I'm wondering if there is anyone pushing for a reduction of places where CHL is prohibited? I see a lot of other interesting bills being discussed, but I don't see the main thing that I'm most interested in - being able to carry almost everywhere. I'm afraid the open carry issue is detracting from this...maybe I'm wrong.
Charles, who is the right person to push this? I wrote a letter to Gov. Perry a while back and copied my State Senator and State Representative. Any other ideas?
Here is the verbiage of the letter I wrote, hopefully it will make it clear what I'm talking about:
Dear Governor Perry:
The reason for my letter is to provide feedback on Texas’ concealed handgun license (“CHL”) law. I’m not a political activist, and I’m not writing at the urging of any group. I’m writing on behalf of myself and my family. I’m a regular guy, a father of three, educated, a hard worker, a former Army officer, law abiding citizen, and a man who wants to take advantage of every legal means available to protect myself and my family. To that end, I decided to take an extra step in protecting myself and my family by obtaining a CHL. In the course of applying to obtain a CHL I was educated on Texas’ concealed carry regulations and was dismayed to learn that even after attending a lengthy class, and submitting to a strict background check, there are numerous restrictions placed on licensees who ultimately receive a CHL.
To start, the point of carrying a concealed handgun is to have the means, if confronted with a deadly situation, to defend oneself whenever and wherever that situation arises. A potential victim cannot predict when or where a violent crime may happen, so the idea of concealed carry is to have a handgun on your person at all times. Texas’ CHL law undermines this concept because the regulations list numerous locations where a CHL holder cannot lawfully carry their handgun. The current regulations prohibit CHL holders from exercising their right to carry in the following specific locations, or under the following conditions:
Public or private school premises
High school, collegiate, or professional sporting events
Hospitals or nursing homes
Amusement parks
Churches, synagogues or other places of worship
Any meeting of a government entity
A place of business that derives 51% of its income from serving or selling alcohol
Racetracks
Polling places when voting is open
Government courts or court offices
A correctional facility
Within 1,000 ft of a TDCJ place of execution on execution day
In the secured area of an airport
Carrying a concealed handgun while intoxicated
I understand the restriction on concealed handguns in the secured area of an airport and I agree that carrying a concealed handgun while intoxicated should be against the law, but I do not understand and do not agree with the other restricted areas on the list. My general belief is that once a person passes the rigorous background check to be able to carry a concealed handgun that person ought to be able to carry their handgun at all times, where ever they go.
I respectfully urge you and the Texas legislature to review the CHL regulations and let the history and evidence on concealed carry in Texas and elsewhere be your guide. When our CHL law became effective there were wild predictions by the anti-gun establishment, and even some in law enforcement, that crime would become rampant, that simple traffic accidents would erupt into shootouts, and Texas would succumb to its Wild West past. We are over a decade into CHL and none of this hysteria has come to pass. The apocalyptic predictions of those who would like to restrict concealed carry by law abiding citizens have once again been proven wildly exaggerated, and what we have truly seen is that the crime rate of CHL holders is insignificant. I would hope that common sense will prevail, and that a rational and unemotional review will result in a recommendation to remove the vast majority of the impediments to lawful concealed carry in Texas.
The CHL qualification process, which is very stringent, is working. In Texas we screen CHL applicants for mental health issues, felony and misdemeanor crimes even if the person received deferred adjudication, chemical or alcohol dependency, restraining orders, back taxes and defaults on student loans and child support. I believe this is the right way to administer the program, which is to apply a microscope to each CHL applicant before the license is granted so that we only grant licenses to people who prove to be law abiding citizens. However, once an applicant passes the strict background check Texas CHL laws ought to leave the person alone and let them exercise their best judgment as to when and where to carry a concealed handgun. Limiting the locations a CHL holder may carry their concealed handgun effectively negates the right to carry in the first place.
In conclusion, I’d ask that you assist me in expanding my ability to protect myself and my family and repeal the vast majority of restricted locations that are resident in our current CHL laws.
