Strangest place you have used your CHL?

[Lonegun1894]

What is the strangest place you have ever used your CHL? Wheather as an ID, or when asked by LEO, or whatever? I know some have used them as a second ID to confirm age, or other things. What's yours?

Mine was when a couple of us got stopped driving a civilian vehicle we "borrowed" to get back to a friendly area in Iraq. We were all dressed in civies and "slightly" armed, with no military IDs on us. Couple of us had CHLs and we showed those to prove we belonged on the inside of the fence, and not the outside. Had a little explaining to do afterwards, but hey, better to ask forgiveness than permission, right?

[longtooth]

Asking forgivness rather than permission is easier if you get caught ridding Granddaddy's next freezer calf when you are ten. A laugh now to the younger set but as much as we who are old value you guys that was not very funny to us. Now to the Q. Never had to show mine. Never been stopped since CHL. Las ticket 1985. Declared it once when several officers were in a Wal-mart parking lot as I left. One cruiser at the door when I walked out. No big. That is where they park for shoplifters. Got out the door alert level increases to FLOURESCENT orange. Two officers on foot out front and another cruiser making a big slow perimiter. My truck is parked a long way from the door. I am headed to the church to mow. Trailer hooked up & two mowers on it. Close to half way to my truck one of the officers approaching, Sir, could I see some ID please. Yes sir, my name is Jerry Young I have a CHL & I am armed. My weapon is at 3:30 under my shirt & my ID is in my left back pocket. How do yo want to proceed? "Where are you going." Headed to the church to mow, & pointed to my truck. "Go ahead to your truck then go on about your business." It was plain that they were not interested in any help. Yes Sir. Never did find out what that deal was.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I was flying back to Houston from Chicago and the lady at the ticket counter at O’Hare Airport asked for a second picture ID. (This was pre-9/11/01, so I was surprised.) I gave her my CHL and she didn’t even want to touch it! “You don’t have it with you now, do you!?� was her shocked response. I was tempted to say, “sure, don’t you� but I was positive that would delay my flight home.

Regards,
Chas.

[Lonegun1894]

Chas,
Last time i flew, it was a military flight and we were all carrying m-16s. No one asked if anyone had any ID though. Just glad we didnt have to go through security. That would have been more fun than i wanna have anytime soon. Glad they didnt hassle you though.

[KBCraig]

Close to half way to my truck one of the officers approaching, Sir, could I see some ID please.

I'm glad that went well for you, but I'd have seriously bristled at being approached in public and asked for ID. This apparently wasn't even a Terry stop.

Kevin

[Lonegun1894]

You're more polite about it than i am. I dont tell them anything til they ask for it. If they ask for ID, i give them both. But i dont mention a weapon unless they ask if, what, where, etc. The ones i've known and been friends with told me too many stories about someone telling them about what you did and the officer hears it as if it was some type of warning or something and gets edgy. Those were rookies fresh out of school too that got nervous, but with my luck...

[Kalrog]

That response was almost exactly the one suggested by my instructor (LEO). I think the polite - officer's choice attitude difuses a lot. They had some reason for being there even though we don't know what it was.

And I usually come down on the side of personal privacy. In this situation, I have to assume that it wasn't just a random harassment... They were looking for someone and he wasn't it. Quickly determined and released.

[jimlongley]

Not CHL, but a few years back I was flying out of O'Hare airport (we were still trapped in IL) and for some reason I was asked to present a second form of ID. I whipped out my (state issued) Firearms Owner ID card and presented it to the lady behind the counter. Her whole attitude immediately changed, from mild arrogance to abject subservience - "And will you be carrying a firearm today sir?"

I was a little taken aback by the question and told her that I was not and then asked her why she asked. She told me that quite often State Police Officers carried with them when they travelled and that since I had shown a SP ID card she just assumed that I would be.

I did not disabuse her of the assumption that I was a SP officer, but when I had a closer look at my FOID, I could see why someone who was not acquainted with it would make the mistake - it said, in big block letters across the top "ILLINOIS STATE POLICE" and an IL state logo, and at the very bottom, in smaller text, "Firearms Owners ID" It looked very much like a police ID. IL has since rectified the situation and changed the format for the IL SP is at the bottom and FOID is across the top.

BTW, the IL FOID was NOT considered "valid state issued identification" back then, even with a picture and everything, but almost nobody knew that, so I often used it in place of my DL when asked for ID. The reason being that, at that time, you could access anyone's DL through the IL Secretary of State's web site, just by knowoing the number - a problem they also eventually rectified.

Does anyone know if the TX CHL is considered "valid state issued ID"?

[longtooth]

KB, it was very evident to me they were looking for someone & there were other customers in the lot getting no attention. Really my first thought was the description for who ever they were looking for was probably man with a beard & wearing jeans. Fit me to a T. Did have my Dad's ship on my cap. Not many BG's wear a WWll Escort Carrier on their cap. All things work together to give LEO's the info needed for a quick decision. I took no exception to it but did give a sure yes sir to the firm order to go ahead to my truck & go on about my business. Sure not looking for a

[longtooth]

Wife did get a one time when we were buying groceries. I load the buggy & she watches cupons, ads, & gives the check. Young new checker asked for DL & the wife had missed & put her DL behind CHL instead of in front. Did not see it until the girl said Hummm, first time I have seen one of these but I need you DL. Wife slightly red & it really didn't take much for me to figure out what had happened so wondered what would be next w/ both of us armed. She asked about cost. Wife talked to her for a while & all was well. Wife showed her where the DL # is on the CHL & the girl said next time she saw one she would just write it down. Said she was thinking of getting one & we both encouraged her. That was it.

[John]

I used it as a second form of ID at the bank once. I was taken off guard when they asked, as i had never been asked for a second form of ID before. Not sure what else i would have used, had I not had the CHL. Think'd they'd take a kroger shopping card? Anyway, it was at the drive through window and i got a great big grin from the lady behind the window when she saw it.

[Crossfire]

My hubby found out that post 9/11 it's just not a good idea to use the CHL as ID at the airport. He did make his flight, after they let him put his clothes back on. whoops

[Paladin]

I got my weird experience yesterday. Needed a second form of ID to take the GMAT exam. The CHL was all I had with me. Lady was pretty calm about it. They're pretty tough about searching you these days for the exam too. The made me empty my pockets. She was surprised by my pocket knife, but didn't see anything else.

[jbirds1210]

I used mine as an emergency ice scraper in Milwaukee a few years ago! It worked rather well if you are ever in that situation!

[Crossfire]

I used mine as an emergency ice scraper in Milwaukee a few years ago! It worked rather well if you are ever in that situation!

Now that's just wrong!