TexasCHLforum.com

Okay, I'm going to break my self-imposed exile from this topic, but only this once before the end of this legislative session.

I admire the fact that you are planning how to reach your goal SA-TX, but let me offer this advice. Don't add anything extra to the licensing process; not money, not training, absolutely nothing. It's not necessary and it will only lead to more demands from opponents. Just try to get the concealment requirement found in TPC §46.035(a) repealed and try (but you will fail) to keep TPC §30.06 as applicable only to handguns carried concealed and change TPC §30.05 so that it will apply to someone openly carrying a handgun. (This results in the two sign scheme the legislature will not impose on property owners.)

If you require additional training for open-carry, then you are acknowledging that open-carry is a safety hazard and you won't like the result. You don't even want to think about weapon retention training; many CHLs could never master those techniques and we may see that incorporated into CHL training and a lot of current CHLs will fail! I have a lot of elderly people in my classes and they are not going to be able to pass a weapon retentions segment in a course, especially women.

A Texas-based, Texas-only organization must focus on PR work from now until through the 2011 session. This needs to be directed toward elected officials and the general public. This takes members and money, all the Internet banter and good intentions won't help one bit. 60,000 "signatures" on an Internet petition and a $25,000 ad campaign couldn't even get a bill introduced, much less passed. All it did was generate a lot of dissension among gun owners, false hope in those signed the petition and ultimately nasty calls to Rep. Riddle's office. I'm not trying to be negative, just realistic. If you want to do this, start the organization now and see how many members you get and how much money you can collect. If you get too little of either, then don't waste your time.

Chas.

Edited to add: Don't think that parking lots or, especially, campus-carry are done deals. Watch the hearing today in the House Public Safety Committee and want the show. http://www.house.state.tx.us/media/welcome.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;