TexasCHLforum.com

Greetings all and thanks for any help you can provide.

I am currently 33 years of age and just moved back to TX from a nine year vacation in CA :-).

HISTORY:
Back when I 18, I had planned to go into the military. I was in JROTC for 5 years, and when I went down to MEPS, I told the truth that I had infantile asthma but no longer suffered the effects of asthma as I was running 2-3 miles a day. At any rate, I was DQ'd from the program.

At this point in, my life was turned upside down and I went out of control. I was arrested for shoplifting (class b I think) and I also got a UCW charge (class A) when I got caught with another guy for shooting out windows at old buildings with a .22 pistol. To my knowledge, those are the only two offenses I have other than 2 traffic violations from around the same time.


NOW:

well here I am some 15 years later and I wonder where I stand. I recently purchased a handgun so I know I am able to do that with my prior history but I am wondering about maybe getting my CHL. I have read the rules time and time again but I am not 100% I fully understand the language of the law. I have also sent two instructors something similar to what I am posting here, but never got a reply back.

am I able to legally take the class?

Thanks again for your help

-will

Will - welcome to the forum! Now, let't see if we can help you out.

First, anyone is legally able to take the class. Some might not be eligible for the license, but nothing bars you from the class. And, I don't believe you have anything to worry about with your eligibility for the license.

Even if your UCW was a Class A misdemeanor, it would only make you ineligible for 5 years from the conviction date. You are well past that.

You will need certified copies of the disposition of your cases. Don't worry about the traffic violations - those don't matter. Contact the agency that processed you. If it was Texas, then you would be contacting the county criminal court clerk. If this was California, then I don't know, but the agency that arrested and processed you will know who has your records.

You must disclose your arrests and submit those disposition copies with your CHL application. But, unless you have other issues you have not disclosed here, then you should be good to go!

I think anybody can take the class.

The full eligibility requirements for a CHL are in 411.172 of the Texas government code.
Here are the parts that look like they might be relevant to you.

(3) has not been convicted of a felony;

(8) has not, in the five years preceding the date of
application, been convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or
an offense under Section 42.01, Penal Code;

(9) is fully qualified under applicable federal and
state law to purchase a handgun;

thanks guys for your help.

yeah all that bad stuff happened while i was still in texas. i left texas to get away and try and "start new" so-to-speak. and i must say it worked guess i even grew up a bit. i suppose that kinda happens when you move away with $250 in your pocket and only have a suitcase of close to start...lol course i will add i did have a friend that put me up for a few months too....