TexasCHLforum.com

DSARGE wrote:Here's another good "drinkin and packin" question:

What if I am sitting in the backyard having a couple of beers and shooting the blue jays off the bird feeder with a pellet pistol (1911 model).

Lol. If you're going to shoot blue jays off the bird feeder then you need one of these: http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/Gamo_Varmi ... 929454.htm

Congratulations. I hope you never get robbed or carjacked while you have a "hint of alcohol" on your breath. I hope your wife or children don't get attacked while you have a hint of alcohol on your breath.

Well...I have to say that I agree with this. I think Frankie might have been a bit blunt, but I have to admit the truth. I have carried without a CHL... a shotgun and two pistols for years and drove drunk with them in the car. I have also been pulled over with this ridiculously illegal combination when I was drunk, and when I was sober and to no consequence. Cops just don't search me because I'm always calm and collected no matter what. In fact I like cops and I think they can sense that. I'm also a very nice person.

That being said...it's still a bad idea to carry if you're drinking, but I'm going to keep doing it. My idea on the matter is that if I have to kill someone, I'd rather be alive and facing that problem than dead. If I had to go to prison then I'd still be alive and get out in a few years. Jail just doesn't scare me that much.

I totally understand the NO CARRY policy when drinking though. I don't think you can be hard on someone for having that philosophy. I have friends that carry all the time unless they're going out to a bar to drink. Unfortunately that's when you might end up in the most trouble. I just don't care. I'll carry no matter what. If a guy decides to not carry when he's having a beer then that's his decision and I can respect that. I'm sure he's at least carrying a knife though and is probably going to a bar where he feels safe. That's what I do anyway.

dsarge wrote:

I need to meet you

Hehe, maybe we can arrange that. I wish I had my country place, but it's going to be a few years. As of now we go out to a buddy of mine's place in Quinlan. He's got some tanks stocked with catfish and a place to crash.

I'm with Frankie on this one. When I say the smartest thing to do is never carry when drinking, it's just for the reason that a cop might smell the one glass of wine on your breath and then pin you with carrying while drinking. I doubt that 99% of LEOs would care, but there's always that one...

A group of heavy drinkers with CHLs can actually be a fun group of guys. I'd have to say from reading the responses to this thread, we are in the minority. That, or people are afraid to admit to some things. Don't worry, I won't invite you guys out to our drunken parties in the country. We drink beer, we shoot guns, then we fish and drink some more beer and then eat fried fish. It's fun! Yes, we put the guns away when the bottle of Jack comes out. No one drives home after that. Well, then there's always the fireworks late at night (and more beer).

Don't think I advocate drinking and driving, because I don't. I'm just saying that it does happen...a LOT. And yeah, you can probably take me off of the donor list...even though I ride a liter class sportsbike.

I don't drink and carry, same as I don't drink and drive.

Isn't that redundant? I mean if you don't drink and drive, then obviously you wouldn't be drinking and carrying. Unless you're walking to the bar, which no one does.

The truth is that lots of people drink and drive with the blessing of the TABC that makes tons of tax money off of drinkers. If there was a serious effort to stop drinking and driving then the police would wait out in front of bars to make arrests. It doesn't happen. For good reason too...they don't want the tax money coming in to stop.

I'm a heavy drinker. That means that I drink at least five drinks at one sitting once a week or drink every day. In my situation, it means that I get off work and drink a six pack sometimes (tall boys). On the weekends I might drink a half of a bottle of Jack. Yeah, in one night.

I carry my gun on my hip locked and loaded at all times at the house. I've done this for years without incident. I don't get in the car and drive anywhere (usually). You never know, I might be out of smokes.

According to my CHL instructor, there is no set limit for drinking while carrying. That said, I'm assuming that you are not supposed to be carrying while over the legal limit. For me, that's probably about four beers in an hour or two. The smartest thing to do is to never carry if you're drinking. If you do, then you are taking a definite risk. Hopefully you won't be pulled over. If you are then hope you don't get Barney Fife. If you are an older dude driving a normal car and you have one glass of wine with dinner...you're safe. Personally I drive a white pickup truck that the police just ignore for the most part. I wonder if the camo seat covers help?

Once my CHL goes through, I will do what my other heavy drinking friends with CHL's do...don't carry your gun with you when you go to the bar. That means leave it at home. If I'm stopping by happy hour at the local Chili's for a few beers then I will probably have my gun in the truck. Oh well. If I get stopped then I will deal with the consequences. I still speak normally after four or five beers. I also drive real slow...