About to take CHL Course - Have Questions

[GlockandLoad]

Hi there.

I am wondering if I would be wasting my time and money in trying to get a CHL.

I have the following on my record.

Theft Under 200 - Class B Misdemeanor x2 (No Convictions)
Possession of Marijuana - Class B Misdemeanor (No Conviction)

All of these happened before I turned 20. I am now 31 so 11 years has passed. I am wondering if my CHL would be denied for these three arrests. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am a member of GlockTalk and some other users on there seem to think my application for a CHL will be denied because of these arrests.

Thanks in advance for any help and/or info you could give me !!

[seamusTX]

You're good to go. Only convictions count against you.

You need certified copies of the dispositions of these cases. They can be hard to get, so get them A.S.A.P.

- Jim

[GlockandLoad]

Thanks for the quick reply mang!

How do I go about getting the disposition on these cases?

[seamusTX]

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

To get the legal record, you need to start with the clerk of the court in the district where your case was handled. There's such a crazy-quilt of justice of the peace and district courts in Texas, I don't know specifically what to tell you.

If you still have paperwork from these cases, it might help.

If you name the city and county where you were arrested, someone else might be able to tell you where to go.

- Jim

[GlockandLoad]

All were Dallas country. One theft was in Hurst, one theft was in Coppell, the Mary-Jew-Wanna was in Carrolton.

If I have a difficult time tracking these dispositions down, is this something the DPS will do upon receiving my CHL application?
I know it will slow them up, but just in case.

Thanks again man!!

[seamusTX]

If I have a difficult time tracking these dispositions down, is this something the DPS will do upon receiving my CHL application?

No. You have to do it. If you don't provide what they need, they'll sit on your application.

- Jim

[Wildscar]

All of these happened before I turned 20. I am now 31 so 11 years has passed.

I too was aressted for Unlawfully Carrying Weapon (Handgun) before the age of 20 and I got my CHL about a month ago. Im 32. You should be ok.

[GlockandLoad]

Wildscar, you bad boy.

Congrats on the CHL man, I can wait to get mine. My G23 is getting restless and wants to be carried.


Cools man, I will get started trying to get the dispositions. Should I call the DPS to get the ball rolling, or the County Clerk or what.

Also, do I send these dispositions in with my packet after completing the course? I appreciate all the help fellas!

[Wildscar]

Wildscar, you bad boy.

Congrats on the CHL man, I can wait to get mine. My G23 is getting restless and wants to be carried.


Cools man, I will get started trying to get the dispositions. Should I call the DPS to get the ball rolling, or the County Clerk or what.

Also, do I send these dispositions in with my packet after completing the course? I appreciate all the help fellas!

Yeah the same model gun I was arrested with is the same one that I carry now. Only this time it’s legal. For what it’s worth, I did not send a disposition with my packet. I just gave very clear details accounts of the three times I was arrested and where they where and everything I could remember about them. It might have taken my app a little longer than normal but other wise it wasn’t too bad.

[seamusTX]

Cools man, I will get started trying to get the dispositions. Should I call the DPS to get the ball rolling, or the County Clerk or what.

Dig out any paperwork that you still have and call the county clerk or look up their web site.

DPS generally doesn't have arrest or court records.

Also, do I send these dispositions in with my packet after completing the course?

You should send them with your application.

Certified copies cost a couple of bucks. You might want to get two or theee copies in case you need them in the future. They become more difficult to get as the years pass.

- Jim

[GlockandLoad]

Dude, thanks for all the info. Unfortunately, I don't have any records or paperwork from these arrests. It was so long ago, I would have no clue where to even look.

I guess if all else fails, I can just write them out on the application and get as specific as possible.

I found thier website, so I will give them a call and see what they can do for me. It would be nice to have these in my files too just in case something comes up that requires me that have them.

Wildscar - what kind of gun do you carry? I'll be carrying either my Glock 22 or my Glock 23. And you say it took longer than usual. How long did it take. Doesn't it normally take about 90 days or so?

Sorry for all the questions!

[RPBrown]

Hurst is in Tarrant County. You may have to go there.

Careful, about Carrollton as well. Part in Dallas Co, Denton Co., and evev Collin Co.

[Wildscar]

Wildscar - what kind of gun do you carry? I'll be carrying either my Glock 22 or my Glock 23. And you say it took longer than usual. How long did it take. Doesn't it normally take about 90 days or so?

Sorry for all the questions!

Look at my sig. Click the two links to see answers to both questions.

[stormchaser]

I had an old (12 years) arrest in Richmond, Va. I thought I needed to put on my Texas CHL application. Turns out I didn't, but the nightmare that ensued trying to get a copy of that disposition from Va. was a learning experiance. I found that most States and CommonWealths get rid of ALL misdemeanor records after 8-10 years. So, what ya gonna do? The State of Texas was no help at all in that respect. If it had not been for the fact that I did not need a court copy for my CHL, I have no idea even today what I would have done!

[Liberty]

Look at my sig. Click the two links to see answers to both questions.

Yeah what happened to the crazy CHL badge that was in your sig?