CHL Eligibility Issue - Please Help!

[GunLaw]

This may not be the proper place to post this, but it's one of the more active areas in this forum, and I need some pretty quick advice, so here goes:


I'm a law student in Houston, and I was considering taking the CHL course this weekend because I probably won't have a lot of free weekends to do it once the semester starts. However, when I was a freshman in undergrad I had some minor legal problems. No felonies or anything like that, we're talking a couple of low grade misdemeanors. This was about 5 years ago, so I'm right around the time the statute of limitations pursuant to Texas CHL eligibility would expire for even the highest-grade misdemeanor offenses. Problem is, I don't really know how my offenses translate into Texas Penal Code language because I received them when I was going to school out of state, and that state's classifications don't align with Texas'.

So, bottom line is I don't know if I'm going to be eligible or not, and I was wondering if there was any way for me to find out before spending $300ish on paperwork and the class. I already made this mistake one time about 3 years ago and was denied based on these misdemeanors, and I don't want to get screwed again. Since then it appears the law have changed slightly, and I just don't know if I'm eligible yet or if I should wait until next summer.

Is there someone I can call or a site I can go to to verify my eligibility before I waste a bunch of money again? I've been looking around and I haven't found any real answers. I really would like to get my CHL someday soon, and my dad keeps harping on me to get it as soon as possible so that I can carry on my person and not just under my driver's seat.

Thanks guys!

[Greybeard]

Ya may get some voice mail run-around, but call DPS at 800.224.5744. Once ya get a live person, ask to speak with someone in Legal. Have all ya paperwork in order and be prepared to give em all ya have for best chance of a straight answer "from the horse's mouth". And be sure to make note of the person ya talk to.

[Charles L. Cotton]

PM sent.

Chas.

[Mastodon]

There's a huge reason why come NRA-election time, Mr. Cotton gets my vote.

I don't know the gentleman, a live on the other side of this state from him. However, it's fantastic to have one with such a knowledge-base and certain avocations that looks after this site, but more importantly lends a watchful eye and ear to questions regarding the ever-in-motion subject of law and 2A interests.

Thanks Mr. Cotton.

I'm finished..almost.

I'm just going through this whole Tucson lunatic rampage event with my family and individually; like everyone else I suppose.

Then I see this OP's topic posted, and there is Mr. Cotton lending an ear and some time.

Now I'm done. Thanks.

[GunLaw]

I fully agree! I'm definitely trying to have a brief talk with him about it tomorrow.

I tried the DPS hotline, got the runaround twice and left some messages, nobody has called me back yet. I'm not holding my breath.

[Fallsraider]

Keep calling them, be patient and have time to sit there on hold for while! During my application process I had to call to make sure I had my info in order. . . the wait was frustrating but the 2 times I got someone on the phone they were forthright and professional.
Bottom line is I got the answers I needed confirmed and it was 38 days mailbox to mailbox for my plastic.
Good luck with your CHL, like most things in life it isn't easy, but it's worth it!