TexasCHLforum.com

LAYGO wrote:I guess my re-stating the question is rhetorical because people seem to be missing the point.

I don't think anyone is missing the point. You have been told that you do not have to proactivly disclose you are carrying, just present the CHL. If asked, then yes you should tell them you have a gun in the vehicle. You are legal and there is no reason for them to have an issue. And legally, you do not have to answer, but lying may purjure yourself if they do have grounds for search and they find you are carrying.

One thing we see is you seem to have a mistrust of law enforcement overall. You claim it is from your past interactions, which by your own admission were initiated by you being in the wrong on vehicle code violation or speeding, etc. An officer can tell if you are on the defensive when you address the person. If they approach your vehicle and you are immediately confrontational, then that puts them in a mood that you may be hiding something. Failure to be polite and cooperate will not do anything but escalate an already questionable stop and lead to a not so good outcome, even if nothing more than having an officer that won't cut you a break and writes you a ticket.

Bottom line, don't approach every situation with police as a 'this is gonna end badly' scenario and you may find that your 'distrust' is really nothing but an attitude adjustment that needed to be done on your part.

LAYGO wrote:

jbarn wrote:Good grief, man. Just be respectful and courteous. Giving short, non responsive answers is neither.

I do not see you ever getting out of a ticket. But then again you are grown. Best of luck to you

Being courteous got him his guns taken. I'm not as trusting. (again, source)

Yeah, better check the last page. He was not forthcoming in his story and there were other things going on.

Bottom line if you are carrying a weapon as a CHL you were legally required to provide your CHL to the officer when asked for ID. However, failure to do so no longer has a penalty. However, you do not have to be proactive and tell them you are carrying unless they ask at that point.

And, I agree with jbarn, being polite when stopped will get you a lot farther and possibly a warning vs. a ticket. Several times people I stopped talked themselves into a ticket instead of the warning I had originally planned to give due to their poor attitude during their stop.