TexasCHLforum.com

Another problem is that people reach age 30, 40, 50, or 60 and decide to get a CHL. They find out that it is not always a pleasant, easy, quick, or cheap process. They gripe. Then they get the plastic and forget about it.

The total number of CHL holders (maybe approaching 400,000 now) is a small fraction of the population. It is spread all over the state and not a voting bloc.

- Jim

A problem with the Texas CHL law is that NICS did not exist when it was passed. The CHL law went into effect in 1995. NICS was rolled out in 1998.

Some reform of the Texas background checks should be on the agenda for the next legislative session.

Whether that will happen depends upon how much financial support the TSRA PAC receives in the next year and a half (hint, hint).

- Jim

joe817 wrote:Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

"If you don't pipe down, I'm going to stop this car and come back there."

- Jim

ferretray wrote:One of these incidents occured in Alabama. Their records aren't even computerized, AFAIK.

Have you called the county courthouse there?

They usually can't find records of old arrests that did not result in convictions, especially if charges were dropped. The records go into storage, and eventually get burned, flooded, or eaten by mice.

In that case, the court clerk can issue a letter that says they have no record of your arrest or conviction.

I had that done for an arrest in another state where I misspent my youth.

As to why you have to provide the disposition documentation, it's specified in the law:

Government Code 411.174(b)(7): criminal history record information of the type maintained by the department under this chapter, including a list of offenses for which the applicant was arrested, charged, or under an information or indictment and the disposition of the offenses;

Personally, I think this requirement is unnecessary. You shouldn't have to provide disposition information for an arrest that did not result in a conviction and which would not be a disqualification even if there was a conviction.

The flip side of this issue is that some states have issued their equivalent of a CHL to actual felons whose convictions were not in whatever national database this information is in. That gives licensed concealed-carry programs a black eye.

- Jim