It’s an open secret at gun ranges across Texas. You can get a license to carry a concealed
weapon without ever having fired a gun. The reason—a growing number of
instructors offer Texas students a chance to get a Utah concealed
handgun license.

Concealed carry permits from Utah are popular and legal in Texas and it’s not hard to see why. Utah requires less than half the class time,
has not written test, requires no live shooting and you don’t even have
to leave Texas to get one.

“With the Utah program I’m able to concentrate 100% of my time and focus on the 20% of the core materials that people need to know of the day-to-day of carrying a handgun,” said Brad Brasuell a certified Utah
instructor.

But Austin residents believe Texas should not recognize out of state licenses.

“That's crazy to me,” said Austin resident Dennis Lancett. “Since I have been here I heard this state has so many rules and regulations and
laws about things and are so under control how is this happening it's
something they should definitely look into.”

State Representative Lon Burnam, a Fort Worth Democrat, calls it an outrageous loophole that people are taking advantage of and needs to be
closed. Burnam says it’s an issue the legislature needs to deal with
next session.

Texas is losing about $1.5 million a year in concealed-carry fees to Utah..