TexasCHLforum.com

Among the requirements for obtaining a CHL are

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

Are ROTC college students or students at a military academy (West Point, etc.) considered to be members of the armed forces?

- Jim

In general, ROTC students are not military members except those on scholarship. You will know if you are a member - you will have an ID card.

Kalrog wrote:In general, ROTC students are not military members except those on scholarship. You will know if you are a member - you will have an ID card.

Advance Course students -- MS-III level, junior year -- are military reservists with ID cards, and are under contract, even if they are non-scholarship.

KBCraig wrote: Advance Course students -- MS-III level, junior year -- are military reservists with ID cards, and are under contract, even if they are non-scholarship.

That isn't the case everywhere. Places like A&M have Juniors and Seniors in the corps who are not under contract. But in many (most?) other cases you are correct - anyone with an ID and under contract (I think I mentioned the ID thing) is in the reserves.

I believe that any academy cadet would be considered a member of the military. Not for sure... just my inclination.

Jeff B.

Why not call DPS and see what they say? It's worth a shot.

Jeff B. wrote:I believe that any academy cadet would be considered a member of the military. Not for sure... just my inclination.

Jeff B.

I don't believe so. When I was at A&M and in the corps. all the fish and sophomores are aligned with a branch, and then your junior year you are either officially contract, or D&C (drill and ceremony - just in it for fun really). Only those who are under a military contract go to camp in the summers and have military ID's. Even still they aren't commisioned until they graduate.

I don't think they would be allowed to get CHL's.

gigag04 wrote:

Jeff B. wrote:I believe that any academy cadet would be considered a member of the military. Not for sure... just my inclination.

Jeff B.

I don't believe so. When I was at A&M and in the corps. all the fish and sophomores are aligned with a branch, and then your junior year you are either officially contract, or D&C (drill and ceremony - just in it for fun really). Only those who are under a military contract go to camp in the summers and have military ID's. Even still they aren't commisioned until they graduate.

I don't think they would be allowed to get CHL's.

I think he meant US military academies (i.e. US Naval Academy, US Military Academy, US Air Force Academy or US Coast Guard Academy) in which case I think he's correct.

G.C.Montgomery wrote:I think he meant US military academies (i.e. US Naval Academy, US Military Academy, US Air Force Academy or US Coast Guard Academy) in which case I think he's correct.

I did mean the national academies. I had forgotten about the Aggies.

This question isn't about a specific person. It was just something that popped into my head.

- Jim

do instructors generally deny you if you're not 21 even if you're a member of the US military?

my cousin, age 20, just got back from deployment and is having a hard time getting one, he called around angleton, tx and everyone is telling him has to be 21 to purchase a handgun and get a CHL...

Anyone know any instructors in houston that will do it? i assume its just a liability thing and not texas/federal law.

htxred wrote:do instructors generally deny you if you're not 21 even if you're a member of the US military?

I don't know if they do generally. Your cousin can call Tom Estep at 281-455-0846 and get a quick answer. Tom teaches in Texas City. He's an excellent instructor.

htxred wrote:my cousin, age 20, just got back from deployment and is having a hard time getting one, he called around angleton, tx and everyone is telling him has to be 21 to purchase a handgun and get a CHL...

They are wrong. He can't purchase a handgun from an FFL, but he can buy one from a private party or receive one as a gift.

- Jim

i thought he can purchase from FFL with military ID??? i guess 21 is 21 no matter what status?

htxred wrote:i thought he can purchase from FFL with military ID??? i guess 21 is 21 no matter what status?

The latter. Texas makes an exception to the age rule for CHLs, but as far as the feds are concerned, you must be 21 to buy a handgun from a dealer, no matter what.

thanks! i guess he'll be buying my g19 and taking a chl class in houston.