If you don't carry a handgun, or only carry when and where unlicensed people may, there's no penalty. However, generally speaking, if you carry a handgun without carrying a license, you're technically committing a Class A misdemeanor. (Upgraded to a a felony of the third degree in many restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores.)Beiruty wrote:Yep. but now there is no penalty for not showing your CHL. What is your punishment if you forget it home or lost it?recaffeination wrote:There's nothing in the law about "on-file" period. If someone is not CARRYING their license then it doesn't count. But don't take my word for it. Read 46.15 for yourself.Beiruty wrote:LEO can arrest anyone who has no CHL on-file and does carry in the public, period.
Here's your punishment:
12.21. CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. An individual adjudged guilty of a Class A misdemeanor shall be punished by: (1) a fine not to exceed $4,000; (2) confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year; or (3) both such fine and confinement.
12.34. THIRD DEGREE FELONY PUNISHMENT. (a) An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for any term of not more than 10 years or less than 2 years. (b) In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.