pre-CHL/how often do you carry?

[1s1k52]

Does anyone find themselves NOT carrying? I know everyone will be different. I am just kind of polling. Walmart and the local gas station seem to all I would carry. Work is out (I think, I start next monday) Corps of Engineers land is out (I fish all the time). And I am a student at collin county. Which after earlier this year makes me mad I can't carry. I can just be locked down and wait to die.

Anyways, since I can carry legal in my car loaded to and from my home I am wondering If I should rush to get my CHL as of now. I need to practice anyways my accuracy is laughable and inconsistent

SO to somewhat contradict my first question. Is there a checklist I need to "square away" for example my address on my license is my old one. I have to change that. I could have sworn on this site I have seen a list of what to have done before enrolling in a class. Do most classes take care of all you need? Fingerprinting etc? How accurate to I have to get?

I live in collin county. I am not sure if that matters.

[The Mad Moderate]

as i once saw one of the other posters had in his signature box "carry 24/7 or guess right" I think that pretty much sums it up

[RPB]

Ouch, you are surrounded by USACE lakes (Except White Rock) there are some private lakes, golf courses where you might get permission etc etc ... perhaps river/creeks are the way to go
I'm blessed to be surrounded by LCRA water.

Does anyone find themselves NOT carrying?
My niece is in Band and Theater, I don't carry to her events (I go to about 1 a year), but do carry dropping her off at school; the CHL allows me to.
I don't carry in our courthouse (where I pay utility bill monthly, renew driver's license and license plates yearly)

Other than that, I'm armed. Like everyone, I go get groceries, and shop at stores, go to church, etc. and I'm armed.

Checklist viewforum.php?f=36" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'd go ahead and get it if you might want to go to an amusement park, city park or etc in the Spring/Summer; then you don't have to rush to get it done. (I got my packet about 5 years before submitting it, I shouldn't have put it off, but then I cleaned the kitchen sink last night in preparation to wash dishes ... It seems like I just washed them in 2008; time flies when you're havin' fun)

When I took the class, they printed me and took a great photo, but those requirements are a little different now .... check with the instructor you intend to take the class from.

[lonewolf]

Pretty much 24/7 wherever, whenever legal. If an impromptu side trip or something comes up, I disarm appropriately (discreetly) and proceed. I admit my wife did ask that I disarmed before going to church one time. She said it made her feel "weird".

[Bullwhip]

I carry everytime I live the house except when I go to work (no guns there and they're serious even in the parking lot).

Except work, I always carry. usually at home too, until it gets late and I "get comfy" like my wife says wiht pj pants or sweats. Then the guns go in racks, just a few steps away. Still armed, just not carrying.

[Texas Size 11]

I'm armed unless I have to go into the office.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

OP:

IMHO, you should get your CHL as soon as you can. Why continue to live
under more restrictions, as you do currently?

Don't ask about carrying at work. You don't want to bring attention to yourself
as a 2A person. Keep your ears open, then look for any weapons-related data
in your employee handbook or similar source. Keep in mind that if your new
work site is not posted 30.06, and if guns are not explicitly prohibited in writing,
you could carry a small gun. You'd risk getting fired, but not convicted of a
gun offense. (IANAL).

At such time that you get your plastic, carry everywhere that is legal. None of
us will ever know when we might need our guns. If you knew, you wouldn't go
there at that time. So always carry. Plus, if you carry 1 gun, you might as
well carry 2.

SIA

[C-dub]

Nearly all the time I'm awake except for work.

[The Annoyed Man]

Does anyone find themselves NOT carrying?

.............

Anyways, since I can carry legal in my car loaded to and from my home I am wondering If I should rush to get my CHL as of now. I need to practice anyways my accuracy is laughable and inconsistent

SO to somewhat contradict my first question. Is there a checklist I need to "square away" for example my address on my license is my old one. I have to change that. I could have sworn on this site I have seen a list of what to have done before enrolling in a class. Do most classes take care of all you need? Fingerprinting etc? How accurate to I have to get?

I never NOT carry, except perhaps in bed. I should amend that a bit.... I sometimes don't carry around the house, but even then I always have a gun near to hand. Outside of my house is a different matter. I always carry. I carried on stage at church today while I was playing.

Get your license squared away first. You won't be able to complete the process if you don't have a correct address on your driver's license.

As far as accuracy, get yourself to a range and get your proficiency up. The qualification isn't that hard, but if you're going to carry a gun, you have a moral responsibility to be the best shot you can be, otherwise you become a danger to innocent bystanders if you ever have to shoot for real. This stuff is not a joke, and you need to take it seriously. And once you actually have your CHL, you need to keep your proficiency up. If you aren't willing to do that, then perhaps CHL isn't for you just yet. If that is the case, then I wouldn't waste my time and money on it if I were you — but that is a decision only you can reach. There is no wrong or right answer either way, except that if your answer is to go ahead and get a CHL, take it seriously.

In your opening post, you wondered if you should get the CHL now, or just wait until it fits into your life better. Assuming that you've answered the above question in the affirmative and you intend to get one some day, then I would say go get it as soon as you can. Why wait? Having one will make having a gun in your car more convenient, for one thing. It gives you additional options you don't have if you're keeping a gun under your car under MPA. Let's say, for instance, that your employer had no specific policy barring having a gun secured in your car (if the Parking Lot bill passes, this could well become the case for you IF you have a CHL). Now, when you leave work, you can arm yourself when you get to the car, and you won't be unarmed if you stop for groceries on the way home. You'll be able to be armed when you go out for dinner with a date. You'll be able to be armed on the weekends when you're not having to worry about work or campus rules. And, when Campus Carry passes, you'll be able to carry on campus. And here's the thing, if you have the CHL, but you don't want to carry on a given day, then don't. But you'll have the option to carry if you want to.

As far as fingerprints and all that, your instructor should be able to provide all the paperwork, photos, and fingerprint cards. Then all you've got to do is make sure it is all filled out properly and send it in. Most instructors will help with that too, to make sure that you've got everything filled out properly.

[Divided Attention]

I struggled with this a bit as well - when would I carry. Now that I have my CHL I find myself feeling a bit lost without one of my sidearms. I am learning what works and what doesn't all the time. Even my 9c is feeling smaller each time I wear it. Even survived my first "awkward" situation, and chocked it up to a learning experience. I can't carry at work, and unless I change jobs doubt that will ever change. But before I leave I put on my "band" and holster up before I leave the parking lot.

As TAM said, CHL is a HUGE responsibility, and a choice only you can make for yourself. It does require some lifestyle changes and choices, but at my age these are not really a big issue, I could see how they might be bigger for someone 1/2 my age. It is definitely not something anyone should take lightly, or in my opinion not prepare for and maintain proficiency. This can be a big financial committment as well, application, class (better yet classes), weapon of choice, holster of choice (often holsters), ammunition, range fees. This all has to go into the decision and is one of the reasons I took so long in my decision. Now I am asking Santa to bring me a In Home defense class

I wish you the best in your journey, and you are; in my opinion at the best place for information and guidance

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=38612&hilit=fingerprints This link discusses the change in the rules after March 2011 only electronic fingerprints will be accepted.

[1s1k52]

Well I guess I will say it now. I wasn't going to mention it for fear of jinxing myself or rambling. I want/have wanted. to become a LEO my whole life. At 17/18 I was training for the Marines. My dad was one for 20 years and I have always loved everything it offered. Something happened that physically prevented that and crushed me for a long time. The same of which that can keep me out of being an LEO. That being said I have always been a sheepdog and never knew it. Hell I didn't know what a "sheepdog" was until a few weeks ago.

I just turned 25 in September and said "its now or never" as far as at least making an attempt to join the force.

Other things since have played a role working jobs that wouldn't allow me to enter the program, money, time. Then it was o I wan't to put my women and family through that? etc. Blah Blah Blah anyways I decided its now or never. I really didnt want to hear "you can't join for..." Now I don't care I HAVE to know.

Even before that I wanted to get my ow pistol for PP. I let my women talk me out of it (shes from California) last year DESPITE us being attacked. Eventually I told her " I am getting one, we may not be so lucky next time and if you can't understand that I am sorry"

So I looked around and let some time go on watching some forums. Then joined before deciding on my XD (the mag deal duh!)

So do I wan't my CHL yes of course. Do I want to pay 130+ to have it sit in the car. Absolutely not. Some good point have been brought up though and I will be getting it as soon as I can afford it. I came here for reasons and I got them so thank you everyone. I will just have to set aside money for practice rounds and get it the where I can be thorough with my xd.

FYI I posted this out of frustration of a recent incident when I was fishing. Long story short. Shady guy. Called the cops. They picked him up. Where was my gun when I walked to my buddies truck? in my car because even CHL holders can't carry where I fish.

[RPB]

Crappie are doing well at White Rock now that the water Temp is about 60 degrees...

That's the main reason I didn't move to Dallas/Waco area,(USACE) but instead live in central Tx hill country (LCRA).
http://www.fishingworks.com/lakes/texas/collin/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (Many/most are USACE, and some may be private, but it's a link you may or may not locate a new honey hole on ...

One thing,

Down here like San Gabriel River is managed by a Brazos River Authority, where I can carry, then that river empties into a USACE lake , where I can't, then below that lake's dam is the river again where I can, until I get to the next lake, which is USACE, then I can't till I get below the dam, then I can again ...
(Actually, you have to go by the USACE maps, instead of just assuming their property ends at the dam, but you get what I mean. There are stretches which are NOT USACE property ...)

Not sure if you have a similar situation/river authority / subdivision of the State or anything...

[1s1k52]

to my knowledge . That really shocks me that you can carry at White Rock. It is surrounded by very populated areas and has a lot of "traffic". Lavon is pretty dead consistently and more "remote" in comparison.

Just more of a reason to buy a house with some land. Ha Ha.

White rock is a pretty decent drive for me. We did a walk around it for March of Dimes. I underestimated that place and its spread ha ha.

[safety1]

Everyday

[RPB]

to my knowledge . That really shocks me that you can carry at White Rock. It is surrounded by very populated areas and has a lot of "traffic". Lavon is pretty dead consistently and more "remote" in comparison.

Just more of a reason to buy a house with some land. Ha Ha.

White rock is a pretty decent drive for me. We did a walk around it for March of Dimes. I underestimated that place and its spread ha ha.

Well oops, I went and double checked and what I thought was White Rock Lake ... they were catching at White Rock Creek ... Ft Worth area maybe

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Just an FYI what you want to look for is "Reservoir Controlling Authority" to see if a water body is USACE or whatever

For White Rock LAKE
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fi ... hite_rock/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Reservoir Controlling Authority

City of Dallas
Parks and Recreation Department
830 East Lawther
Dallas, Texas 75218
(214) 670-8281

Cities can't regulate CHLs at City Parks, so yes, you can carry there
See viewtopic.php?f=7&t=39994#p480227" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and

Local Government Code 229.001
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
LGC 229.001
229.001. FIREARMS; EXPLOSIVES. (a) A municipality may
not adopt regulations relating to the transfer, private ownership,
keeping, transportation, licensing, or registration of firearms,
ammunition, or firearm supplies.
(b) Subsection (a) does not affect the authority a
municipality has under another law to:
...
(6) regulate the carrying of a firearm by a person
other than a person licensed to carry a concealed handgun under
Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, at a:
(A) public park;
(B) public meeting of a municipality, county, or
other governmental body;
(C) political rally, parade, or official
political meeting; or
(D) nonfirearms-related school, college, or
professional athletic event.