TexasCHLforum.com

I have a very common anglo name. There is almost always at least one more of me in any city I have ever lived in. I am on (I should say, my name is on) the TSA watch list. I cannot e-ticket, I cannot check luggage at the curb. The first time I flew after the TSA got up and running, I spent an extra half hour at the ticket counter while they tried to determine if I was a terrorist or not. When I tried to buy my ticket, you could see the ticket agent's pupils dialate as my name came up on his screen. I was immediately handed off to his supervisor, who also became visibly agitated as he said he would need to take my ID. Later on, after they became used to common name issues, the check became much quicker and no excitement is detectable - more of a "not this again" sensation. But I still cannot e-ticket.

I should also say that I have no trouble buying firearms and had no trouble getting my CHL.

My Dad had the same name. In the 30s he was picked up and held overnight while they confirmed that he was not a member of a well known gang who had the same name.

About 15 years ago, some guy with the same last name as mine, who lived on the same street as I but about two block away, decided he would start using my first name as well, essentially becoming "me". I began to suspect something was up when I started getting letters from lawyers offering to represent me. I called one of them and the clerk said they bought arrest record lists in order to solicit business. "Oh, this is not good" I'm thinking. Then I start getting doctor bills, and all sort of other bills, in the mail that were not mine. I called the city police department to tell them "hey this ain't me". Did they care? What do you think? I reckon they have heard that before. I said, look, just please don't come in shooting, my kids and wife are here too. About a week later, 5:30 AM, I am in my jammies making oatmeal for breakfast and I hear BAM, BAM, BAM on the front door, loud enough to wake the dead. I know who it is - nobody else comes by at 5:30 AM. I open the door and two plain clothes flashing badges are there. I think they must have figured out pretty quick what was going on. The first words out of my mouth were, "I've been expecting you and I ain't him". I must have not been any where close to the description because after a few very basic questions, the thanked me for my time and left. That was the end of the incident, the bogus mail stopped and I never heard anything more of the matter. I suppose sometimes the system does work.

R***** ****

(I need to get a cool tag line, but the bar is really high on this forum :)