July 19-23 Class Blog

[Crossfire]

We will be waiting . Thanks for keeping us posted!

[texasjeep44]

I hope your class is as good as ours was. You will enjoy it if it is.

[KinnyLee]

So far so good today. We don't have tables today but may have them tomorrow. I think tables are a welcome edition.

[troglodyte]

Tables are up for Tuesday class.

Typical bog down on people asking questions that Legal can't answer and interjecting comments that are marginal. Pretty typical of any training session like this and overall not too bad.

Instructors handled it well and the ladies from Legal did a good job with a rough topic.

Long days for us folks that don't sit much during the day. Breaks were timely and often.

[A-R]

Wow, I really enjoyed the way the first DPS officer (can't remember his name off top of my head) opened the class - the classic video of Suzanna Hupp telling the US Congress what 2A is really all about. Then the funny FoxNews video about "gun free zones". Then his discussion about "we're all 'like-minded people' " who need to guard the integrity of the CHL program so it will continue. Talk about an LEO who truly is "on our side".

The CHL attorney wasn't as "awful" as I'd been led to believe, but I would certanly not classify her as "on our side" to the same degree as the DPS officers. She's a lawyer and - as she repeated often - a former "criminal defense lawyer" at that, and her style and comments obviously rubbed some people the wrong way, I think. But part of this was, as previous post mentioned, people continuing to ask questions she can't/won't answer because doing so would require her to make a determination of fact based on a hypothetical situation. Still, I think some of her comments were overly "cautious" and obviously her statements regarding 30.06, which have been discussed on this forum previously, I think are incorrect on the law. But she's a lawyer and I ain't. So I'll leave it at that and plan to give my students both sides of the story and let them decide.

Overall a good first day. I'm amazed that, so far at least, the discussion of actual relevant statutes etc. doesn't seem as "in depth" as some of the CHL classes I've taken. Some of it just seemed "glossed over" from my view, but perhaps that's just because some of it seems remedial to me since we talk about it all here so often.

[KinnyLee]

How did everyone do? I don't know about you guys but I am beat. Who knew shooting 100 rounds in the sun would wear one out. I am glad all this is over.

[inertiajason]

I was worried about the revolver portion of the test but I did just fine on that and thought it was going to be a piece of cake from there but I had 2 jams with my Ruger P95 9mm and was unable to get off 4 rounds so it really came in close I just barely got a 225! I surely didn't want to stick around for the 2nd relay!

[A-R]

How did everyone do? I don't know about you guys but I am beat. Who knew shooting 100 rounds in the sun would wear one out. I am glad all this is over.

I was a bit disappointed in my shooting with revolver - scored a 243, but put two rounds in the 3-zone down and left (one near the hands - YIKES!). Just rushed the errant shots, I think. I did much better with this revolver during practice the Friday before.

With semi-auto I shot the best I've ever shot. Perfect 250 and only one round outside the 10 ring. Was proud of myself with that performance.

The DPS range - and really their entire training facility (test track, "city" streets, "shoot house" etc) is just AMAZING. If I was 10 years younger I might consider a career change just so I could shoot at that range!

Great week all round, met some great folks - Paul, Kenny, Mike ...

Planning to write a letter to the DPS higher ups commending with some very flowery language the multiple DPS officers who taught the course - each of them was top-notch and a great example of how firearms instruction should be done.

[Heritage1]

Was in the 7/19 class also. Am sooooooo glad they put in tables. My butt would have fallen off if they hadn't. Also glad they moved the class to the new location. I drove through the area that it was previously scheduled for. That should be an open carry zone all its own!

All the DPS Officers and even the law team were great in my opinion. I even understand the lawyers positions/evasiveness (sp?) on several issues. Each municipality will handle each instance of contact in its own way as they interpret the law and as the cultural climate of that locality should dictate they respond.

The only thing I didnt get out [abbreviated profanity deleted] the class was what should be covered in a renewal class. Its obvious whats necessary for an initial CHL but we really didnt go over the remewal other than 4 hours required. Or did I completly zone out during that period?

[sjfcontrol]

They didn't really say, but presumably the renewal classes are to cover any law changes in the previous five years. Don't know that THAT would necessarily take four hours.

[troglodyte]

Overall it was a very good week. Being one that usually does more of the teaching and less of the sitting I found myself to become very restless. This is no fault of the DPS, just the way I am. 32 hours of sitting isn't me. The "how-to-teach" sessions were really tedious for me as a veteran teacher, but they moved along quickly and the pain was short. Regardless, the class was informative and the DPS did a good job.

As Austinrealtor stated the range was amazing. The turning targets were a first for me so I didn't really know what to expect. Turned out it was a non-issue, just a new little twist that was easily compensated for. Matter of fact, I think I may have done better with them than I would have standing looking at the target and my last shot that may have strayed.

Scored 100, 250, 250. I wish I could say "one ragged hole" but I can't. I had a "few" stray out of the 10 ring. Being a little nervous I don't even remember seeing my sights on the first few revolver rounds. Of course at that distance (and a 8 3/4" barrel ) it's pretty much point shooting anyway. My biggest problem came with the first couple of shots as we transitioned to the semi. My trigger finger still wanted to pull the revolver trigger and I popped off the first couple of rounds a little premature. They drifted left but stayed in the 5 point rings. Once I made the correction I did fine. I surprised myself at the 7 yd line with my XD subcompact. I really expected to scatter a few with the short barrel but I think I actually shot tighter. Maybe I had to concentrate a little more. The "standard" repetition of commands from the rangemaster put me at ease and made it easy to know what was coming up.

I did find it interesting that the people that had problems with their firearms around me were either running either low quality or tricked out guns. I won't say anything beyond that as I didn't have the priviledge of seeing everyone, just the few around me. I got out before it got too hot so it wasn't too bad, a little sticky. The "Certification Ceremony" was quick and low-key, which was just fine with me. Seemed to be more personal to me.

I'm with AR and will be writting a letter of commendation to the DPS concerning our "red-shirt" instructors. They were top-notch and gave you the feeling that they really appreciated you being there and taking the training. I forgot the rangemasters name but I appreciated his professionalism.

It was good meeting some fellow TXCHLForum brothers.

As for renewal classes I think covering law-changes, review of gun laws, dispute resolution, and proficiency is the main thrust. Add in a little safety and what-ifs to review the lic. holder. Page 18 GC 411.188(c)(1) Texas Concealed Handgun Laws -(concerning renewals) "at least four hours of instuction on one or more of the subjects listed in Subsection (b): and (2) other information the director determines is appropriate."

[A-R]

I did find it interesting that the people that had problems with their firearms around me were either running either low quality or tricked out guns.

Saw a few "problem guns" myself. Someone had an older Sig (P225?) with rust on it. Someone else was told they would not be allowed to use their old revolver because of a timing issue. I was also amazed at the number of people who didn't listen to (or heed) the rangemaster's instructions and put their semi-autos on the barrels while we took the break between stages to changes targets. He let 'em know about it too. Not barking at them to embarass them like a football coach would, but definitely let them have an earful.

I'm with AR and will be writting a letter of commendation to the DPS concerning our "red-shirt" instructors. They were top-notch and gave you the feeling that they really appreciated you being there and taking the training. I forgot the rangemasters name but I appreciated his professionalism.

Rangemaster was Lt. Hitt (I asked Sgt. Bamsch when he handed me my certificate). Found a nice bio page on the DPS instructors (need to get that letter written and sent off) .... http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/trainingac ... ffdesc.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .... the others as I remember them were Sgt. Wimberly, Capt. Tacquard, and Sgt. Dews. There was also the guy on Day 1 in the black shirt who was in charge of Private Security Bureau and audits/inspections of CHL instructors but can't remember his name.

As for renewal classes I think covering law-changes, review of gun laws, dispute resolution, and proficiency is the main thrust. Add in a little safety and what-ifs to review the lic. holder. Page 18 GC 411.188(c)(1) Texas Concealed Handgun Laws -(concerning renewals) "at least four hours of instuction on one or more of the subjects listed in Subsection (b): and (2) other information the director determines is appropriate."

I asked Sgt. Bamsch about this after class on Thursday and he said basically the same thing - just be sure to cover changes to the law, then whatever you think they'd benefit from the most. I think best way to do a new/renewal class together in one day would be to have everyone show up in morning and be sure to cover law changes, then go shoot at mid-day and have the new people return for afternoon and renewals are done for day (or vice versa).