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Buying a handgun in Texas without a CHL?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:49 pm
by Armybrat
For non-felons & resident citizens, of course.
I have plumb forgot what it's like and what the rules/laws are.
This question was recently asked of me:
Is there a waiting period while the background check is being done?
How about for long guns?
Re: Buying a handgun in Texas without a CHL?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:57 pm
by Thomas
"waiting period" as in days? No.
"waiting period" as in minutes? Yes.
The only gun I bought before getting my CHL was a handgun. I had to wait about 5 minutes while the clerk called up some number to make sure I could buy a handgun.
Re: Buying a handgun in Texas without a CHL?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:01 pm
by speedsix
...if they can't clear you at NICS immediately for any reason, you can be delayed up to three business days...after that, the dealer can deliver your gun to you...some will...some won't(being wiser than the FBI, donchaknow...these are the same ones who make us stand there while they call it in even when we DO have a CHL)...normally, unless your name is close to some criminal's or such, you don't face a delay...
Re: Buying a handgun in Texas without a CHL?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:12 pm
by Zylo_X
Yes, without a CHL the waiting period, whether long gun or pistol, is about 15 minutes to make the phone call.

As long as you are otherwise legal to purchase, no problem. If you have a CHL, then the vendor doesn't have to make 'the call', and I concur with the opinion expressed by others here that if the vendor insists on 'calling it in', then you should take your business elsewhere and advise the members here. Also, if you buy something on-line and do the FFL transfer, being CHLer will get you a discounted xfer fee at the some of the local FFLs. It pays to shop around, and you can find a list of FFLs on this forum. Happy Shootin'!
Dag nab it!! There were ZERO replies when I started typing. I guess my fingers need more coffee!!

Re: Buying a handgun in Texas without a CHL?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:15 pm
by karl
I purchased my first handgun before I had a CHL. I didn't even wait for a minute and the clerk had returned and processed my transaction.
Re: Buying a handgun in Texas without a CHL?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:56 pm
by Salty1
"...if they can't clear you at NICS immediately for any reason, you can be delayed up to three business days..." ...........I think he meant to say 5 business days, which is the amount of time that must pass when a dealer can deliver the firearm if they do not hear back with either a proceed or denied...........
Re: Buying a handgun in Texas without a CHL?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:06 pm
by speedsix
Salty1 wrote:"...if they can't clear you at NICS immediately for any reason, you can be delayed up to three business days..." ...........I think he meant to say 5 business days, which is the amount of time that must pass when a dealer can deliver the firearm if they do not hear back with either a proceed or denied...........
...s'cuze me, Sir...I meant THREE like I posted...and like I did for over 5 years when I was in the business...but then what do I know...
...maybe you could take the time to contact ATF and tell them to correct their answer to question 36...
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/brady-law.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
...I'm sure they'd appreciate it...

Re: Buying a handgun in Texas without a CHL?
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:42 am
by mrvmax
speedsix wrote:Salty1 wrote:"...if they can't clear you at NICS immediately for any reason, you can be delayed up to three business days..." ...........I think he meant to say 5 business days, which is the amount of time that must pass when a dealer can deliver the firearm if they do not hear back with either a proceed or denied...........
...s'cuze me, Sir...I meant THREE like I posted...and like I did for over 5 years when I was in the business...but then what do I know...
...maybe you could take the time to contact ATF and tell them to correct their answer to question 36...
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/brady-law.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
...I'm sure they'd appreciate it...

Three business days, but it can turn in to much longer. You cannot count any day that state offices are closed. So, if I ran a check on someone on November 21 and got a delay, if there was no response back by Wednesday, and if government offices are closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, it would end up being Tuesday the 29th before I could do the transfer. The do not count the first day (which in my example was Monday the 21st) so the 3 day check ended up being 9 days. This happened to a customer of mine last Christmas.
Re: Buying a handgun in Texas without a CHL?
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 11:19 am
by wharvey
Sounds like when I started teaching in 1975. Was teaching in Amarillo and we would get paid the first workday after the 16th of the month. One month the 16th fell on a Thursday. Friday and Monday were school holidays. Didn't get paid until Tuesday 21st. Cause among other problems a late rent fee. Being a new teacher right out of college didn't have enough reserve built up to cover.
This kind of stuff shouldn't be legal. Three days should mean that, three days.
Re: Buying a handgun in Texas without a CHL?
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 1:26 pm
by speedsix
mrvmax wrote:speedsix wrote:Salty1 wrote:"...if they can't clear you at NICS immediately for any reason, you can be delayed up to three business days..." ...........I think he meant to say 5 business days, which is the amount of time that must pass when a dealer can deliver the firearm if they do not hear back with either a proceed or denied...........
...s'cuze me, Sir...I meant THREE like I posted...and like I did for over 5 years when I was in the business...but then what do I know...
...maybe you could take the time to contact ATF and tell them to correct their answer to question 36...
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/brady-law.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
...I'm sure they'd appreciate it...

Three business days, but it can turn in to much longer. You cannot count any day that state offices are closed. So, if I ran a check on someone on November 21 and got a delay, if there was no response back by Wednesday, and if government offices are closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, it would end up being Tuesday the 29th before I could do the transfer. The do not count the first day (which in my example was Monday the 21st) so the 3 day check ended up being 9 days. This happened to a customer of mine last Christmas.
...your example shows a 7 day delay with the gun being transferred on the 8th...not nine days...I had to use my fingers...you don't count the first day or day of transfer...that's cheating..
...it can fall that way...but it's still 3 business days...the other days aren't business days and they don't figure into the 3...the answer in the link explains it pretty clearly...it just, like a lot of gooberment stuff, doesn't make a lot of sense...as doesn't the whole process...I'd hate for my salary this year to be a dollar for every time the Brady law prevented a criminal from doing anything...
Re: Buying a handgun in Texas without a CHL?
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 1:34 pm
by speedsix
wharvey wrote:Sounds like when I started teaching in 1975. Was teaching in Amarillo and we would get paid the first workday after the 16th of the month. One month the 16th fell on a Thursday. Friday and Monday were school holidays. Didn't get paid until Tuesday 21st. Cause among other problems a late rent fee. Being a new teacher right out of college didn't have enough reserve built up to cover.
This kind of stuff shouldn't be legal. Three days should mean that, three days.
...I can remember being bitten by that dog on a holiday...being broke all weekend...now folks who get paid Friday can get their money Thursday if they direct deposit...sure ain't like the old days...