HOW DO YOU PROMOTE CHL?

[Kalrog]

I'm about to take on the company with the recent posting of an unenforceable 30.06 sign. And I quite frequently make the offer to pay for anyone's first range trip. Had a couple of people take me up on that, but no CHLs out of the deal yet.

[quidni]

Everyone has their own reasoning and Texas law say we don't have to justify why, and thats just the way it should be.

and along the idea of "promoting CHL" IMO it's a bad idea to promote by using your CHL as your primary ID for a non-firearms related transaction, even if it is legally permissible. After all, if you do have the CHL, you DO have other TX ID.

A co-worker was processing a mail-in transaction a couple days ago, and the mailer had included a photocopy of his CHL instead of his ID/DL as his identification. The co-worker wanted to know if it was acceptable, and the answer she was given was "Yes, it is, but some guys just like to flash that around instead of their driver license, because they think they're 'big guys' because they do guns."

The mailer's intent might not have been to show off, but that's unfortunately how it comes across to some folks - a negative reaction instead of a positive one. It also told a total stranger that he has guns, which is not always a good thing. Now, it might have worked as a secondary ID, if the CHLer had actually been present to have some control over the situation.

[Mike1951]

Mike1951 wrote:
And while the NICS bypass is convenient, I really hope no one gets a CHL for that reason.

Why not? Is one reason more noble than another?

As far as I'm concerned, yes.

Wanting to take responsibility for the safety and protection of yourself, your family, and your property should be the reason someone gets a CHL.

To speed up a gun purchase is not a valid reason and cheapens the whole process.

Just my opinion.

[anygunanywhere]

When asked I do respond in the most positive way possible. Lots of folks can relate to the fire extinguisher or insurance analogy.

The NICS bypass is a great benefit.

I have not overtly convinced anyone to obtain their CHL that I am aware of. Most people I associate with are Pro-2A and have them. I don't typically hang with antis. Most of those who know me but that do not socialise with me know that I and my posse are gun guys and girls.

The one person in my life I want to convert is my daughter-in-law. She is a teacher and has gulped the educator koolaid by the gallon. I think she will convert. She is tom-boyish enough that I think if I get her to the range with the .22 pistol and rifles she will see the positive side. I have a plan that I will activate once I stop spending so much time on the road.

Anygun

[BrassMonkey]

Me? I decided to fill up Linda's class with new people... This next one is gonna be cozy...

[NcongruNt]

Mike1951 wrote:
And while the NICS bypass is convenient, I really hope no one gets a CHL for that reason.

Why not? Is one reason more noble than another?

As far as I'm concerned, yes.

Wanting to take responsibility for the safety and protection of yourself, your family, and your property should be the reason someone gets a CHL.

To speed up a gun purchase is not a valid reason and cheapens the whole process.

Just my opinion.

I am going to disagree with you here, and I will tell you why.

CHL is a licensed right. It means that short of a criminal or psychological background that gives the state cause to deny that right, everyone is entitled to exercise that right. A CHL is simply the affirmation of the right to bear certain arms - one that everyone is entitled to. Regardless of the reason someone gets the CHL, that person is entitled to the license provided they meet the prerequisites in training and background. If someone gets the license solely for the NICS bypass, that does not "cheapen" the right. The CHL simply affirms the right of that person to carry a concealed handgun if he or she so chooses. The "process" required to get the license is a requirement of government oversight, and I don't have some overt reverence to the process itself, so in my eyes there is nothing to "cheapen". Just as this process is to ensure that the licensee has a good understanding of the law regarding the exercise of the license and proper familiarity and demonstrated ability with a firearm, a driver's license ensures that the licensee is familiar with traffic law and proper familiarity and demonstrated ability with a motor vehicle.

To say that getting a CHL without the intention to exercise the benefits of the license except for the NICS bypass cheapens the process of acquiring the license is parallel to saying that a person who does not own a car and does not drive cheapens the process of getting a driver's license solely because he or she wants to be able to drive the fast cars at Malibu Grand Prix. It is neither here nor there because the licensing process is simply a government oversight for the purpose of safety in the expression of that individuals right to free movement, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A CHL is just the same, except it deals with our Second Amendment rights and the rights to life, liberty, and self-preservation.

As seems to be the case with Stupid, getting the CHL simply for the NICS bypass is likely to open the door of understanding about the responsibilities and further expression of the right to carry. I find no offense at that, and if it can open the doors to a heightened awareness of the need for self-defense, I'm all for people getting the license for the less than glorious reason of a NICS bypass.

[NcongruNt]

Now on to my response to the OP...

I don't overtly promote CHL. If the topic does come up, I will provide factual information regarding the law. If the subject matter warrants it, I will go into more personal opinions on the subject. I do not disclose that I have a CHL or carry unless I am directly asked, and I do not evangelize for the CHL cause. People tend to be pretty opinionated on guns and self defense already, so discussion/argument on the matter generally only results in a negative outcome. Just as in many other aspects of my life, I find that demonstration by example is much more effective in swaying a persons opinion on the subject. When I take people shooting at the range, the subject will inevitably come up because I don't own many guns and I draw and clear my carry gun when we get around to handgun shooting. My demeanor in every day life and at the range serves as a much more powerful testimony of what a person who carries is actually like, and has many times opened the eyes of someone who had preconceived notions about "gun people". I let my character do the talking.

There have been a couple of times when a friend has expressed a possible interest in getting a CHL during the course of conversation about their first trip to the range. In such a situation, I encourage the person to look more into it while emphasizing the responsibilities involved in getting a license. These individuals have been young and still more of a partying type, so specifically I discuss the responsibilities regarding alcohol and carry. To my knowledge, neither have gotten their license, but I believe the discussion does plant a seed of positive affirmation towards responsible behavior.

[shootthesheet]

Thank you for your posts. There was nothing I didn't expect to read, so far.

As it is, CHL is a private and very personal thing to me. However, It is also a possible life saving tool. Because it could save someone’s life I have decided to step out and openly promote CHL. I don't walk up to strangers and start conversations about CHL no more than I do about anything else. However, if given the opportunity, I will tell them the basics and offer to help in the process. It took three years for me to get two female family members to become licensed. So, I don't expect any immediate success. My goal will be to educate more than anything else. Someone had to tell me CHL existed and I hope to do the same for others.

[Bluedot 40]

My wife and I are both new to CHL. We got our plastic in November of 2007.
Most of the men that I work around have had CHL's for years.

My friends that do not have CHL's all seem to be very supportive...3 have said that they want to do it this year.
I usually bring up the fact that we are all in our 50's now. We are no longer in our " Warrior" phase. I do not have the physical ability or the desire to want to go "toe to toe" with a young BG. I want to be able to protect my family and be able to feel safe, as much as I can. Most of my friends understand that we are all getting older and society is getting more evil.

I found it interesting when I went on the TX. CHL site and checked on the demographics for 2007.
The ages that had the most CHL applications were the ages between 52 and 60....I understand this!!!
I also found out that my zip code had the most applications of all zip codes for the entire state of Texas!!!
Evidently we did not feel safe for a good reason....CHL's are needed here! This is pretty much the pitch that I go for. I would like to see even more law abbiding citizens in my area with their CHL's and carrying.

It does help you buy a gun faster though....I found that out at the Market Hall Gun Show...nice perk!!

[O6nop]

My UPS driver approached me and I gave him my phone and agreed to meet him at any gun show to help him select a handgun.

That was several shows back and I haven't heard from him.

Probably because he has your phone.

I don't tell anyone I carry, so I don't promote it that much. My kids aren't interested in guns, so I don't talk to them about it.
Bypassing the NICS is a good benefit to CHL, but was not my reason to get one. However, after getting my plastic, I couldn't wait to buy my first gun and take advantage of it!

[Mike1951]

He frequently delivers packages to me which are obviously long guns.

So he asked one day if I was a dealer. I said no, I was a collector.

That's what started the conversation with the UPS driver.

However, after getting my plastic, I couldn't wait to buy my first gun and take advantage of it!

The point I was trying to make is that NICS is the icing on the cake, NOT the cake!