker to me but I could really only see the grip. If i had wanted to take either of their guns I could have by simply walking up behind them.

I don’t see anything wrong with it, to each their own. But not for me I like the element of surprise.

There is a pretty long thread in the gun legislation forum with lots of opinions both for and against.

Why be on paper to the man? I would never open carry.

I like having the LTC and agree with keeping it concealed

Zero tactical advantage to letting criminals know you have a gun.

I like concealing as well, but most of the time I am business casual and am not untucking my dress shirt while eating lunch or running errands. It is IWB, though.

Back to the original topic I think it’s very worthwhile to have a LTC. I can carry an handgun anywhere and the places where weapons are prohibited statute doesn’t apply to me and I still maintain a LTC.

Per Texas Dept. of Public Safety, the main one for me is: Airport: License holders have protections related to the accidental carrying of a firearm in the secured area.

Buddy son accidently carried his pistol in his back pack at DFW a few months ago checking into a flight, he was only issued a ticket.

That was an expensive ticket too, in the thousands of dollars! Your buddies son is a dumb-a.

This^^^

I also keep my LTC for reciprocity from other states.

In addition to reciprocity, buying a firearm is a lot quicker at a FFL.

^^^

As stated above, there are multiple advantages for having your LTC. BTW, you can conceal carry without your LTC. From the way your question is worded, I am not sure that you know that.

Another aspect of this is if you get into a use of deadly force situation, do you want to be known to the investigators and DA’s office as the LTC holder, or the guy with a gun? Not saying LTC holders don’t commit crimes but take 100 random people with 50 of them being LTC holders and 50 who are not and there will be a stark contrast between the two groups as far as the quality of people.

These folks give a great analysis of the subject that I can't improve on. TLDR version is that having your LTC can provide you a better legal defense if you find yourself being charged by police after a defensive shooting.

You get out of speeding tickets with a LTC. I have been pulled over more than once speeding fast and was let go with a warning.

I have been given warning doing 80 from Pilot Point police around 5 am, I was headed to a Bass Tournament, He asked me why I was going so fast I said a good song came on the radio.

Best one was a few years ago, In Dallas some black lady cop pulled me over, she said she clocked be going 75 on the highway and the she said I sped up when I passed her, I never saw here, she let me go with a warning, Which I thought was pretty cool on her part.

Now of day it's too easy and cheap not to renew. I remember back in the day we would have to go to a Class with an instuctor if you wanted to renew, now of days you just renew online.

Benefits are too great not to renew.......

As law enforcement I don't need an LTC but it sure makes buying guns quicker.

I don't think the OP knows his thread got moved from OT to this section LOL.

Agree, I just renewed online $40 I think

I've had my CHL/LTC since 1996 and always recommend that people get and keep their licenses for all the reasons listed here and in the video Uncle Zeek posted.

Since 1996, I have probably been stopped about a dozen times by law enforcement for various traffic violations and have never been given a ticket, just a warning at most. When I present my CHL along with my DL, the conversation always seems to turn friendly. I've been asked many times what pistol I like to carry, whether it's been reliable, and have you tried this one, etc. Your experience may vary, but like RedRanger, that has been mine.

I’ve had the same positive experiences.

When I stopped someone with a LTC I knew they had been vetted pretty well. The chances of a LTC holder trying to harm us was minuscule compared to the rest of society. The only exception were documented criminal street gang members who had eluded convictions enough to acquire a LTC. I wrote legislation to make documentation as a CSG being a reason for revoking their LTC but no republican state representative wanted to be involved in any kind of gun control. The fact that they could even get one was a technicality that was not included in the original legislation.