cxm said:
It is unlikely Alabama will ever be granted reciprocal status with Texas.
The problem is the fact that Alabama does not have central issue or control of licenses. Alabama licenses are issued by the county sheriff, and the requirements are not uniform, some sheriffs require NCIS background checks...some don't.
As a result they don't meet the Texas standard for recognition.
Similarly, West Virginia is issued by the Sheriff and does not meet the background check requirement...so.
FWIW
Chuck
Texas law doesn't actually require the other state to run a NICS background check. Here's the actual law:
§411.173(b) & (c)
(b) The governor shall negotiate an agreement with any other
state that provides for the issuance of a license to carry a
concealed handgun under which a license issued by the other state is
recognized in this state or shall issue a proclamation that a
license issued by the other state is recognized in this state if the
attorney general of the State of Texas determines that a background
check of each applicant for a license issued by that state is
conducted by state or local authorities or an agent of the state or
local authorities before the license is issued to determine the
applicants' eligibility to possess a firearm under federal law.
(c) The attorney general of the State of Texas shall
annually:
(1) submit a report to the governor, lieutenant
governor, and speaker of the house of representatives listing the
states the attorney general has determined qualify for recognition
under Subsection (b); and
(2) review the statutes of states that the attorney
general has determined do not qualify for recognition under
Subsection (b) to determine the changes to their statutes that are
necessary to qualify for recognition under that subsection.
Simply, it boils do to does the other state check enough to verify that the applicant may own/possess a handgun. If so, then reciprocity is possible. As to each county/parish sheriff's issuing the license, Texas already has agreements with at least 2 states that do it that way.
cxm is correct that is the way DPS operated and the AG did also until a number of us explained to the Governor the error in logic.