TexasCHLforum.com

Charles L. Cotton wrote:{snip}

Failing to allow a vote on HB2535 is a mistake that diminishes public safety rather than promote it, arguments by the security industry notwithstanding. It is currently legal for CHLs to carry their self-defense handguns in church, unless the church posts a 30.06 sign. Very few post such signs and there are many tens of thousands of Texas CHLs carrying handguns in church every Sunday as well as other days. Texas law allows all citizens to use deadly force to protect not only themselves but also third persons, regardless of the location. If there is an assault on church-goers, then it is highly likely that an armed CHL will intervene to protect innocent people, and their actions will be perfectly legal and justified.

So what is gained by current law that prohibits armed CHLs from participating in volunteer security teams? Absolutely nothing, they still can and will intervene to protect innocent people and they will do so with whatever skills, training and education they possess. The more vulnerable the victims (children, the elderly, women), the greater the likelihood multiple people will intervene. Current Texas law diminishes public safety by denying churches the ability to coordinate security volunteers. The lack of coordination not only reduces operational efficiency, it increases the likelihood of accidental injury or death. This holds true for the military, law enforcement, and even one's own family. This is one reason why the military and law enforcement train and drill and why every family should have and practice both fire and intruder drills.

If HB2535 had passed, then churches could coordinate their volunteers and perhaps even obtain outside training from LEOs. They could notify their congregations of their volunteer security personnel and perhaps even establish an overall intruder plan to better prepare not only the volunteers on the security team, but the entire congregation as well. There is no downside to coordination; it can only improve safety. Not allowing HB2535 to come up for a vote was a very big mistake. Let's all pray that it does not become a tragic mistake.

Chas.

TXPhidelt817 wrote:Personally, I carry at church. When I renewed my CHL a few months back, the Fort Worth officer that taught the class was very firm in his stance that church carry was illegal. I argued my opinion on how the PC reads but it only fell on deaf ears. The way I read the PC is that it is only illegal if the building is posted 30.06.

After the class, I reached out to a friend that is a Tarrant County DA who said that its illegal but that he had never prosecuted anyone under any similar charges.

What nonsense are they reading that I am not?