TexasCHLforum.com

I know the general consensus around here for many is to never show your license to anyone except and LEO when required to by law. Still, I'm wondering if anyone has used it as a proof of identification. Buying beer, cigarettes, getting into a rated R movie, getting through airport security, what ever.

After all it is a government issued photo ID and seems like it would serve as a valid ID in many scenarios.

I expect many replies to largely be focused around why the poster would never do this and why it's a horrible idea for anyone to try. But I was curious so I figured I'd throw it out there.

If you have please post details on the scenario below including the reaction you received from the person you were presenting it to.

I was cashing a large check and the bank wanted 2 forms of I.D., It was not my bank. After looking thru my wallet it was all I had....You should have seen the look on the tellers face, she then called her manager over and both were interested in getting one for themselves. I did not want to do it but it was my only option at the time.

I was asked if I had a CHL when buying myself a 22 handgun for Christmas. Salesman filled out paperwork and walked me over to register where I payed and went my way. This was at McBrides and was great since the place was packed and a lot of people were waiting on background checks. Only other person that has seen my CHL is my girlfriend.

Have/Would you ever use your CHL as a general purpose ID?

Well ... not on purpose.

I can telecommute and work from home most Fridays. Sometimes during my lunch break, I'll go have lunch with my grandson at his kindergarten. Visitors are required to check-in at the office before meeting the kids in the school cafeteria. The receptionist usually takes my Driver's License and swipes it through a card reader and it prints a sticker with a picture ID for me to put on my shirt to wear while I'm on campus.

The time before last --> I went into the office like usual, handed her my license and she swiped. The card reader didn't work like it normally does, so she glanced at my ID and swiped it again. It still didn't work - so she compared my name on the kardex kept filed with the approved visitors list and read the ID again. She said, "Ma'am, don't you have a driver's license"?

So you figured it out -- I had handed her my CHL instead of my DL. Once I got the right card to her, I was swiped in without another hitch. She never acknowledged, if she recognized the difference in the first card I handed her... I just kind of laughed at myself.

I USUALLY keep the CHL in a separate section of my wallet to avoid that mistake; but I'd been to my FFL a few days before to pick up something or the other -- and after the fact, I realized I had put it back in the same section with my DL when I stuck it back in my wallet. I do try to pay more attention to that now!

I worked at a booth once that required ID... and someone used their CHL because they left their Driver's License at home.

I kindly reminded him that if they are carrying, they must have both forms of ID.

Didn't seem to phase him.

My wife did last weekend in Branson at WalMart, because she misplaced her driver's license (again). The clerk didn't even bat an eye. I don't know that she really noticed:)

Seems like I did use it for something else other than buying a gun, but I can't remember the circumstance now.

While I was working as an elections clerk during early voting, one guy game in and ID'd himself to me for voting purposes with a CHL. I of course didn't bat an eye and checked him in.

I don't even use driver's license as my general ID, not to mention CHL.

No, because I don't consider it 'ID'.

OTOH, and I have hit this in another thread, when I lived in IL I have a FOID that had across the top, prominently, "ILLINOIS STATE POLICE" and under that "Firearms Owner Identification". I was flying somewhere and the girl at check in (way before TSA days) insisted on seeing two forms of picture ID, so since I had only my IL DL and my FOID, I showed her my FOID, at which point she asked me if I would be carrying a gun on that trip.

I understand IL has changed the format of the FOID so it doesn't appear to be a State Police ID.

Several years ago, I was asked for two for two forms of picture ID at Chicago O'Hare airport. I showed the girl at the ticket counter my Texas DL and my CHL. She looked rather surprised and asked, "You don't have it with you now, do you!?" I really wanted to say "sure, don't you[?]" but I figured it would delay my trip home.

Chas.

While at Fiesta Texas, I gave up my driver's license to rent a Fast Pass while in the park. My daughter and niece decided they wanted to go to the park again the next day, so we went into a building to purchase the "next day for $10" deal they had going on.

Lady in there asked me for a picture ID for the credit card purchase or some other reason -- can't exactly remember. But all I had was my CHL, since the Fast Pass place still had my driver's license. Anyway, got kind of a weird look from the lady, but no other comment. She just went along with the transaction.

That's the one and only time I've ever used it and probably will be the one and only time. I'm not a real big fan of letting people know I've got a CHL, at least not strangers. I guess I just don't want to make some sheep nervous.

My dad bought a gun at the Houston High Caliber show a week or so ago. The dealer asked him for his DL and CHL, so dad handed them over. The guy handed them back and said 'I need a Texas CHL'. My father was taken aback, I spoke up and said 'you wanna check that again?' It was the new design... the one that's been out since September. Guess he hadn't seen many of them. Over all, point being, I'm assuming Wal-mart and others who just glance at a name might not even know it's a CHL.

A guy I know used his at a security booth at a local packing plant. He reasoning was kinda stupid ( dont want to get into it but ), he ended up getting his vehicle searched. They have a NO FIREARM'S sign posted, but no 30.06. Told him it was illegal to carry there and so forth, they didnt tell him he couldnt, just that it was illegal. I go there all the time too, and I intend to carry. It's not a legal sign, they cant do anything to me unless I'm verbally told I cant carry there, which they have not. You cant even call their security, security. They see me so often they just wave me through

I just got my license on the 26th of December, and I don't plan on showing it to anyone unless I have to. I have thought about handing it over when the bank teller (WellsFargo) asks for two forms of ID though.

buying a firearm is obvious...

But yeah, if someone says, "I need 2 forms of government issued photo ID" and I didn't know that in advance to bring my passport, it's the only other form of "government issued photo ID" i have.

Otherwise, no.... well, I have to admit I may be childish enough to do it if someone has irritated me off... LOL