Welcome to TexasCHLforum Ashley. It's good to see you're getting your CHL and you've already been given good information in response to your questions. You don't have to make a final decision on what gun to carry before you take your class. Some ranges have rental guns you can use, or you can borrow one from a friend. As Crossfire said however, do have some experience with the type of gun you use, before you get to the class.
If you can, you really should come to the 2008 TexasCHLforum Day at PSC on Saturday, Sept. 27th. It's at PSC Shooting Club in Friendswood, TX. Here is a link to
http://www.TexasShooting.com where you can find out all about the seminars, shooting clinics and mini-clinics that will be offered. (All of the information is linked from the TexasCHLforum Day menu.)
If you live close to Houston, you are welcome to come to PSC with me sometime and try a bunch of different guns to see if you find one you like.
Chas.
P.S.: Your friend is correct about "law enforcement facilities," but only under very limited circumstances. First, "law enforcement facility" is very narrowly defined. It means applies only to police and sheriffs, not to any other type of peace officer. Secondly, it does not apply to multi-use buildings, as often found in small towns. For example, if a municipal court clerk is inside the "secure" area, then it's a multi-use building. Finally, the law enforcement facility must have lock boxes to store your gun while you are in the building. Also, you cannot be barred from entry into the building and you cannot be told to "put your gun in the car." (Someone already tried that with me.) Here is the controlling statute; see subpart (b) & (c):
Tex. Gov't Code §411.207 wrote:§ 411.207. AUTHORITY OF PEACE OFFICER TO DISARM.
- (a) A peace officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of the officer's
official duties may disarm a license holder at any time the officer
reasonably believes it is necessary for the protection of the
license holder, officer, or another individual. The peace officer
shall return the handgun to the license holder before discharging
the license holder from the scene if the officer determines that the
license holder is not a threat to the officer, license holder, or
another individual and if the license holder has not violated any
provision of this subchapter or committed any other violation that
results in the arrest of the license holder.
(b) A peace officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of
the officer's official duties may temporarily disarm a license
holder when a license holder enters a nonpublic, secure portion of a
law enforcement facility, if the law enforcement agency provides a
gun locker where the peace officer can secure the license holder's
handgun. The peace officer shall secure the handgun in the locker
and shall return the handgun to the license holder immediately
after the license holder leaves the nonpublic, secure portion of
the law enforcement facility.
(c) A law enforcement facility shall prominently display at
each entrance to a nonpublic, secure portion of the facility a sign
that gives notice in both English and Spanish that, under this
section, a peace officer may temporarily disarm a license holder
when the license holder enters the nonpublic, secure portion of the
facility. The sign must appear in contrasting colors with block
letters at least one inch in height. The sign shall be displayed in
a clearly visible and conspicuous manner.
(d) In this section:
- (1) "Law enforcement facility" means a building or a
portion of a building used exclusively by a law enforcement agency
that employs peace officers as described by Articles 2.12(1) and
(3), Code of Criminal Procedure, and support personnel to conduct
the official business of the agency. The term does not include:
- (A) any portion of a building not actively used
exclusively to conduct the official business of the agency; or
(B) any public or private driveway, street,
sidewalk, walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking
area.
(2) "Nonpublic, secure portion of a law enforcement
facility" means that portion of a law enforcement facility to which
the general public is denied access without express permission and
to which access is granted solely to conduct the official business
of the law enforcement agency.
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