Firearm Storage Regulations in Fort Worth, TX: What You Need to Know

Texas is renowned for its lenient gun laws, but there are still regulations in place for storing firearms in Fort Worth, TX. While there is no particular state law on how firearms and ammunition should be safely stored, Texas law does restrict the carrying of firearms in places that sell alcohol and generally prohibits the possession of firearms on certain state-owned land. To become a safer state, Texas can improve its gun laws in many ways, including requiring background checks on all firearm sales, repealing its permit prohibition law, requiring domestic abusers who are prohibited from possessing firearms to hand over firearms, and enacting an extreme risk law that allows loved ones or law enforcement to intervene to temporarily prevent a person in crisis from accessing firearms. Tenants of residential units (apartments, condominiums and prefabricated houses) have the right to legally own firearms and ammunition in those places, and to carry them directly on the way between their residential units and their vehicles.

Public and private employers are generally authorized to prohibit their employees from possessing firearms or ammunition at the employer's business facilities. However, employers are generally not authorized to forbid employees who legally own firearms or ammunition from transporting or storing firearms or ammunition in a private, locked motor vehicle in a parking area provided by the employer for employees. Texas law also considers that a person is guilty of entering without authorization if he enters or remains on another person's property with a firearm after receiving notification that firearms are prohibited. Additionally, Texas law allows prosecutors to prosecute parents whose children have access to their loaded firearms. This provision is only required under certain circumstances, such as if a gun owner lives with a person who doesn't qualify for firearms. Even after strong statements from two leading Texas Republicans, it's not clear if firearm storage laws will ever pass the next time legislators reconvene in Austin.

It is essential for gun owners to be aware of the regulations for storing firearms in Fort Worth, TX so they can remain compliant with the law. To ensure that gun owners are aware of the regulations for storing firearms in Fort Worth, TX, it is important to understand the following:

  • Carrying Firearms: Carrying firearms is restricted in places that sell alcohol and generally prohibited on certain state-owned land.
  • Background Checks: Background checks are required on all firearm sales.
  • Permit Prohibition Law: The permit prohibition law should be repealed.
  • Domestic Abusers: Domestic abusers who are prohibited from possessing firearms must hand over their firearms.
  • Extreme Risk Law: An extreme risk law should be enacted that allows loved ones or law enforcement to intervene to temporarily prevent a person in crisis from accessing firearms.
  • Residential Units: Tenants of residential units have the right to legally own firearms and ammunition.
  • Employers: Employers are generally authorized to prohibit their employees from possessing firearms or ammunition at the employer's business facilities but not from transporting or storing them in a private, locked motor vehicle.
  • Entering Without Authorization: A person is guilty of entering without authorization if he enters or remains on another person's property with a firearm after receiving notification that firearms are prohibited.
  • Parents: Parents can be prosecuted if their children have access to their loaded firearms.
It is important for gun owners to be aware of these regulations so they can remain compliant with the law. It is also important for gun owners to understand that even after strong statements from two leading Texas Republicans, it's not clear if firearm storage laws will ever pass the next time legislators reconvene in Austin.