Bill to eliminate Texas reciprocity

[Shinesintx]

How long is an out of state marriage license valid?

Maybe we need a law to limit reciprocity for those quickie Vegas weddings. It's for the children!

Good point.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Not only do the Texas legislators threaten reciprocity, but they still don't have the guts to pass open carry and campus carry. The anti-gunners controlling your legislature are the primary reason I won't officially change my residence to Texas, even after 3 years.

[Dadtodabone]

How long is an out of state marriage license valid?

Maybe we need a law to limit reciprocity for those quickie Vegas weddings. It's for the children!

39 years in August, it wasn't all that quick, my wife is from Las Vegas. Mass seemed to just go on and on, pictures, crazy uncle, crying grandma, terrible cake, General Sir! for FIL, every uniform wearing male in attendance, except my BIL, dropping by to tell me what the future held for me if I ever brought tear one to my wife. Shoulda done the "Little White Chapel" like Frank & Mia.

[dquick]

This discussion ignores the fact that the 2nd Amendment clearly states the my right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The bill of rights does not address driver licenses. The requirement to obtain a license to legally bear arms is infringement. While driving is a privilege, keeping and bearing arms is a right.

[JALLEN]

While driving is a privilege, keeping and bearing arms is a right.

The only people who believe that are employees of DMVs across the country and some LEOs. I guarantee you if some elected official started making moves to curtail this "privilege," it would be electoral hara-kiri.

The rights are privileges and the privileges are rights in this Wonderland, because that's what the people want, think, do.

[Natesac]

This discussion ignores the fact that the 2nd Amendment clearly states the my right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The bill of rights does not address driver licenses. The requirement to obtain a license to legally bear arms is infringement. While driving is a privilege, keeping and bearing arms is a right.

While I agree with you, only a handful of states allow unrestricted carry. The reality of the state we live in is that you must pass a vetting process before being issued a license. I feel like that if we are going to require residents of the state of Texas to pass a vetting process to CC then all residents should be held to the same standard.

I am starting to think that I believe in the "spirit" of this bill, however this iteration is poorly drafted. I believe that reciprocity was intended for traveling and visiting. There should be some system in place for people moving to Texas to be able to easily(and quickly) transition to a Texas license, involving at least some classroom time to be educated in Texas carry and use of force laws.

It would all be a lot easier if other states would adopt a "Texas Standard"

[Fingerman]

Though I fundamentally disagree with needing a license in order exercise my 2nd amendment right, I have no issue with requiring others who live in this state to carry the same license, pay the same fees and have the same training I have. To obtain a Texas CHL you must show knowledge of Texas laws. By virtue of the fact that you live in this state does not equal knowledge of the laws.

I have not read one argument that clearly states why requiring a Texas resident who chooses to hold a CHL not obtain a Texas CHL, versus a non-resident CHL from another state.

Personally if I have to give a state money, I would rather it be Texas.

Now let the flaming begin......

[gthaustex]

Not that I'm not strongly pro-2nd Amendment across the board, but the Texas Constitution and the US Constitution conflict somewhat. The US Constitution says "shall not be infringed", which many may take to mean no license, no regulation, etc. by anyone, Federal or state. The Texas Constitution, Article 1 - Bill of Rights, Section 23, states:

Sec. 23. RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the State; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime.

Note that there is a right to keep and bear arms, but there is also the part about the Texas Legislature having the power to regulate the "wearing" of arms. So, it appears we have somewhat of a conflict? States rights argument? i.e. the Feds can't regulate (shall not be infringed), but the State of Texas can? That appears to be the case to me, where the state regulates the "wearing" by CHL holders.


Very interesting to me.....

[2firfun50]

Not only do the Texas legislators threaten reciprocity, but they still don't have the guts to pass open carry and campus carry. The anti-gunners controlling your legislature are the primary reason I won't officially change my residence to Texas, even after 3 years.

Just a question. When you file your income taxes, do you claim Indiana as your residence and pay your Indiana income tax?

[nightmare69]

I don't believe we should have to get a permit in order to CC, other states who have constitutional carry (Arizona) have lower crime rates then Texas. While I agree that training is a great thing, it should not be mandatory, it should be highly recommended though.

If I have to get a permit to exercise a God given right as a American then its no longer a right its a privilege.

You don't have to have a permit to carry a CCW in your vehicle under the Motorist Protection Act, how many road rage shootouts have you heard about since the law was put into effect in 2009?

[texanjoker]

You have only 30 days to get your car registered, however. I wonder if they accept out of state licenses with proof of insurance from the last state?

They do. Just went through this a few months ago.

A quick edit/clarification: They accept out of state licenses for registration but you must have in-state insurance. And it doesn't count if it is the same umbrella company (i.e. State Farm), it has to be from a local Texas agency.

When I moved here they took my umbrella company insurance, California Casualty at the time. You just had to prove you met the minimum TX requirements by providing a copy of the policy. They made me pay a bunch of 'welcome to Texas' taxes and that was it. I could then obtain my TX DL.

I personally believe TX residents should carry a TX CHL if they live here.

[Panda]

I am more worried about some yankee carrying in Texas with a FL nonresident license than I am about some Texan carrying in Texas with a FL license.
And
I'm far more worried about NYPD or LAPD carrying in Texas under LEOSA than I am about ANYBODY with a FL license.

[TexasGal]

My only concern is anyone carrying in Texas that has not had a primer on Texas laws. If you end up on the news here making a bad shoot, it reflects on Texas and the CHL program HERE on the news, not the state you are licensed under. Perhaps an out of state license holder should be required to at least attend a Texas CHL class. Take it easy on the flaming.

[nightmare69]

My only concern is anyone carrying in Texas that has not had a primer on Texas laws. If you end up on the news here making a bad shoot, it reflects on Texas and the CHL program HERE on the news, not the state you are licensed under. Perhaps an out of state license holder should be required to at least attend a Texas CHL class. Take it easy on the flaming.

Since Texas has reciprocity with 35 other states should we have to take a class over their state laws if we want to carry in their state? Its up to the person to educate their self on the laws before carrying, it should not be mandatory to take a class.

[CraigM]

The way I see it they are just attempting to close a loophole that many people are exploiting to benefit from reduced fees and "class time" by obtaining an out of state, non-resident CHL. I would prefer that Texas legislators focus on enacting gun laws similar to those in AZ and other states that are less imposing, but also find it reasonable that they are attempting to close a "loophole". I reside in Texas therefore I feel I should abide by the laws of Texas and not just look to exploit loopholes.

In all reality, whether you agree with this bill or not, the only people to blame are those blatantly advertising the benefits of exploiting the current loophole. Weekly I hear, read or see some sort of advertisement to induce people into getting a Utah non-resident CHL as opposed to to a Texas CHL.

I am considering getting a Utah non-resident CHL solely for the reason that I have family in WA state, and unfortunately, WA does not offer reciprocity for a Texas CHL but they do for Utah's. I would prefer to be able to carry there, when visiting. But that would be in addition to my TX CHL. I do find it odd that WA does not recognize the TX CHL when their CHL requirements are virtually nothing compared to ours, but I guess that reciprocity is more of a political issue than it is a common-sense thing.

I can certainly understand the stance that residents should fight any legislation that may further restrict our 2nd Amendment rights, I just believe that there are much more important issues for me to focus on than this bill.