Best CHLs to Have for Reciprocity

[TEX]

I applied for my Texas CHL within a month of the program coming on line and as time went by more and more reciprocity states were added, but still I was not satisfied. What start-ed off as just a qu-est to get non-resident licenses that would make me legal in a cou-ple of states I wanted to visit, turned into a sort of hobby or contest to see just how many states a I could get legal in, even to include some I had absolutely no intention in visiting. As time went by many states' reciprocities overlapped others and more and more states began offering CHLs. I have held eight different licenses at one time or another, Texas included. These included Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Arizona, Utah and Maine. Some of them, as time went on, became redundant and were not renewed (PA and LA), while others, like AZ became more attract-ive when laws changed in other states. Presently I hold six licenses and the combination makes me legal in 41 of the 50 states – or 82% of the whole country - not bad. There are still two states that I could conceivably get non-resident licenses for (Massachusetts and Rhode Island) ,but it would be impractical, and one, MA is a total rip (one year license is $100). There is still hope that more states will come on line, Texas willll sign more reciprocity agreements with places like Oregon, Nevada, etc., or that a national reciprocity law will be passed (not really sure that is a good i-dea however). Some non-resident licenses are very simple to get and reasonably priced. I got the one for PA back in two weeks and I think it was $50. If you have a Texas CHL, just the addition of Arizona can cover a good deallll more. After that you pretty much only pick up one additional state per license. If states like California and Illinois would quit being a bunch of socialist babysitting know it alls, and get on board, then it would really open the country up. Figuring it all out can be a bagg of snakes, but presently my holdings are as shown below – please jump in and correct me if I got some of it wrong.

TEXAS = AL, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY (31 states)

ARIZONA = (OH, NV, WV) (3 states)

UTAH = (WA) (1 state) - really only adds Washington State

NEW HAMPSHIRE (NH) (1 state) – only adds New Hampshire

CONNECTICUT (CT) (1 state) – only adds Connecticut

MAINE (ME) (1 state) - only adds Maine



FREE STATES (AK, AZ, VT) (3 states) no CHL required

LIMITED OPEN CARRY (OR & MD) not covered by CHLs (I am not big on open carry)

[speedsix]

...thanks for compiling all of that for our benefit!!!

[Jumping Frog]

When I got my PA, I paid $26. However, as of last spring, PA will no longer accept non-resident license applications by mail. They must be done in person.

As far as reciprocity is concerned, UT and FL give equivalent states. The FL is cheaper than the UT for the first seven years, since you have to get Utah-specific training. After that, the UT renewals are WAY cheaper than FL.

I only have 4 licenses: TX, UT, PA, and OH. When my OH expires, I'll probably pick up AZ so I get NV, but I don't need AZ right now since my OH license is good in NV. Of course, it would be nice if TX and NV got reciprocity before then.

[Keith B]

Haven't checked all of you other states, but Utah really adds 3 additional states: Washington, West Virginia and Ohio.

[speedsix]

...wouldn't Texas' application be classified as "requiring fingerprint-based background checks?" If so, WA will honor TX permits, according to this: http://www.atg.wa.gov/page.aspx?id=2334" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , unless they disqualify us for issuing to a serviceman under 21...in which case we ought not reciprocate with them...

[steveincowtown]

LIMITED OPEN CARRY (OR & MD) not covered by CHLs (I am not big on open carry)

Very nice post. Could you explain this item a little more. I am a former resident of MD and can tell you that open carrying in any form would end poorly for a person who chose to do it.

[The Annoyed Man]

I currently have a non-resident Utah CFP in addition to my Texas CHL. I have considered acquiring other non-resident licenses, but I don't travel that much.....or at least as much as I thought I might when I first got the CFP......and adding other licenses now seems less important to me. And with the possibility of HB822 getting signed into law, I'm content to wait and see what happens before trying to get any others. Besides, unless HB822 becomes law, the only state I actually travel to with any kind of frequency (California) is not likely to recognize any state's non-resident permits, and they certainly don't recognize my Texas CHL.

[snatchel]

I currently have a non-resident Utah CFP in addition to my Texas CHL. I have considered acquiring other non-resident licenses, but I don't travel that much.....or at least as much as I thought I might when I first got the CFP......and adding other licenses now seems less important to me. And with the possibility of HB822 getting signed into law, I'm content to wait and see what happens before trying to get any others. Besides, unless HB822 becomes law, the only state I actually travel to with any kind of frequency (California) is not likely to recognize any state's non-resident permits, and they certainly don't recognize my Texas CHL.

I am really concidering the AZ license so that I can travel and carry through NV on my trips to Cali. Since my wife loves Vegas, we usually hit it while we are visitng her parents in Las Angeles...

[Derf]

Washington State will NOT honor a TX CHL. I recently went through the process of obtaining a WA CPL on a trip to Seattle. Had a very long discussion with an attorney in Seattle's General Council prior to going through the process. In short, since TX will issue CHLs to active duty Servicemembers as young as 18, WA will not reciprocate. In short, their reciprocation stipulations mandate that a state qualified for reciprocity will not issue a CHL to anyone under the age of 21, regardless of service status.

The process is very straightforward, and takes all of 15 minutes at SPD headquarters. Don't know if county Sheriff's Offices in WA are this streamlined, but I had my WA CPL in hand via mail 19 days after applying.

[speedsix]

...thanks for clarifying that...it's their state...they can do what they want to...but our boys/girls deserve every benefit we can give 'em...I don't think our Atty. General should honor WA permits, either, then...

[tbrown]

The process is very straightforward, and takes all of 15 minutes at SPD headquarters. Don't know if county Sheriff's Offices in WA are this streamlined, but I had my WA CPL in hand via mail 19 days after applying.

A work friend got his WA CPL while he waited at a county SO a few years ago. He has a consulting client in the Seattle area so it was worthwhile for him. I'm not sure if it was King County SO though.

[TEX]

STEVEINCOWTOWN - the limited open carry goes something like this as far as I know and it appears to be a mine field. Some states have open carry laws, but no pre-emption state law, so certain cities, counties, etc. prohibited it. Some of these open carry laws are very old laws that are not routinely exercised and many LEOs may not understand them. You might beat the rap, but not the ride so to speak. That and the fact that I don't want goblins to know I am armed is why I am not a big fan of open carry.

JUMPING FROG - I did not list WV and OH under Utah, because I get access through the Arizona license.

I don't think the federal reciprocity law has an ice cube's chance in hell of getting passed and if it did, it would be subject to tampering or removal by liberal half witted law makers in the future, so you could conceivably go from all to none.

As far as California is concerned, I think you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning while holding a winning lottery ticket than you do of that state ever recognizing any other state's license. On a funny note however, I have a brother who lives in Sacramento who is a peace office and when there visiting, I asked one of his co-workers if my Texas CHL was good there and he looked at me kind of funny and said "sure, why wouldn't it be, your driver's license is?", and I don't think he was trying to be funny. My brother knows it isn't and he made innuendo that the other guy wasn't the sharpest tool in the box. He did tell me that if he stopped someone carrying with an out of state license and they were not causing any trouble, he would tell them the license was no good there and to put the hardware up before it got them into trouble with someone not so understanding. It made me wonder thought about how many LEOs are really up on what other states their state recognizes. I have family in law enforcement here in Texas and none of them can rattle off the list of states recognized here. Fact is they would do better to memorize the states that aren't recognized. Something I noticed when updating my material is that many states have gone from recognizing certain states to recognizing any and all states. Nice trend that I hope continues.

[Derf]

...thanks for clarifying that...it's their state...they can do what they want to...but our boys/girls deserve every benefit we can give 'em...I don't think our Atty. General should honor WA permits, either, then...

Hear you there. It is a bit frustrating to have to go through process more than once, but I am in Washington every month for work, so personally it was worth the additional time and expense. Even the city General Council attorney though the 18 y/o provision was absurd, knowing that most active duty folks have had at least rudimentary familiarization with handguns. At any rate it is what it is, and I certainly don't want to see anyone get hemmed up short by a misunderstanding of Washington State's statutes on the matter.

[AggieMM]

Don't forget the "MAP"....

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Ryan

[milessjacobs]

What is your resident State? That makes a difference especially considering the non-resident bull clauses that some many states have. I am Louisiana resident, so I have 39 states covered with just one license. I have a Texas permit, among others, FL, PA, NH, VT, ME (no help since New Mexico and Wisconsin were added to Louisiana).
For 12 years, I held a reserve badge with full statutory arrest powers; this qualified me under HR 218 Law Enforcement Safety Act to carry in all 50 states. Well I was unable to maintain good standing due to work situations so I had to let that go.
I do encourage anyone that has the time to become a true reserve deputy or any other law enforcement agency other than full time to get the benefits of national concealed carry.
Even though some people say HR 218 is gray in some areas, it seems black and white to me such that even a deputy constable or campus police that have authority to carry with their agency and have statutory arrest powers, then they quality under HR 218.
I sure hope that soon enough the current bill National Right to Carry Reciprocity Act 2011 will pass so that those conservative states such as New York, New Jersey, California, and a few others, will have to honor our permits just like they honor our drivers licenses.
Who knows maybe one day Canada will allow Concealed Carry....don't hold your breath though....When we write N. America for Canada, instead of North America, we should write Not America instead.
Be safe.