TexasCHLforum.com

I think Charles summed things up very nicely. I would like to respond to this on a personal, not legislative, basis. This is my personal definition of CHL proficiency.

1. Safety. I started shooting under my father's tutelage 57 years ago. He taught me diligently and forcefully about handling, loading, shooting, unloading, and storing all kinds of guns. He taught me the four safety rules and made sure I knew them and practiced them. He taught me hunting safety and lots of useful things. I would not have guns around me without knowing most of this. For me, this is bedrock stuff. I've tried to follow my father's lead in teaching my family. That keeps me sharp and you might say, keeps me scared of the consequences of my not teaching well.

2. Proficiency. I learned to shoot first from my father, from thousands of rounds shot in thousands of hours of NRA competition and practice in Bullseye, High Power, and other sanctioned events. I learned by participating in long range rifle matches. I maintain proficiency by practice and "mind" practice - I think you guys know what I'm talking about here. I hope I'll never stop learning.

3. CHL. I didn't expect the class to teach me either safety or proficiency any more than I expected to come away with a full understanding of Texas law. I welcomed the shooting portion of the class - not to prove I could handle a gun safely, or shoot proficiently to the class or instructor, but to myself. It may just be me, but I want to know that, God forbid, should the need ever arise I can protect myself, my family, or others to the best of my ability.

Maybe I didn't say it very well, but this is just me.