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Concealed Handgun License Applications In Texas No Longer Require Social Security Number

Flickr user David Trawin (trawin)
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A new law going into 2014 says applicants will no longer be required to provide a social security number when applying for or renewing a concealed handgun license. The new law was authored by state Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio.

So what does this mean for the general public and those in the CHL business?

"Some people were just concerned about providing all their personal information," said Michael Cargill, who owns Central Texas Gun Works and is a CHL instructor. "You really don’t need a social security number to do a background check on someone."

When someone wants to purchase a gun, the social security number is optional. Cargill said the Federal Bureau of Investigation is able to complete a criminal background check on a person with or without that number. He said removing this requirement is just one step, the next which will be removing fingerprinting for CHL applicants.

"You shouldn’t have to have your fingerprints taken in order to get a concealed handgun license, Cargill said. "It’s the same situation when you walk into a gun store and you fill out the form to do a background check, they can do a background check without having to get your fingerprint."

Cargill said he’ll save that fight for the 2015 legislative session, but for now the Department of Public Safety is prohibited from asking for a person’s social security number on a CHL application.

Ryan started his radio career in 2002 working for Austin’s News Radio KLBJ-AM as a show producer for the station's organic gardening shows. This slowly evolved into a role as the morning show producer and later as the group’s executive producer.