TexasCHLforum.com

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

I'd like to see the support made for that claim. The author is framing it in black and white terms, and that isn't anywhere near the truth.

There are certainly some people who have a CHL and never carry a gun. They got it "just in case there's a need to carry a gun; I just don't need to carry one."

There are certainly others who have a CHL, who rarely, if ever, carry a gun.

There are certainly others who have a CHL, who occasionally carry a gun.

There are certainly others who have a CHL, who frequently, but not always carry a gun.

And then there are others (which probably describes 99% of the active membership of this board), who simply won't leave home without a gun... ...and they frequently carry at home too.

So I don't know how the reporter arrives at his claim... ...unless... ...he is referring solely to those CHL holders who are visiting the Capitol regularly for legislative/business reasons. In that case, then it is certainly possible that the number of people who obtained one simply for the purposes of using the CHL line outnumbers those CHL holding citizens who are visiting as tourists.

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.

I'm pretty much 24/7.

My dad has had his since '96 or '97 (when it first came out, he got his right after I got mine, the class was my Christmas present to him), he rarely carries, said he really got it more so he can carry whenever he takes a motorhome trip.

A buddy of mine also has had his since the beginning, I don't think he even owns a handgun! But he wanted the option and he wanted to be able to bypass the brady waiting period if he needed on quick.

Another buddy is as close to 24/7 as he can be (except at work, then it's in his car due to company policy).

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.

What type of holster do you use in the shower?...

Interesting you mention those who get CHLs for the faster line, and wind up carrying every day.

I got my CHL in 1996 or so, when the brady check started. I was used to being able to go into the gun store / gun show, show my TDL, fill out the 4473, pay, and walk out with my new gun - so I got the CHL to obviate the new "background check" system.

Out with my wife one day, I realized I had a card in my wallet that made it legal for my to have my pistol with me, to protect her and myself, but I didn't. Started carrying all the time, now I can't imagine deciding to leave it home.

I think you are on to something.

longhorn_92 wrote:What type of holster do you use in the shower?...

mgood wrote:

longhorn_92 wrote:What type of holster do you use in the shower?...

You did ask for it....

I would carry 100% of the time, but because of work can only carry little more than 50%. Once the parking lot bill becomes law that percentage will go up. If my employer's position changes it will go up to 100%.

The Annoyed Man wrote:And then there are others (which probably describes 99% of the active membership of this board), who simply won't leave home without a gun... ...and they frequently carry at home too.

I'd like to see the support for your claim.

Looking at the number of posts from people saying they can't carry at work or school, those people aren't doing anything they couldn't do without a CHL since MPA passed.

Then there are people who complain they can't car carry during their commute to work because of parking lot restrictions.

Cobra Medic wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:And then there are others (which probably describes 99% of the active membership of this board), who simply won't leave home without a gun... ...and they frequently carry at home too.

I'd like to see the support for your claim.

Looking at the number of posts from people saying they can't carry at work or school, those people aren't doing anything they couldn't do without a CHL since MPA passed.

Then there are people who complain they can't car carry during their commute to work because of parking lot restrictions.

I may not agree with TAM's particular number, but I agree with his premise. Which is: The members of the Forum carry more often than the majority of CHL holders. I believe that the members of the Forum are more informed about the laws and consequences of carrying and not-carrying compared with rest of the Texas CHL holders. Since the list of CHL holders in no longer public, an accurate survey of carrying habits could only be performed by the DPS.

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.

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

Cobra Medic wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:And then there are others (which probably describes 99% of the active membership of this board), who simply won't leave home without a gun... ...and they frequently carry at home too.

I'd like to see the support for your claim.

Looking at the number of posts from people saying they can't carry at work or school, those people aren't doing anything they couldn't do without a CHL since MPA passed.

Then there are people who complain they can't car carry during their commute to work because of parking lot restrictions.

OK, so it's 75%, and not 99%. It is still a very much larger percentage than "very low." And, there are, what, 6,000+ members here? Despite the number of threads in which members complain about not being able to carry at work, it still seems in my perception to be a minority of the total membership.

But whether it is 99%, 75%, or 50%, my basic point remains. Given that a some people carry all the time, and others carry a lot of the time, and others carry some of the time, and others carry occasionally, and others carry once in a great while, I don't know where a claim that almost nobody who has a CHL actually carries comes from.

I could be wrong, but it just doesn't make sense to me. But like I said, I could be wrong. Lots of things make no sense to me.

The 2009 population of Texas:
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48000.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
= 24,782,302

The number of CHL holders as of December 31, 2009:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... tr2009.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
= 402,914

That is 1 CHL holder for every 62 people or 1.6%. However, who knows how many of them are actually carrying. I would guess about half. If true, 1 out of every 120 are carrying.