Photo LTCH? Yes or no?

[dburkhead]

Originally Posted by alwalker84

Funny, I brought this photo thing up a couple of months ago, and it seemed as if I almost got ran off the board for even suggesting such...

Actually, the post that I remember you making was adding an endorsement onto the DL rather than a separate photo ID. The former has its own problems. As just one possibility:

I OC a lot, so being "outed" any time I hand my DL to someone as ID because of a "handgun license" notation would not be a problem for me. Others, however, prefer to keep their "gun orientation" private and I'm not going to endorse something that forceably "outs" them.

Also, I've never understood the "only have to grab by DL" argument. Both are in my wallet. I only have to grab my wallet.

[RCB]

I don't think it's necessary. They usually don't take your word for it, but rather walk back and radio it in. Fakes can always be made. Plus I don't know if I would want to deal with bars or airports or the like patting me down, just because I have a carry endorsement on my DL... just in case. As far as a photo on the carry permit, I don't see that it would help much, but don't think it would hurt either. Our fingerprints are already on file and they can look our photo up on the DL registry's anyhow.

[yotewacker]

No. Big borther gets enough info on us.

[alwalker84]

Originally Posted by dburkhead

Actually, the post that I remember you making was adding an endorsement onto the DL rather than a separate photo ID. The former has its own problems. As just one possibility:

I OC a lot, so being "outed" any time I hand my DL to someone as ID because of a "handgun license" notation would not be a problem for me. Others, however, prefer to keep their "gun orientation" private and I'm not going to endorse something that forceably "outs" them.

Also, I've never understood the "only have to grab by DL" argument. Both are in my wallet. I only have to grab my wallet.

I here ya, but I dont see much difference in either a seperae photo id or just your DL. I guess you could aruge either way for days...

[dburkhead]

Originally Posted by alwalker84

I here ya, but I dont see much difference in either a seperae photo id or just your DL. I guess you could aruge either way for days...

The difference is the DL is used as general purpose ID for many things. There is no need to tell the guy at the supermarket counter (when you're buying beer, say) or the clerk at the hotel, or anyone else who may require ID, that you are licensed to carry a gun.

The license itself being a photo ID? I don't see the point, personally, and don't much care one way or another. Putting that information on something that, in the course of events, gets handed to a bunch of people in a bunch of different contexts who don't need to know that information? That's a whole 'nother ballgame.

[Bill of Rights]

Originally Posted by dburkhead

The difference is the DL is used as general purpose ID for many things. There is no need to tell the guy at the supermarket counter (when you're buying beer, say) or the clerk at the hotel, or anyone else who may require ID, that you are licensed to carry a gun.

The license itself being a photo ID? I don't see the point, personally, and don't much care one way or another. Putting that information on something that, in the course of events, gets handed to a bunch of people in a bunch of different contexts who don't need to know that information? That's a whole 'nother ballgame.

I can see one way that I might consider making the DL usable as a LTCH, and that would be if the fact that you have the LTCH or not is encoded in the machine-readable strip on the back as an "endorsement", added voluntarily to your license at your request, upon showing proof of having it.

Why would I consider supporting this? Simple: The strip is machine-readable, but the "code" has been cracked and the strip can be read by any of us with the proper program on his/her computer. All it takes is a way to get a digital image of the back of your license into your computer, run it through the program, and it outputs in text your name, address, height, weight, hair/eye color, and any endorsements or restrictions-in other words, all the info that's on the front of the license. No more, no less. Making this one endorsement visible only on the back would provide the LEO proof of my LTCH in compliance with the law, satisfying the "show on request", and having it voluntarily added or not would satisfy it being my choice to carry my LTCH or not. Having it only in the machine strip would address privacy concerns, since the strip is readable.

I still do not support the LTCH being a "more durable" photo ID in and of itself.

Thoughts?

Blessings,
Bill