TexasCHLforum.com

* HB 322 by Rep. Suzanna Hupp (R-Lampasas) & Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) Reduces Fees and Lowers the Minimum Age Requirement for a CHL from 21 to 18 for Active Military Personnel

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Went shooting with coworker and his nephew this weekend. Co-worker's nephew is in the Army and got back in March from a 1 year tour in Iraq.

I showed him a few things about shooting handguns and he showed me a few things about shooting AR's.

Nephew is very interested in getting a .45 and a CHL when he turns 21.

He's been carrying an M16 or SAW over in Iraq... comes home and cannot purchase a handgun or handgun ammo.

If the law changes and he can get a CHL while still under 21, how are things going to work?

Will he be able to buy a handgun through an FFL? or will he have to find a non-FFL to sell him the handgun? or will he have to get the handgun as a gift?

Will he be able to legally buy handgun ammo? Or will that have to be a gift?

You know...

Thats a good question...I don't think I saw a provision in that law that talks about any exemptions to purchasing a handgun for 18+ year olds (active duty military) in regards to obtaining a CHL permit...

The intent (to be confirmed) may be that you must first apply, get your package, the class, pass the class, and then mail it off for your permit...

Once you get the permit, then that allows you as a Texan below the age of 21 to legally purchase a handgun...

Maybe thats how it'll work...

I'm going to take a look at the wording again, then if I don't see how it works then, maybe a call to your State Rep may generate an answer...

A call to Suzanna Hupp may be better than calling a Rep who may not be as informed about that particular law at this time...

Later,
Steve

Texas law cannot supercede federal law on FFL purchases. However, 18 year olds can already possess handguns, they just can't buy them from a dealer. So yes it'll have to be a gift or private sale. I think the ammo may work the same.

dolanp wrote:Texas law cannot supercede federal law on FFL purchases. However, 18 year olds can already possess handguns, they just can't buy them from a dealer. So yes it'll have to be a gift or private sale. I think the ammo may work the same.

I just got off the phone with Alice Tripp...

She stated the same thing...

(Steve slaps his forehead, and says "I could've had a V-8!")

This was an interesting bill, now law, that give the opportunity to a very small segment of our population the ability to obtain this permit...

You also have to realize that most 18, 19, 20 year olds are very low paygrade, and may not have off-base housing...Money, living arrangments etc etc...

- Military bases are for the most part, non carrying facilities, unless you get approved by the Army's "base" Provost Marshal, or Commanding officer of a base...(very unlikely in both cases)...

But this topic has been discussed in other forums and the indication is clear...This is (IMHO) a feel-good law (but good for those who want the permit), that will probably be very rarely applied for in this age group...

And by the time they get the licence (which will be a one time deal), when they renew, if they are still in this State, they may at the most only be 22 years old...

And other than Texas, Oklahoma may be the only other State (reciprocity-wise) that they can carry in as well...Age being the factor there...

Alice reminds me every time..."Be careful what you wish for."

I think the largest benefit of this particular bill is the fee reduction for military personnel. 50% is a big cut for Texas' high fees.

:? An 18 year old can vote.

An 18 year old can die for this country.

An 18 year old can enter into a contract.

An 18 year old can not buy a beer on their last night home before they head off to war.

An 18 year old can not buy a handgun for his 18 year old wife to protect herself in his absence. She can not legally carry.

Ridiculous.

anygunanywhere wrote::? An 18 year old can vote.

An 18 year old can die for this country.

An 18 year old can enter into a contract.

An 18 year old can not buy a beer on their last night home before they head off to war.

An 18 year old can not buy a handgun for his 18 year old wife to protect herself in his absence. She can not legally carry.

Ridiculous.

And unless they have changed the law, he can be a comissioned security guard.

BTDT, got the shirt. (Many, many moons ago)

Thanks guys!

I'll forward the info.

anygunanywhere wrote::? An 18 year old can vote.

An 18 year old can die for this country.

An 18 year old can enter into a contract.

An 18 year old can not buy a beer on their last night home before they head off to war.

An 18 year old can not buy a handgun for his 18 year old wife to protect herself in his absence. She can not legally carry.

Ridiculous.

He can't rent a car until 25, can't be President until 35.

Society has set minimum ages for all sorts of things.

txinvestigator wrote: He can't rent a car until 25, can't be President until 35.

Society has set minimum ages for all sorts of things.

Please don't confuse "politicians" with "society".

Kevin

anygunanywhere wrote::? An 18 year old can vote.

An 18 year old can die for this country.

An 18 year old can enter into a contract.

An 18 year old can not buy a beer on their last night home before they head off to war.

An 18 year old can not buy a handgun for his 18 year old wife to protect herself in his absence. She can not legally carry.

Ridiculous.

Excellent summary, and I agree that it's ridiculous.

I'll just point out that you can modify your list just a bit to make it more effective:

- A 20 year old cannot buy a beer to celebrate his safe return from war.

- A 20 year old serviceman cannot by a handgun for his 18 year old wife to protect herself (and their child) during his absence. Even if he could, she can't legally carry it.

My 18yo son is trying to work and save for college. I'd support him joining the Marines tomorrow, but his mother is naturally hesistant given the current state of world affairs. He can shoot my handguns. He can legally carry one in a car in Texas on 9/1/05. He can buy .45 or 9mm ammo legally, by stating that is for a rifle. And I can buy a beer for him and set it in front of him in any restaurant in Texas (same for his 15yo sister, 14yo brother, 10yo brother, or even 2yo brother -- that's my choice as a parent, although none of them old enough to have tasted alcohol wants anything to do with it.)

Artificial age limitations are just that: fake, and without basis.

Kevin

KBCraig wrote:

txinvestigator wrote: He can't rent a car until 25, can't be President until 35.

Society has set minimum ages for all sorts of things.

Please don't confuse "politicians" with "society".

Kevin

With all due respect Kevin, you have no idea what I know and confuse. Society has set these limits. If not, society would force the politicians to change them.

The limits, IMO, are not arbitrary nor without basis. He can drink under your supervision, but we, society, have decided (and I agree) that the majority of 18 year olds do not have the decision making ability and maturity to be allowed to drink unsupervised.