TexasCHLforum.com

Liberty wrote:Has there been issues with CHL holders making bad calls in these situations.

It's not a matter of determining threats, it's a matter of missing. Picture five targets shoulder to shoulder, numbers two and four clearly marked to indicate no-shoots. This basically makes lateral misses a disqualifier, as they absolutely should be for the test, especially given the static nature and close ranges used. Even so, I probably wouldn't require any transitions at the 15 yard, and at 3 yards, transitions of that angle could be dangerous, so most likely it would be something similar to an El Presidente without the draw or turn from the 7-yard line, maybe done twice, and having a fairly long time limit. (Heck, us 5-shot-revolver types would need two reloads to do an El Presidente anyway.)

Times needn't be particularly short, and in fact should allow the average shooter to reload a revolver from a speed strip, but putting a little pressure on the reload would show how well someone has actually learned safe handling. I've seen lots of folks who could recite the safety rules just fine in the classroom have a ND on the range because they reloaded with a finger on the trigger. All the CHL quals I've seen have been carefully walked through the reloads step by step to avoid this, but it's something that could easily result in a very bad situation if the habits are not discouraged.

This is what happens when people who can't shoot straight start shooting anyway.

Stringer wrote:IF, by some strange set of circumstances, you were asked to "fix" Texas law with regard to firearms, what would you change? You can't re-write US law, of course, but would you make it easier to get a CHL (or do away with licensing), make it tougher, change any of the requirements, or...what? Other than 30.06 issues, what bugs you about gun laws in Texas?

Well, I'd start with the already-mentioned modifications to 30.06 - properly secured areas with armed security only, and mandatory onsite storage (also guarded) for CHLs' weapons. I'd also expand it to include any mandated prohibited places, with the corollary in place that if they fail to meet any of the above requirements, even temporarily, they lose the prohibited status.

I'd make it criminally actionable harassment to panic and cause trouble for someone legally carrying who accidentally prints or displays.

I'd ban televangelist hair; with the odd exception of Rick Perry, the vast majority of people who have televangelist hair are anti-gun types.

I'd eliminate non-commissioned security altogether; if they're not armed, they're just receptionists, and if they're just receptionists, there's no excuse for not allowing them to carry under CHL like any other receptionist.

I'd make the CHL test include at least three targets and two no-shoots, with at least one reload on the clock. SA/NSA would be eliminated, and all applicants would be required to demonstrate proper handling of revolvers, semiautos, and derringers, but would be permitted to shoot either a revolver or semiauto for the qualifier. Any significant hit on a no-shoot would result in a failure. I'd still allow one immediate re-shoot, and possibly some remedial training for a second same-day re-shoot.