Tx State Guard CHL?

[PaulHCstat]

This is my first post, so moderators please move if necessary. I'm a 19 year old college student and I have a part time job selling firearms for a chain store. I'm interested in joining the Tx State Guard but I can't find any information on obtaining a CHL if you're under 21 and in the state guard. The wording I've found addresses the federal armed forces but not the state. Any information will be helpful. Thanks in advance!

[RonOglesby]

not going to help. The Tx state guard is not part of the armed forces.

[gljjt]

not going to help. The Tx state guard is not part of the armed forces.

Incorrect, Texas State Guard is specifically spelled out in the Govt code as being eligible for a CHL at 18 years old. At no cost.

Added URL(some info out of date due to age of page): https://www.txsg.state.tx.us/active-tex ... cense.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PaulHCstat]

Would I still be limited in buying a handgun from an FFL?

[The Annoyed Man]

Would I still be limited in buying a handgun from an FFL?

I believe you would be barred from doing so.

[jmra]

Would I still be limited in buying a handgun from an FFL?

No exemptions for someone under 21 buying a firearm from a FFL. If the only reason you are considering joining a military organization is to get your CHL before you turn 21, please reconsider. Those two years will pass quick enough.

[ELB]

not going to help. The Tx state guard is not part of the armed forces.

Incorrect, Texas State Guard is specifically spelled out in the Govt code as being eligible for a CHL at 18 years old. At no cost.

Added URL(some info out of date due to age of page): https://www.txsg.state.tx.us/active-tex ... cense.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It appears to me membership in the Texas State Guard only qualifies for reduced fees from the state. Eligibility for a CHL for a person under 21 is limited to members and veterans of the United States armed forces, including reserves and national guard. "Texas military forces" (which includes both national guard and Texas State Guard) are called out elsewhere (for reduced fees and meeting the proficiency requirements), but not in the eligibility section, which only includes US armed forces, reserves or national guard.

The link to the Texas State Guard training of CHLs notes it is only for those 21 and over, and the inclusion of Texas Guard is in the para about fees, not CHL eligibility.

Our young friend is either going to have to wait or join Uncle Sam or the Air/Army National Guard.

Sec. 411.172. ELIGIBILITY (g) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(2), a person who is at least 18 years of age but not yet 21 years of age is eligible for a license to carry a concealed handgun if the person:

(1) is a member or veteran of the United States armed forces, including a member or veteran of the reserves or national guard;

(2) was discharged under honorable conditions, if discharged from the United States armed forces, reserves, or national guard; and

(3) meets the other eligibility requirements of Subsection (a) except for the minimum age required by federal law to purchase a handgun.

...

Sec. 411.1951. WAIVER OR REDUCTION OF FEES FOR MEMBERS OR VETERANS OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. (a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who:
(1) has served in: ...
(B) the Texas military forces as defined by Section 437.001 [which includes the Texas State Guard and the national guard]

[gljjt]

not going to help. The Tx state guard is not part of the armed forces.

Incorrect, Texas State Guard is specifically spelled out in the Govt code as being eligible for a CHL at 18 years old. At no cost.

Added URL(some info out of date due to age of page): https://www.txsg.state.tx.us/active-tex ... cense.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It appears to me membership in the Texas State Guard only qualifies for reduced fees from the state. Eligibility for a CHL for a person under 21 is limited to members and veterans of the United States armed forces, including reserves and national guard. "Texas military forces" (which includes both national guard and Texas State Guard) are called out elsewhere (for reduced fees and meeting the proficiency requirements), but not in the eligibility section, which only includes US armed forces, reserves or national guard.

The link to the Texas State Guard training of CHLs notes it is only for those 21 and over, and the inclusion of Texas Guard is in the para about fees, not CHL eligibility.

Our young friend is either going to have to wait or join Uncle Sam or the Air/Army National Guard.

Sec. 411.172. ELIGIBILITY (g) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(2), a person who is at least 18 years of age but not yet 21 years of age is eligible for a license to carry a concealed handgun if the person:

(1) is a member or veteran of the United States armed forces, including a member or veteran of the reserves or national guard;

(2) was discharged under honorable conditions, if discharged from the United States armed forces, reserves, or national guard; and

(3) meets the other eligibility requirements of Subsection (a) except for the minimum age required by federal law to purchase a handgun.

...

Sec. 411.1951. WAIVER OR REDUCTION OF FEES FOR MEMBERS OR VETERANS OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. (a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who:
(1) has served in: ...
(B) the Texas military forces as defined by Section 437.001 [which includes the Texas State Guard and the national guard]

I worked full time as a civilian employee at Camp Mabry and as a member of the state guard. I was was the person verifying TXSG member status for those needing that for CHL purposes. I have personally assisted some under 21 in getting their CHL. I guarantee TXSG members 18 - 20 years old can get their CHL. There is no charge, I know because mine was $0. The TXSG administes and provides all instructors (30+) for the Texas Army National Guard, Air National Guard and State Guard. These classes carry a small admin charge, something like $20. The instructors are volunteers. See Sec. 411.1951(1)(b)-inclusion of the state guard.

[PaulHCstat]

Thanks for all the information! You guys have been more than helpful, especially considering this is my first post! Look forward to joking and starting many more conversations in the future!

[PaulHCstat]

*joining

[CoffeeNut]

*joining

You can joke too

Good luck with the State Guard and on getting your CHL.

[gljjt]

Please don't join just for the chl. It is a significant time commitment. Join to help out fellow Texans in time of need, hurricanes, etc. Join for the right reasons or don't join at all. Then take advantage of the benefits.

[JP171]

not going to help. The Tx state guard is not part of the armed forces.

Incorrect, Texas State Guard is specifically spelled out in the Govt code as being eligible for a CHL at 18 years old. At no cost.

Added URL(some info out of date due to age of page): https://www.txsg.state.tx.us/active-tex ... cense.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It appears to me membership in the Texas State Guard only qualifies for reduced fees from the state. Eligibility for a CHL for a person under 21 is limited to members and veterans of the United States armed forces, including reserves and national guard. "Texas military forces" (which includes both national guard and Texas State Guard) are called out elsewhere (for reduced fees and meeting the proficiency requirements), but not in the eligibility section, which only includes US armed forces, reserves or national guard.

The link to the Texas State Guard training of CHLs notes it is only for those 21 and over, and the inclusion of Texas Guard is in the para about fees, not CHL eligibility.

Our young friend is either going to have to wait or join Uncle Sam or the Air/Army National Guard.

Sec. 411.172. ELIGIBILITY (g) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(2), a person who is at least 18 years of age but not yet 21 years of age is eligible for a license to carry a concealed handgun if the person:

(1) is a member or veteran of the United States armed forces, including a member or veteran of the reserves or national guard;

(2) was discharged under honorable conditions, if discharged from the United States armed forces, reserves, or national guard; and

(3) meets the other eligibility requirements of Subsection (a) except for the minimum age required by federal law to purchase a handgun.

...

Sec. 411.1951. WAIVER OR REDUCTION OF FEES FOR MEMBERS OR VETERANS OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. (a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who:
(1) has served in: ...
(B) the Texas military forces as defined by Section 437.001 [which includes the Texas State Guard and the national guard]

ELB, first TXSG is considered to be an ARMED force and those under 21 are infact eligible to have a CHL if they have been qualified thru the TXSG on pistol in the last year, second ACTIVE TXSG members pay NO fee, zero dollars zero cents, so please shhhh. to the OP this is no reason to join the TXSG, it is a significant time, resource commitment for everyone one of us that serves the State of Texas and all of those who live within its borders. Join if you want to serve, and yes take advantage of the benefits you receive(as few as they are)

[ELB]

Interesting given that everything BUT the eligibility section calls out "Texas Military Forces", and the eligibility section only mentions United States forces. Happy for 18-20 year-olds in the Texas State Guard, but it sure doesn't look like it reads that way...

[gljjt]

not going to help. The Tx state guard is not part of the armed forces.

Incorrect, Texas State Guard is specifically spelled out in the Govt code as being eligible for a CHL at 18 years old. At no cost.

Added URL(some info out of date due to age of page): https://www.txsg.state.tx.us/active-tex ... cense.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It appears to me membership in the Texas State Guard only qualifies for reduced fees from the state. Eligibility for a CHL for a person under 21 is limited to members and veterans of the United States armed forces, including reserves and national guard. "Texas military forces" (which includes both national guard and Texas State Guard) are called out elsewhere (for reduced fees and meeting the proficiency requirements), but not in the eligibility section, which only includes US armed forces, reserves or national guard.

The link to the Texas State Guard training of CHLs notes it is only for those 21 and over, and the inclusion of Texas Guard is in the para about fees, not CHL eligibility.

Our young friend is either going to have to wait or join Uncle Sam or the Air/Army National Guard.

Sec. 411.172. ELIGIBILITY (g) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(2), a person who is at least 18 years of age but not yet 21 years of age is eligible for a license to carry a concealed handgun if the person:

(1) is a member or veteran of the United States armed forces, including a member or veteran of the reserves or national guard;

(2) was discharged under honorable conditions, if discharged from the United States armed forces, reserves, or national guard; and

(3) meets the other eligibility requirements of Subsection (a) except for the minimum age required by federal law to purchase a handgun.

...

Sec. 411.1951. WAIVER OR REDUCTION OF FEES FOR MEMBERS OR VETERANS OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. (a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who:
(1) has served in: ...
(B) the Texas military forces as defined by Section 437.001 [which includes the Texas State Guard and the national guard]

ELB, first TXSG is considered to be an ARMED force and those under 21 are infact eligible to have a CHL if they have been qualified thru the TXSG on pistol in the last year, second ACTIVE TXSG members pay NO fee, zero dollars zero cents, so please shhhh. to the OP this is no reason to join the TXSG, it is a significant time, resource commitment for everyone one of us that serves the State of Texas and all of those who live within its borders. Join if you want to serve, and yes take advantage of the benefits you receive(as few as they are)

They don't have to qualify through the TXSG, just be a member. Qualifying through the TXSG just means you get the class for about 20 bucks. The state fee is $0 either way.

Also, I wouldn't call the TXSG an armed force. There are no longer any armed units in the TXSG. It is a military force of the state of Texas that responds to all kinds of needs in state: hurricanes, floods, wildfires, etc. Anything the Governor/Adjutant General wants. The Air Component co-locates with Air National Guard units and acts as a force multiplier within state, as well as having some independent responsibilities, particularly communications. The State Guard has a lot of cool, valuable missions for serving the State. I spent 10 years in and highly recommend it. Resigned late last year to pursue some other interests. Did activate for 7 hurricanes, 1 flood, 1 other assignment providing admin support to the Army National Guard. In addition to 11 monthly drills per year and 4-8 days AT.