TexasCHLforum.com

Venus Pax wrote:

seamusTX wrote:In spite of the costs associated with it, I think it was worth the money spent.

Given the reality of being required to pay for it, I agree with you. It was money well spent; and I would pay it again if I had to. I just don't think we ought to have to pay more than what we pay for a driver's license (which isn't a constitutionally protected right), if we should even have to pay anything at all. That's what taxes are for.

dannysdad wrote:

seamusTX wrote:I had the same lack of urgency. I have lived my entire life without needing to shoot anybody, and half of it in a tough neighborhood. But look at it this way: The initial $250 or so for the class and application fee works out to about 14 cents a day over five years. After that, the cost is cut in half. Is that too much of a tax to pay for your right to bear arms?

- Jim

"Paying" for "Rights" sounds strange to me.

Agreed, but like Jim said, that's the reality of the situation. In my previous post, I mentioned having to register to vote, and yet, for citizens, voting is a right. I firmly believe that the only reason we aren't required to pay for voter registration is that poll taxes seem to have been judged unconstitutional. So with that as a background, it doesn't seem right to have to pay to exercise our RKBA, even if we are currently required to apply for the license.

I'm ashamed to say that I don't know enough about our early history to know if citizens of the late 18th century, say between 1776 and 1789 (I think) when the Bill of Rights was ratified, were required to actually register in order to vote. In any case, the nation's population was so small that local voters might have well known each other, and local poll workers might well have been on a familiar basis with those voters, so the legitimacy of their right to vote was most likely not subject to challenge. On the other hand, we have approximately 300 million people in this country now, approximately 20 million of whom are here illegally and have no legal right to vote, not to mention the other umpty ump millions who are legal alien residents who also have no legal right to vote. It is probably safe to say that upwards of 10% of the current population may not legally vote. Consequently, from a purely practical perspective, there has to be some way or other to distinguish those who have a lawful right to vote from those who don't, hence the need for voter registration. That issue by itself raises a host of other issues, such as the ongoing debate over national identity cards, etc., which, by the way, makes me very uncomfortable.

But my point is that A) while my right to vote appears to be regulated by the registration requirement, B) I still don't have to pay a poll tax in order to exercise that right. Therefore, while the national debate rages on about whether or not any of us ought to have a RKBA in the first place, and although the state authorities have deemed it necessary to regulate my ability to carry, I don't think it should cost a penny in fees, anymore than my right to vote.

But that's just me.

I think you'll find that a significant percentage (including me) of the members of this board don't live/work in "bad" areas, and don't work in jobs that require us to carry a firearm. What llwatson said about choice is spot on. Like you, I've been an avid shooter for a number of years, but had not felt a real need to carry a firearm. And since a lot of that time was lived in California, where legal CCW is but a distant memory, it just wasn't something that was at the forefront of my mind. Moving to Texas put that squarely into the realm of the possible, and I began to consider whether or not it was something I would like to pursue.

Here in Texas, unlike California, there still exists a reasonably healthy respect for the RKBA. Rights are not something you are required to exercise if you don't choose to do so. You are not required to speak up or to practice a religion. You are not required to keep and bear arms. You are not required to vote. However, if you do want to exercise your right to vote, you do have to register yourself as a voter. And lots of people (sadly) register to vote and then don't follow through. For better or for worse, if you should decide that you want to exercise that part of your right to bear arms outside the home and concealed, then you have to get a CHL. It is easier to get one now to get one than it used to be in the past, or than it might be in the future. Strike while you can. You can always choose not to exercise the rights/privileges given to you by that license. But there may come a day when you wish you had it, and you don't. The consequences of that might be more painful than you are willing to bear.

I never leave the house without a good pocket knife. Not since I was a teenager. There are a hundred uses for a good pocket knife, from dividing your sandwich to share with a friend, to opening a box, or heaven forbid, to defend yourself. I never leave the house thinking "I'm going to need my pocket knife today," but on the odd occasion where the need arises, I am sure glad that I habitually keep one in my pocket. Perhaps a half dozen times in the last 10 years, I've forgotten my knife at home - and felt naked without it.

Since I got my CHL, fairly recently as a matter of fact, I've never left home without carrying a pistol. And now I feel naked without it. I never leave the house thinking, "I'm going to have to shoot somebody today;" but God forbid the occasion should ever arise where I need it, I will sure be glad that I developed the habit of never leaving home without it.

BTW, there are lots of ways to conceal a weapon, even for a slim person wearing fitted tailored clothing.

Sorry for the long answer. I'm a little windy today.