A: The department will make every effort to issue your license within 60 days or inform you that you did not meet the eligibility criteria. Once your application is complete, processing may take up to 180 days if your background check reveals potentially disqualifying events or information.

A: Under federal law, aliens who have been admitted to the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa usually are not qualified to purchase a handgun and therefore do not qualify for a license. If you were not admitted under a non-immigrant visa, you may qualify.

A: Yes. If a written request is made to DPS as to whether a specific, named individual is a license holder. Unless the request is made by a criminal justice agency, DPS must notify the license holder about the request and provide the license holder with the name of the person or the agency making the request.

A: You must contact the DPS Concealed Handgun Section to receive a change of address form, or you may send a letter including your full name, CHL number, old address and new address and a cashier’s check or money order for $25. You may call 1-800-224-5744, write Texas Dept. of Public Safety Concealed Handgun Licensing Bureau, P.O. Box 4087, Austin, Texas, 78773 or online at:  http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/chlsindex.htm.

A: The concealed handgun law sets out the eligibility criteria that must be met. Your application packet will list them in detail. For example, you must be qualified to purchase a handgun under the state and federal laws. A number of factors may make you ineligible to obtain a license, such as: felony convictions and some misdemeanor convictions, including charges that resulted in probation or deferred adjudication, pending criminal charges, chemical or alcohol dependency, certain types of psychological diagnoses, protective or restraining orders, or defaults on taxes, governmental fees, student loans or child support. See GC § 411.172. The application packet also will include information about materials you need to return with your application packet. These include two recent color passport photos, two sets of fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency employee or a private entity designated by a law enforcement agency as an entity qualified to take fingerprints of an applicant for a license, a copy of your Texas driver license or identification card, and a notification of completion form (TR 100) from a DPS authorized training course. After receiving completed application packets, DPS will conduct background checks of juvenile records for the previous 10 years and of all adult records.

A: No. DWI is at least a Class B misdemeanor, and you are ineligible for a license for five years after a conviction for a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or for disorderly conduct. This includes cases that were dismissed after you completed probation or deferred adjudication. If you have been convicted of two or more alcohol or drug-related offenses within the last 10 years, you may not be eligible.

A: Yes. The concealed gun law states that deferred adjudication will be treated as a conviction, except for orders of deferred adjudication over 10 years old for certain felony offense not involving violence against a person. See GC § 411.171(4).

A: Yes. If you have a payment plan with a government agency for back taxes or child support and the agency sends DPS a clearance letter, you may apply. Include a copy of the agreement and letter with your application materials. The concealed handgun law was designed to encourage those who made no effort whatsoever to pay what they owe.

A: Eligibility for a concealed handgun license depends on your current diagnosis. Past psychiatric treatment will not necessarily make you ineligible. You should attach a letter from a licensed psychiatrist stating that your “condition is in remission and is not reasonably likely to develop at a future time,” as the concealed handgun law states.

A: No. Dismissals will not be grounds for denial, as long as you were not placed on probation or deferred adjudication prior to the dismissal.

A: Yes. In order to be eligible for a Texas concealed handgun license, you must be fully eligible under both Texas and federal law to purchase a handgun (except for military applicants who are at least 18 years of age but under the age of 21).

A: Yes. Failure to disclose all of your arrests and convictions is an independent ground for your denial of your application.

A: Yes. You must take a 10- to 15-hour class taught by a DPS-certified instructor. The notification of completion form (TR 100) you receive from the instructor must be sent to DPS with your other application materials.

A: A list of certified handgun instructors can be found at the Texas Concealed Handgun Association website at: http://www.txchia.org/inst.htm, or on the DPS website at:  http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/chlsindex.htm (not always current).  You can also obtain the information by calling (512) 424-7293 or 424-7294 or 1(800) 224-5744.

A: No. DPS only provides training for instructors.

A: The price of the course is set by the instructor. DPS does not regulate the cost of the classes.

A: DPS certifies and can review their records and monitor their classes to make sure they are following the required curriculum.

A: No. An instructor’s certificate must be valid to receive a valid proficiency certificate.

A: Some instructors may require you to use your own gun during the firing range portion of instruction and testing. However, others may provide guns for you to use.

A: Retired law enforcement officers are exempt from taking the handgun proficiency course. However, they must demonstrate weapons proficiency annually through a law enforcement agency. Active, commissioned peace officers also are exempt from taking the proficiency course. State and federal judicial officers must take an abbreviated course covering handgun proficiency and safe storage.

A: Yes, but you may not carry before you receive the license.

A: No. You must have a currently valid license in your possession to carry a concealed handgun.

A: No. The weapon cannot be visible, and its presence cannot be discernible through ordinary observation.

A: Handguns and other weapons cannot be carried at schools or on school buses, at polling places, in courts and court offices, at racetracks, at secured airport areas or within 1,000 feet of the premises of an execution on the day of execution. The law also specifically prohibits handguns from businesses where alcohol is sold if more than half of their revenue is from the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption, and from locations where high school, college or professional sporting events are taking place. You may not carry handguns in hospitals or nursing homes, amusement parks, places of worship or at government meetings if signs are posted prohibiting them. Businesses also may post signs prohibiting handguns on their premises based on criminal trespass laws. See Texas Penal Code § 46.035.

A: No; it is illegal to carry a handgun if you are intoxicated.

A: Yes. If an officer reasonably believes a safety risk exists, he or she may disarm you.

A: Yes. Private property owners may give notice excluding license holders from carrying concealed handguns. If you carry a concealed handgun on posted property, you can be charged with criminal trespass by a license holder. The charge is a Class A misdemeanor, and if you are convicted, your license will be revoked.

A: If you want to prohibit license holders from carrying concealed handguns on your property, state law requires you provide notice to potential trespassers, either orally or by posting a sign that says: “Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by holder of license to carry a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (concealed handgun law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun.” The sign must be written in both English and Spanish in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height, and must be displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public. Visit the DPS website at: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/signposting.htm for the specific language and specifications for the sign.

A: If the parking lot is not posted with the sign described above, handguns may be left in the cars. However, if it is posted in the parking lot then you may not.

A: DPS recommends that you seek the advice of an attorney regarding any questions regarding unlicensed carrying of weapons.

A: Yes. The statute refers to carrying a gun “on or about” your person. Texas courts generally have considered this to include any gun within your reach, including one stored in your glove compartment or even in a passenger’s purse, if you can reach it without materially changing your position.

A: No. Under the concealed handgun law, you are only required to have your license with you whenever you are carrying your handgun.

A: You may carry any type of legal, concealed handgun you are qualified to use. If you wish to carry a semi-automatic weapon, you must complete your firing range test with a semi-automatic. If you do not wish to carry a semi-automatic, you may test with a revolver.

A: The law does not appear to limit the number of guns you may carry.

A: In most cases, you will be notified of classes several weeks in advance. You will receive notification in the mail along with a card you should return indicating whether you will attend, or whether you are still interested in becoming an instructor. Some applicants may be contacted on shorter notice by phone if cancellations occur.

A: No. DPS does not endorse any commercial enterprise, and law prohibits the unauthorized use of the DPS name or insignia.

A: DPS will look at and register ranges, but will not write specifications for them. However, each range must be designed for at least a 15-yard shooting distance, as required by law.

A: Instructor applicants will receive a lesson plan as a part of their DPS training.

A: No.