Does TX Share My CHL Status with Other States?

[Keith B]

If an agency sends an inquiry specifically inquiring about your CHL, then the DPS will send the license holder a notice of inquiry.

I got that. What I wanted to know for a fact was "does TX DPS in turn share all information in the CHL file(s) they have on us with any other state that requests it"?

I do not believe they share 'lists' of CHL holders with law enforcement agencies in other states. If a request is made about your CHL status, they will share it with a law enforcement agency. As for any other information they have on you is in the NCIC database anyway, so they can run the check on you that way no matter.

[Jumping Frog]

If you think other states knowing is bad, here is where it gets even worse.

I've previously read on other large internet gun forums that the interstate reporting system that allows the various states law enforcement agencies to lookup driver license information for LEO purposes (including CHL status) is also shared with Canada.

If you pull up at a Canadian border crossing, they already know you are CHL.

[ghostrider]

If you pull up at a Canadian border crossing, they already know you are CHL.

that is so wrong.
But it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case.

[cb1000rider]

From a technology perspective, you've got 50 states potentially storing data 50 different ways.
To share data, you either integrate each state's "version" of that data and then track the changes independently or you simply consume all the date and then send the bits to LEO terminals that you want.
The table and column that indicate your CHL status may be similar to the table and column that indicate your felony status in that state....

In simple terms:
It's really hard to pick and choose the data that you want, especially if you're from another state and the data that is provided might be interesting to you. If you don't pull it all, you have to stay on top of changes to all 50 states.

Basically, if you want to exclude CHL data, you may lose other data on criminals in the process.

As a non-LEO, I assume that all LEOs can pull my background and know that I *might* be carrying a firearm. That fact may weigh in to probable cause or culpable suspicion when I'm stopped.

Example: If I have a firearm in the trunk and I'm asked if I have a weapon in the car, I say "yes".

It's a bit of bending over in terms of civil liberties, but when I'm retired and no longer have to have gainful employment, I figure that's when I can afford to be arrested... And around here, they will arrest you if you provide some sort of "cause".

[chasfm11]

From a technology perspective, you've got 50 states potentially storing data 50 different ways.
To share data, you either integrate each state's "version" of that data and then track the changes independently or you simply consume all the date and then send the bits to LEO terminals that you want.
The table and column that indicate your CHL status may be similar to the table and column that indicate your felony status in that state....

In simple terms:
It's really hard to pick and choose the data that you want, especially if you're from another state and the data that is provided might be interesting to you. If you don't pull it all, you have to stay on top of changes to all 50 states.

Basically, if you want to exclude CHL data, you may lose other data on criminals in the process.

As a non-LEO, I assume that all LEOs can pull my background and know that I *might* be carrying a firearm. That fact may weigh in to probable cause or culpable suspicion when I'm stopped.

Example: If I have a firearm in the trunk and I'm asked if I have a weapon in the car, I say "yes".

It's a bit of bending over in terms of civil liberties, but when I'm retired and no longer have to have gainful employment, I figure that's when I can afford to be arrested... And around here, they will arrest you if you provide some sort of "cause".

We travel a fair amount (RV). I had already pretty much made the decision that if I was stopped in another State, even if handgunlaw.us said that I didn't have to disclose, I would. There have been some reports that Texas LEOs are not happy campers if they think you should have disclosed and didn't. I sure don't want another State's LEO in that same condition. The MD incident with the FL CCW guy pretty much reinforced my approach for me. The good news is that LEOs generally don't like to pull RVs over because there usually isn't room to get them off the road. And I would really have to work at ignoring the speed limit restrictions on most of the driving that we do. So my chances of meeting up with an LEO in the RV are pretty slim.... I hope.

[cb1000rider]

Chas, I've got an RV too.. And your policy is well and good for states with reciprocity. I'm the same way, even if the firearm is locked in a safe that might be considered "in the vehicle" - including trunk or external storage. I do get a little miffed if they want to inspect the trunk and generally decide how much trouble I want if they insist on inspecting. I can tell you that in my younger years, I met several LEOs that didn't give me a choice.

Course, in an RV, I rarely drive above 65. So I'm not likely to get stopped... But going through IL, I broke the firearms down, locked them up, stored them "outside" and locked the ammo in separate compartments. I think it's a sad commentary on the 2nd amendment.

[chasfm11]

Chas, I've got an RV too.. And your policy is well and good for states with reciprocity. I'm the same way, even if the firearm is locked in a safe that might be considered "in the vehicle" - including trunk or external storage. I do get a little miffed if they want to inspect the trunk and generally decide how much trouble I want if they insist on inspecting. I can tell you that in my younger years, I met several LEOs that didn't give me a choice.

Course, in an RV, I rarely drive above 65. So I'm not likely to get stopped... But going through IL, I broke the firearms down, locked them up, stored them "outside" and locked the ammo in separate compartments. I think it's a sad commentary on the 2nd amendment.

We do the same with the guns and ammo in the gun-unfriendly States. The outside compartments are not accessible while we are moving. That 12 miles in MD on I-81 is a real pain. I see it as good news that the other 1,500+miles on that trip allow me to have it right beside the driver's seat or on me.

The fuel mileage on our diesel drops like a rock above 65. 10mpg is bad enough, I don't need to drive faster and make it worse. We have about 50K miles over 10 years and I've only been pulled over once. I didn't have a CHL then and it probably won't have mattered. He was too busy lecturing me about my bad driving and telling me to get out of his county before I killed someone. His grossly exceeding the speed limit in an unmarked car didn't get mentioned.

[Keith B]

If you think other states knowing is bad, here is where it gets even worse.

I've previously read on other large internet gun forums that the interstate reporting system that allows the various states law enforcement agencies to lookup driver license information for LEO purposes (including CHL status) is also shared with Canada.

If you pull up at a Canadian border crossing, they already know you are CHL.

NCIC has been in place for decades. Here is a semi-recent presentation on law enforcement agency sharing info http://www.search.org/files/pdf/WILLIS-Spring09.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[hillfighter]

Whether Texas DPS is blatently violating Texas law or playing games to avoid complying with the law, I come to the same conclusion. It is unwise to have a CHL and DL from the same state if that state is Texas.

There's no guarantees in life but this sounds like a good precaution. Does anybody know how long it takes for an expired CHL to get purged from the data DPS publishes?

[jbarn]

Whether Texas DPS is blatently violating Texas law or playing games to avoid complying with the law, I come to the same conclusion. It is unwise to have a CHL and DL from the same state if that state is Texas.

What law and how would DPS be violating?

[locke_n_load]

I would bet, formally or informally, most larger law agencies have your info. We live in the age of the NSA and where the FBI main goal has gone from law enforcement to national security... Everything in the name of safety!