chrismandude wrote:Allons wrote:You still need to submit paperwork even if the case was dismissed.
Submit paperwork even if everything is clear? Exactly how far back do they go during the criminal background check?
There's no time limit on 'how far back' they look; they look at your entire criminal history (in Texas, or anywhere else).
The disqualification for certain offenses is what has a time limit; 5 years for Class A & B Misdemeanors, and 10 years for certain Felonies. Other Felony convictions are permanent. Other things like mental health or substance abuse are spelled out pretty clearly in the law (if you are bipolar, schizophrenic, delusional, in-patient substance abuse treatment, etc), you will be asked to provide a letter from a physician that you are no longer suffering from the disqualifying condition, that it is unlikely to recur, and that you can exercise sound judgment in firearms handling/use.
Regarding submitting the court documents to show the final disposition for any previous offenses, if you don't submit it upfront (for example, when you upload your LTC-100), you will be asked to provide it when they get to your application. Your LTC-100 is valid for 2-years, so you have time to gather these documents before hand. However, if you wait for the DPS' letter to come in the mail requesting documentation, your application will be terminated if they don't receive the required items within 90-days of the date on the letter. Also, understand that lying on the application is also grounds for them to outright
deny your application, so I'd encourage you to put your complete history on the application. Infoman tends to have the most current insight on the DPS' practices/procedures, so based on Infoman's comment above you can rest easy (provided there's not more to the story).
ETA: Here's a copy/paste from the DPS' FAQ page regarding past offenses: (found at this link
https://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/LTC/faqs/index.htm)
24. Am I required to list all arrests on my application, even if the cases were dismissed or if I was found not guilty?
Yes. Applicants are required to report all arrests in order to ensure the background checks can be conducted timely. The application should include the year, the offense, the location and the final disposition. Copies of the dispositions will assist in the timely processing of your application. Applicants should also include information on cases that resulted in probation or deferred adjudication. Failure to provide any requested documentation could result in the termination of an application as incomplete.