TexasCHLforum.com

thankGod wrote:

shaggydog wrote:

Longtooths wrote:Because he does not legally have to??? (just a guess)

It’s called “courtesy�. Why make a stressful situation any more so simply because “you legally can�. That is, at best, an immature philosophy.

There are many things you can do legally, but they can be disrespectful. Because we can perform an act, it is not a right. Why not consider the ethics involved. Be polite, be courteous and truthful.

Ethics? How about the fact that we live in a country where we don't have to show papers everywhere we go? If you want to show your CHL when you aren't carrying, by all means do so; depending on the situation I may very well myself. The issue at hand, however, is someone being scolded by a police officer for following the law. That isn't right. If I am walking down the street I am under no obligation to show my diver's license to an officer or for that matter to have it with me, likewise with the CHL if I do not have my handgun. Will I if asked in order to ease the interaction? Sure, I am happy to show ID if I have it on me and it will make things go more swiftly. However, there is nothing disrespectful about not showing ID you are not required to have or to show and if an officer feels that it is and takes it out on me I will be making a complaint to his/her supervisor. I always treat police officers respectfully and show them courtesy and all I ask as a law-abiding citizen is that they do the same to me, and the vast majority that I have come in contact with do.

Folks, the law is clear on this. If you are not carrying there is no need to show the CHL. If a cop sees that I have a CHL and then gets angry at me for following the law, I will be making a complaint to his/her supervisor. It makes no sense once seeing that someone has a CHL to then assume that the person has suddenly chosen to start violating the law rather than the much more plausible explanation that that person is not carrying at the moment.

Also, given unlicensed car carry these days in Texas, if an officer wants to know whether there is a weapon in the vehicle he should be asking... a non-chl will not be informing an officer if carrying unless asked.

Rugrash-
Around here when I am carrying and inform a LEO of this after presenting my CHL then I get the response "good," not the other way around.