Howdy From Michigan

[Radioman]

Howdy Everybody

I am currently a Michigan CPL holder that will be moving to the Houston area next week. I have found answers to most all of my questions with regards to the move and my firearms but I do have three that I do not have good answers to yet.

First question regards the residency requirement for a CHL. I have read a number of times that the 6 month wait is no longer enforced but I have not been able to find an announcement of that on an offical DPS website. In Michigan you have to dot your I's and cross your T's or be in some legal trouble when it comes to applying for a CPL. Can anyone point me to a DPS site that states that the 6 month wait is not required anymore?

Second question has to do with the range qualification and CHL weapon classification. If I want to carry say a short barreled revolver would I have to qualify with a short barreled revolver or just any revolver? Same idea with semi-autos right?

Question three is about the written test. I haven't seen anything having to do with this yet. Does anyone know of a site to download a study guide or what is contained in the test. I am good with handling questions and the like but if there are specific sections to do with Texas Law then I need to do some reading before the class and test.

Thanks in advance for any answers or insight.

Radioman

[johnson0317]

I am not sure about question one, but I am willing to bet you have to establish residency in some form or another.

Second question: If you qualify with a revolver, you can carry any revolver, but not a semi-automatic. If you qualify with a SA, then you can carry a revolver or a semi-automatic.

Question Three: The best study guide is the DPS site. They have a copy of the concealed carry law there. However, worry not your heart...the test is quite easy, and your instructor will cover pretty much every question before you take the test. Spend some time here going through the threads, and read the law you can print out from the DPS website. You will have absolutely no problem at all.

Welcome!

RJ

(Tried to research question one at the DPS.gov site, but it is down for maintenance at the present time.)

[apostate]

1. residency: See 411.173(a) http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/D ... GV.411.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The department by rule shall establish a procedure for a person who meets the eligibility requirements of this subchapter other than the residency requirement established by Section 411.172(a)(1) to obtain a license under this subchapter if the person is a legal resident of another state or if the person relocates to this state with the intent to establish residency in this state.

2. SA/NSA: If you qualify with a semiauto you may carry any (legal) handgun, so that's my suggestion.

3. pre-study: The written test is very easy. The class will (should) cover everything you need to know to pass the test. That said, if you stick around, you'll probably learn far more from discussions here. (However, if you still want a study guide, click here.)

[Teamless]

Where in MI are you coming from? I ask as my wife is from Saginaw and I am from Toledo OH area. and there are many other transplants down here.

Where in Houston are you moving?
I am sure where ever it is, there would be plenty of us forum members near there, that would be happy to take you to the range and discuss without prying ears, the do's and don'ts of Texas laws.
Lastly, there is a great range in South Houston (Friendswood actually) called PSC Range
http://www.psc-range.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - that if you are in the area, is a great range to be a member of, very inexpensive and lots of facilities.

Look us up when you get here!

[RPB]

Welcome !!!

RE: Texas residency requirement
Watch out for the shibboleth
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~kemmer/Words/shibboleth.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Judges 12:6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right.

Fire, Tire and similar words are only one syllable here
The city of Humble, Texas has a silent H


Just kidding (had a roommate from Grand Rapids).... Welcome to Texas...get licensed... carry in Houston. I retired and moved away to the country from Houston before it got TOO dangerous; I only had 7 robbers point guns at me before I left.

Someone will be along to give a real answer soon on parts not yet answered.

[Radioman]

Howdy again

Thanks for the quick answers and welcome. Looks like I will be making this priority number 2 once I get to Texas. I have to get the pesky insurance requirements out of the way first and get the car plated and license and such.

As far as where I am going to be well lets leave that general for the sake of all the internet lurkers and say somewhere outside the beltway up where it might be noisy. As far as where I am coming from that would be what use to be Murder City USA the old Mo-Town.

Yes thats right folks a transplant from that evil city Detroit. I have to say only some parts deserve that much of a bad rap. I came from the better parts and have stayed to the better parts the both times I have lived here.

I see on ARFCOM that you folks in Houston do Tuesday night get togethers. I will be looking one or three of those up to meet some new friends and discuss ranges and whatnot. And I will be reading here as long as I am not packing or driving.

Thanks again for the help
Radioman

[RPB]

I didn't recall if you had a MI carry license or not... honored by Texas http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/texas.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... rocity.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

... if not ... there's also the .... Motorist Protection Act ... MPA .... for persons not licensed carrying in cars.

[C-dub]

Welcome Radioman.

I did the shooting qualification the first time with my G22. I did carry it for a little while until I got my G27. I could have qualified with my G22 again and still carried the G27, but just went ahead and did the qual with the G27 since that's what I had with me. Qualify with any semi-auto handgun and you can carry any semi-auto handgun or revolver. And we do not restrict the number of guns one can carry, like New Mexico.

[The Annoyed Man]

Howdy Everybody

I am currently a Michigan CPL holder that will be moving to the Houston area next week. I have found answers to most all of my questions with regards to the move and my firearms but I do have three that I do not have good answers to yet.

First question regards the residency requirement for a CHL. I have read a number of times that the 6 month wait is no longer enforced but I have not been able to find an announcement of that on an offical DPS website. In Michigan you have to dot your I's and cross your T's or be in some legal trouble when it comes to applying for a CPL. Can anyone point me to a DPS site that states that the 6 month wait is not required anymore?

Short answer, yes, the law still says 6 months. Don't know about the enforcement of that.

Second question has to do with the range qualification and CHL weapon classification. If I want to carry say a short barreled revolver would I have to qualify with a short barreled revolver or just any revolver? Same idea with semi-autos right?

You only have to choose between qualifying with a revolver (barrel length irrelevant) or a semi-auto. Any pistol must be of caliber .32 or greater during the qualification only (you can carry a .22 if you want to once you've got your CHL). If you qualify with a revolver, you can carry only revolvers. If you qualify with a semi-auto, you can carry either semi-autos or revolvers. There appears to be no caliber limit for concealed carry, either minimum or maximum, so long as the gun is legal to own, it is a pistol and not a long gun (AR pistols are included), and the ammunition in it is legal to own. The practical matter of whether you would want to carry a concealed rifle caliber pistol aside, if it is a pistol by BATF definitions, then I'm pretty sure you can carry it. I am unaware of any ammo type restrictions, so long as it is not classified as a destructive device. So a concealed Mark 19 grenade launcher with a pistol grip and a short barrel would be illegal.

Question three is about the written test. I haven't seen anything having to do with this yet. Does anyone know of a site to download a study guide or what is contained in the test. I am good with handling questions and the like but if there are specific sections to do with Texas Law then I need to do some reading before the class and test.

Thanks in advance for any answers or insight.

Radioman

I can't point you to a study guide, but the latest version of the DPS produced handbook can be found here: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... edlaws.htm

[C-dub]

Doh! I left out the caliber requirement.

[tomc]

Addressing your first question, "Residency Reqirements - 6 months":

GC §411.172. ELIGIBILITY. (a) A person is eligible for a license to
carry a concealed handgun if the person:
(1) is a legal resident of this state for the six-month period preceding
the date of application under this subchapter or is otherwise eligible
for a license under Section 411.173(a);

GC §411.173. NONRESIDENT LICENSE. (a) The department by
rule shall establish a procedure for a person who meets the eligibility
requirements of this subchapter other than the residency requirement
established by Section 411.172(a)(1) to obtain a license under this
subchapter if the person is a legal resident of a state another - state
or if the person relocates to this state with the intent to establish residency
in this state. ...

I seem to remember a much clearer answer to this question in the FAQ section, but this is all I can find now. I think this implies that one can get a TX CHL as soon as you move here.

[apostate]

There appears to be no caliber limit for concealed carry, either minimum or maximum, so long as the gun is legal to own, it is a pistol and not a long gun (AR pistols are included), and the ammunition in it is legal to own.

AR rifles are also legal for concealed carry in Texas, with or without a CHL. (46.03 and 46.04 do apply.)