CHL requirements

[thr_wedge]

No, I do not think this is a good idea. Texas is already pretty strict in what they require for proficiency. $100 more! I'm not poor and I don't want to pay another $100 to exercise a constitutional right.

[Justin Franklin]

im just saying there are too many people who have a chl who dont deserve one ...

I'm guessing these people would disagree.

George Washington, George Read, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom, James McHenry, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll, John Blair, James Madison, Jr., William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson, John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler, William Few, Abraham Baldwin, John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman, Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King, William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, William Livingston, David Brearley, William Paterson, Jonathan Dayton, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Thomas FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris

Where does anyone get the idea that they have the right to determine whether or not somebody is entitled to protect their self?

The bad guys (criminals and government) have guns and you should too! Know how to use it and know when to use it! If people are not learning this in their concealed handgun courses, then their instructor has failed them.

[shootthesheet]

Why do we allow this sort of confrontational thread on this board.? I don't like that the O.P. expressed an opinion contrary to the majority so I say we ban him from this board. He has no freedom of speech because I don't think he is responsible enough to exercise it properly so he needs to be forced to pay a fee each time he expresses an opinion. If he fails to pay his fee we can permanently remove his ability to express himself in any way! Maybe we should set up reeducation camps so "HIS KIND" can learn how to keep their opinions to themselves.

I don't see anything I posted as any less dangerous and harmful to our rights that the O.P.s posts. Not allowing people to exercise their rights, much less buy a privilege to do so from the state, may cause them to go to jail and be punished for carrying a gun for personal protection. I really hope the O.P. was joking!

[Grog]

I don't like that the O.P. expressed an opinion contrary to the majority so I say we ban him from this board. He has no freedom of speech because I don't think he is responsible enough to exercise it properly so he needs to be forced to pay a fee each time he expresses an opinion.

He has no Freedom of speech here because it is a private web forum, he can stand on the street corner and say whatever he wants but he sure can be booted from here if the owner(s) want to.

[pcgizzmo]

im just saying there are too many people who have a chl who dont deserve one and regardless of age, regardless of race, gender whatever i believe you need to know how to shoot if you are to carry a gun. regardless people who cant shoot cant shoot, pretty simple, so they need to learn how to shoot and learn with their handicaps if they have some, before they carry.

i still think that we should raise prices because people still take them with no knowledge or experience just because they can. raising the price by like 100 is nothing to most of us who understand the need. but to those who dont and just think it will be fun, it will keep those people away.

yall can scream 2A all you want and im all for it, i just need to toss a bit of common sense in there, if you dont mind all the people who have never shot before in their lives, and can still pass the proficiency test, carrying a gun thats your call, if it were up to me thered be none of that, you either can or cannot shoot

I disagree. It doesn't take long to learn how to shoot a gun. It's not rocket science. I can teach someone everything they need to know in an hour or probably less. Now, they won't be good or proficient but they will know the 4 rules of handgun safety and proper sight alignment, breathing, squeeze the trigger etc.. 99% of the people you are saying can't shoot can be taught how to shoot and safety in about an hour. Then they need to practice but I practice weekly and I'm a decent shot. So, to say they shouldn't be able to carry a gun just because they can't shoot is not a valid statement.

Most altercations happen up close and personal. You don't need to hit a bullseye at 20 yards for that. Just point at your attacker and pull the trigger until they stop.

[Ameer]

so i work at a gun range that does CHL classes every week, and i see a lot of people i would not want to be carrying taking the class, and those who are completely incompetent taking the class and passing.

Why is the instructor giving a passing score if they're unsafe on the range? That's the real problem.

[mreavis]

I don't think the fees should be raised because theres no way it cost that to actually license a person, and it shouldn't be a profit making organization.

That being said, I agree the tests should be a little bit harder. I could have passed the written one without taking the course or every looking up state law. I think both the written test and shooting test should be a little bit more intense.

I am all for second amendment rights. However I look at licensing to carry a gun in public buildings, businesses, onto school grounds and even in schools some places, like a license to drive a car. No one is saying you don't have the right to carry your gun. We are just asking that you demonstrate you have any clue as to what you are doing first. The second amendment is very important. But it doesn't mean 12 year olds should be carrying guns in middle school or repeat offending violent criminals should be armed. There has to be policy and testing for something as deadly as cars and guns.

[Crossfire]

But it doesn't mean 12 year olds should be carrying guns in middle school or repeat offending violent criminals should be armed.

If more of us good guys carried, then there wouldn't be as many "repeat offending violent criminals".

[sugar land dave]

im just saying there are too many people who have a chl who dont deserve one...

The great State of Texas and its lawmakers disagree with you.

[Aggie_engr]

i just need to toss a bit of common sense in there...

Oh no, not the common sense regulations again! Make it stop!!! Seriously though, constitutional carry is the only way to go. Texas needs to do away with the requirement to have a license to carry, like other states have stepped up and done. You shouldn't have to prove the need to exercise a right guaranteed to every American by the Constitution.

[LikesShinyThings]

By all means, let's raise the cost of CHL licensing. I think a minimum of $1000. And raise the minimum acceptable range score to 500. Because I absolutely know that it will stop the bad guys from carrying their concealed guns. It will even prevent the felons from buying guns, too!

Come on. Really. Making the good guys' ability to defend themselves more difficult/expensive merely limits the number of good guys (if somewhat less trained than I am) to defend themselves. Meanwhile, while you are infringing on the good guys' rights (and yes, Jim Crowe screams in my mind right now, too), you are doing nothing to stop the bad guys, who will merrily go about breaking laws, including carrying guns with less training or concern for safety than even those "incompetents" (as per OP) getting CHLs.

This is also treading dangerously close to the "thought police" attitude - "I just know you're going to do something wrong, so I'm going to punish you before you do it." Yeah right. It is wrong to punish someone before they actually do something wrong. Make the penalty for said wrongdoing harsh, absolutely I'm behind you on that. But don't tell me I can't do something just because you are afraid I might do something you don't like.

[shootthesheet]

I don't like that the O.P. expressed an opinion contrary to the majority so I say we ban him from this board. He has no freedom of speech because I don't think he is responsible enough to exercise it properly so he needs to be forced to pay a fee each time he expresses an opinion.

He has no Freedom of speech here because it is a private web forum, he can stand on the street corner and say whatever he wants but he sure can be booted from here if the owner(s) want to.

What I read from the O.P. was some people don't want the poor, old, inexperienced or maybe just somebody of another color or belief to be able to protect themselves. I don't know if that is what was meant by posts like that. But that is what comes out in the minds of the defenseless people looking for a way to protect themselves or at least it would me. That casual elitism would deny even more defenseless people their ability to save their lives and that offends me to the core. It is bad enough the disabled and week have to pay and submit to government for what is a God given right. Do those who call for more restriction EVER think of those who have no way to fight off attacks? Or do they just want to hang on to the feeling they are better than others because they can afford to buy this privilege?

[Justin Franklin]

Or do they just want to hang on to the feeling they are better than others because they can afford to buy this privilege?

Good post, but I wasn't sure if you meant to call it a privilege or was that satire?.

[aaangel]

one last post and i'll stop.

my suggestion would be the raise all CHL prices, to limit the number, as well as a way to make people really think about it before doing it and not just doing it cause they can and its not too expensive.

have you talked to your boss about this? I'm sure he would really like your idea!

[pcgizzmo]

Maybe we should make it so that all the bad guys that want to carry guns need to pay a fee and take a test also. I think we could get rich off of that.