TexasCHLforum.com

S&W6946 wrote:Charles, I've known Sgt Star Riddle for sometime so I emailed her about what she told you in class. Here is her response to me:

. . . how did the man know our CHL holder had a gun?

This is a great example of what I meant by the instructors' attitude about the CHL program! "Our CHL" They are very proud of CHL's and very protective.

Chas.

Glockamolie wrote:Is there any case law on verbal acknowledgement being failure to conceal?

None of which I am aware. It is still my opinion that verbally disclosing you are carrying doesn't constitute an "intentional failure to conceal." However, I have fond memory (/sarcasm) of being blind-sided by a comment during a radio interview shortly after SB60 passed. I was asked if telling someone you had a gun was unlawful and I said "no." She then said, "well we just interviewed Rep. Ron Wilson and he said it would be illegal to tell someone you had a gun." Since I didn't want to publically disagree with an ardent supporter of SB60 and a co-author of the House version, I just said, "well I guess this is where we have a difference of opinion." In the years since, I've heard others claim that verbal disclosure violates 46.035(a).

I'm happy to see S&W6946's post about Sgt. Riddle's comments.

Chas.

txinvestigator wrote:How did you like it? Don't you love their range?

I think I'll have to email Riddle. She needs the extra stress.

I was very impressed with the course and especially the personnel. I have never seen a group of people more dedicated to a program than Lt. Derrick and Sgts. Riddle, Holmes and Ripps. I didn’t know quite what to expect, based primarily on some derogatory comments by a certain female attorney with DPS. (She also presented the legal portion of the class.) Perhaps she had me expecting a bit of “me cop, you not� attitude but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

These folks weren’t just going through the motions, they are fully committed to the CHL program. They did an excellent job of making everyone in class feel that they are a part of one of the best programs in the country. They also wanted to make sure everyone understood the responsibility instructors have to CHL’s.

Sgt. Ripps gave a short but excellent speech on the importance of the Second Amendment. You’d be hard put to find a more intense firearms trainer. By that I don’t mean he has a volatile personality, just that he is adamant about the importance of proper training how that training can save your life, or cost you your life.

I won’t mention the name of the lawyer who did the legal presentation and I’m not going into any detail about her comments. Suffice it to say she was not well-received by the class and as an attorney, I found her legal analysis lacking.

The range is great! It’s the nicest range I’ve ever been on and I wish we had been able to do much more. When we were driving to the range Tuesday morning (the 3-day folks shot on Tuesday; the 4-day folks on Thursday), a guy driving a pickup was blinded by the sun and hit the gate to the range. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but what a way to start the day!

Regards,
Chas.

txinvestigator wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:[ Apparently, DPS doesn't agree as they teach Instructors that verbal disclosure that you have a gun is a violation.


Chas.

The never said that in either my initial instructor class, nor my instructor renewal class. I also asked my father who has been instructing since 1996, and DPS has never told HIM that either.

I just attended the DPS CHL Instructor course this Monday through Wednesday. Sgt. Riddle expressly said that verbal disclosure was an "intentional failure to conceal." This was in response to a question from one of the students.

Again, I don't think it is either.

Chas.

kw5kw wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:We have to be careful about asking someone if they are armed. We could inadvertently cause them to violate TPC §46.035(a) if they have a CHL and respond "yes."

Chas.

Who'd press charges?

We need to let people know that the Good Guys carry weapons to help protect society as well.

Akin to those beer commercials about the "man law"... it should be allowed that betweenst fellow CHL holders that that law would be muted.

Russ

I don't know who if anyone would press charges.

I agree that simply telling someone you have a gun should not be a violation of 46.035(a). For some time after 1995, I opined that it was not an "intentional failure to conceal" if you simply told someone you had a gun and didn't show it. Apparently, DPS doesn't agree as they teach Instructors that verbal disclosure that you have a gun is a violation.

I am also all for letting the general public know good guys carry guns. I was just pointing out that if a question was asked and the clerk had a CHL and a gun, then anyone overhearing could cause a problem. We don't want to our zeal to support our cause to cause them a problem. I know if a stranger asked me if I had a gun, they wouldn't get an answer.

Chas.

We have to be careful about asking someone if they are armed. We could inadvertently cause them to violate TPC §46.035(a) if they have a CHL and respond "yes."

Chas.