Does moving from out of state matter?

[JALLEN]

I am a Native Texan, but have lived in California for 45 years. I have had a permit here, and have permits from Florida and Utah for some time as well.

What delay might there be in background check due to having to refer to other states' data, if they do so? Or is it just run the National database and be done with it?

[Jumping Frog]

I did not appear to have any extra delays, even though I was licensed in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Utah prior to moving here. I suspect they simply check the FBI database. If there are zero arrests or convictions -- a clean record -- they literally know those results in a minute. (As an aside, that is why a person with a clean record can literally walk into a rural county sheriff's offices in Ohio, submit the application, the deputy runs the background check, and I know of people who walked out with their license. People with a clean record routinely get their license in 24 hours even in Columbus and other large cities.)

However, if someone has arrests and convictions in other jurisdictions, then things get a lot more complicated because the DPS needs to know the final disposition in other jurisdictions. For a counter example, I have a friend who used to live in CA and was falsely charged with multiple weapons felonies and child molestation from a vindictive ex-wife during a bitter divorce. Eighteen months later, and $$$$$ to his defense attorney, all charges were dropped. Leaving aside the delays he experienced getting his original Texas license, he was even delayed for about 9 months getting his Texas renewal.