Volunteer Security in Houses of Worship
Texas law allows churches, synagogues, and other established places of worship to establish security teams without obtaining a license or permission from the state, if the individuals proving the security services:
- are unpaid volunteers;
- are providing the services on the premises of the church, synagogue, or other established place of worship; and
- do not wear a badge or uniform that identifies them as security or creates the impression that they are law enforcement officers or personal protection officers.
- Texas law allows churches, synagogues, and other established places of worship to create minimum training and competency requirements that may be appropriate for such volunteer security services.
- Volunteer security team members may carry firearms only when otherwise allowed by state law.
- Texas law generally allows a person to carry long guns (rifles and shotguns) without any special license or permit;
- Texas law generally allows a person to carry handguns
- on property the person owns or controls; or
- inside of or on the way to a vehicle the person owns or controls.
