TexasCHLforum.com

joe817 wrote:I agree with USA1 agreeing with Houston1944. And I'm unanimous in that statement.

i disagree

(**shakes his head**)

USA1 wrote:

Houston1944 wrote: I can think of several good reasons why I have and will present both CHL and DL even if I am not carrying. I cannot think of a single reason not to present the CHL.

That's the great thing about the upcoming change in the law. You're still allowed to show your CHL to police if you want and it removes the penalty for people who forget or otherwise fail to display. Everybody wins.

Houston1944 wrote:I have seen this question on almost every gun forum I have ever visited. There usually are a few that take the position that the law says if I am not carrying I do not have to show it, therefore I won't. I have never understood this position since the officer is going to know as soon as he runs your DL thru the system.

I can think of several good reasons why I have and will present both CHL and DL even if I am not carrying. I cannot think of a single reason not to present the CHL. Maybe it is because I am just old and don't sweat unimportant things anymore. However, if anyone knows of a really good reason why I should not present both then please enlighten this old man.

That's pretty much it. The best reason I can see for offering the information to a cop during a traffic stop, even when it isn't strictly necessary, is that it establishes good will on your part during a situation in which he is holding all the cards. I'd rather be reminded by a knowledgeable cop that I don't need to show it to him, than have to deal with an irritated copy who isn't knowledgeable about CHL law.

Well put TAM. I agree.

I reckon when I get my CHL I will show both but I don't plan on getting stopped for that to happen :) Of course we never actually plan to get stopped anyway.

My reasoning is that of many others, why not show it, it took long enough to get why risk losing it.

I guess as well if the LEO runs your DL and sees that you are a CHL then he only has your word that you aren't carrying and you haven't exactly demonstrated openness with him already. Why escalate an already tense situation? JMTC

All this nonsense is one of the reasons I tell friends and coworkers not to jump through the hoops for a Texas CHL.

Bart wrote:So what difference does it make if we show it? I think it would help officer safety much more if fugitives from justice and illegal aliens and people on probation or parole have to inform police of their status.

Okay, if you're a fugitive or illegal alien or on parole, go ahead and inform the police of your status. I'm not, so I can't personally do anything about that. I also wish people wouldn't do bad stuff and would hug their kids more. So what.

I give the LEO the benefit of the doubt and try to make their job as easy as possible by volunteering the info. Sure I'll be wrong occassionally but so what?

p.s. I wouldn't volunteer that I'm actually carrying at the moment, just because to the wrong cop, that can sound a bit... forward or possibly even threatening if he's got a chip on his shoulder. It will be his immediate first question and I think that part comes across better as the answer to a question rather than a statement. YMMV...

IMHO just present it always...as most of us are waiting on our CHL...Why go through all this trouble to get it at not carry... armed 24/7 unless it against the law

To clarify (a huge omission to the original question, I know), when he asked me if I had a CHL he also asked where my firearm was located, and I told him I did not have one on me or in the vehicle. I was also handed a printed warning for the speeding but nothing was notated concerning the CHL presentation issue. Thank you all for you replies. I will certainly present anytime my license is shown to a LEO in the future, I decided that immediately after this occured. It's a simple respect, LEO's have a tough enough job as it is in my eyes. I was just surprised by the events and left feeling like I had done something wrong.

Just to avoid this kind of mess I always present my CHL if am carrying or not. Due to my employeer's regulations I am not permitted to carry while working. And I tend to get stopped while working. I present both and while handing the officer my credentials I inform him I am a CHL holder and let him know at that time if I am packing or not. Get the stuff in the open to begin with.
Most officers appreciate the info up front, you are answering questions proactively that will be asked anyway.

As others have said you did not have to present if you were not carrying. If I am ever stopped and I am not carrying I will let the LEO know I have a CHL.

In this case, if, in the troopers mind (and maybe not being familiar with this aspect of CHL) you were wrong in not presenting, he was decent enough to not try to have your CHL revoked. I and everyone here knows you were not wrong and your CHL would not have been revoked if he tried and he should have known the law. I am not defending the trooper, just saying if he really thought you had to present and you did not, he may have thought in his mind he was cutting you a break. Of course no one knows what goes on in someones mind.

I was pulled over tonight, just a week into having my CHL...I was speeding and I KNEW I was popped. It went something like this:
LEO: "Evening...license and insurance please..." (he was standing out of my field of view, but I rolled down all my windows and turned on my map lights)
me: "Here's this, and my insurance is somewhere up here.." (handing him both licenses, casually, and looking behind my sunvisor for my insurance card) I didn't even look at him.
LEO: "Are you carrying now?"
me: "Yessir..."
LEO: "Where are...."
me: "It's in my bag" (messenger bag on the passenger seat)

"OK...the reason I pulled you over is you were doing 50 in a 35...." *I wince*
me: "Man...sorry about that...I was just happy to get out of Medic School early tonight..."
LEO: "Are you with a department?" (must have looked at my fire academy sticker)
me: "Not yet...I was hoping to hedge my bets with medic school...hopefully...yadda yadda...midlife career change...yadda yadda..."
************
cut to the chase; he hands me my plastic and says "it's 35...try to keep it down over here".
I say "thank you...I appreciate it...stay safe..." and I am on my way.

Moral of the story is...I was up-front, calm (as I could be...I tend to get B&W fever), and courteous. All he did was ask where my pistol was, I told him, and we ended up talking for about 3 minutes about bull before he cut me loose.
Our CHL tells them we are GG's not BG's...and once they feel comfortable talking to you knowing you are armed, well, I am currently batting 1000...knock on wood. Not bad for not having done my Wally Walk yet, eh?

Great story firehiker, thanks for posting. Cudos

Shame on you for not doing the wally walk yet. It's in the book ya know? -----------------> {The Book}

I KNOW! I have two issues at the moment...1) I don't have a suitable holster for my large frame auto, and using my messenger bag would be cheating...and 2) All three Wallys in my area are out Out OUT of ammo. It just wouldn't be the same to do my walk to purchase golf balls or a chinese tool set, ya know??