TexasCHLforum.com

WildBill wrote:
In the OP, the reporter's estimate of "very, very low percentage" is subjective, but I believe the number is probably low. Without any facts, I would guess only 1-5% of CHL holder carry every day. Is that "low", "very low" or "very very low"?

As you stated many people on the forum don't carry as often because of parking lot or work restrictions. I am one in this category. Another thing that I have noticed from my conversations with people is that most people are not aware of the MPA law. I believe car carry is a major factor in the choice to obtain a CHL.

I'd guess you're right about that. It was car/RV situations that motivated me, for sure. As to the reporter's estimate and what is low or very low, I haven't a clue. The underlying tone of that part of the discussion was that the right to carry wasn't even taken seriously for those who have CHLs. I wanted to jump through the radio at him.

Personally, I would worry about carrying under MPA. Yes, I know that it is legal but there I'm depending on any LEO that I run into to be knowledgeable about MPA. It would be my luck to find one of them who would prefer to let a judge decide. That is probably just me, being paranoid.

Chas

Charles L. Cotton wrote:TAM is correct, there's no way to know what percentage of CHL's carry or in what frequency. In my renewal classes, the vast majority of people say they carry often or all the time, but many people in my initial classes simply don't know. Initial students seem to fall into one of two categories; some say they will carry all the time and the larger percentage say they don't know, they just want the option.

Chas.

Thanks for your responses. I have no doubt at all that a majority of people on this forum carry all or most of the time. I was just trying to understand how close to reality that WBAP reporter was. It doesn't surprise me that the answer is "not even close".

Perhaps the initial students in your classes are a bit like me. As I read some of the threads, it is clear to me that bad things can happen as a result of the slightest indiscretion. I also understand that given the number of people who are carrying (both legally and otherwise) the sensationalized news reports represent a very, very small percentage of circumstances. I suspect my comfort level will improve over time. Perhaps others are the same.

It will be interesting to see how the Texas Capital situation plays out over time and whether there will continue to be this same intensity of news coverage. An even more interesting statistic might be the number of people who initially get CHLs for the faster line and end up carrying as a result of their training and exposure.

The news reports about those getting CHLs to bypass the long visitor lines at the Texas Capitol raises another question. On WBAP in the the Dallas area, they were discussing the fact that many who were getting CHLS for the Capitol never intended to carry guns. The commentator went on to say that the total percentage of those who have CHLs versus those who carry guns daily wasn't going to change because of this because the actually carry percentage, in his words, was "very, very, low."

Does anyone have any idea what the actual percentage might be?

Thanks,

Chas