TexasCHLforum.com

n5wd wrote:

74novaman wrote:...I've never seen or heard about a lot of safety beyond the basic 4 rules being taught in CHL classes, so I don't buy into the whole "CHL classes are important for safety" argument. They're important for learning the law. Most of them pretty much teach you jack squat about firearms safety or good pistol shooting.

You're supposed to already know how to safely operate your gun when you attend a CHL course - they're about the law, when and when not to use force, & how to defuse a potentially could-go-wrong situation - not a course on safety and marksmanship.

I know (and even said basically the same thing right above what you quoted).

jmra wrote:

tommyg wrote:I think it is stupid to give someone a license to carry if they can't
show that they are competent to load fire and carry safely

Should they also have to show competency in order to carry in their car under MPA? Maybe even to purchase a firearm?
I see this thought process as a slippery slope.

Agreed 100%.

I posted this on another forum, but seems relevant to this discussion:

Arizona passed Constitutional Carry in 2010. Zero class time or permitting required to openly or concealed carry a firearm. Based on the premise that people need more training to prevent gun accidents, accidental gun deaths in Arizona should have gone up in 2010, correct?

Accidental gun deaths in Arizona by year (from the CDC)

2006-9
2007-14
2008- 11
2009- No data
2010- 12
2011 on- no published data yet.

So a one year data point didn't see a huge uptick, but just to satisfy the "not enough data crowd", we can also check out Alaska:

Alaska passed a similar law in 2003.

1999- 3
2000- 2
2001- 1
2002- 1
2003- 3
2004- 0
2005- 2

Doesn't seem like a lack of CHL training led to an increase in accidental gun deaths in either of those states.

Those who are responsible adults will get training, practice and behave responsibly, regardless of state mandated requirements.

Frankly, I find it hard to believe anyone who has ever sat through a CHL class would consider it good safety training anyway. You go over the law, you shoot at a big easy target, and you take a test on the law. Not a whole lot of safety training or safe firearms handling gets taught in a CHL class. That is not a jab at CHL instructors, because their job in the Texas CHL class is to teach the law and ensure students meet the requirements set by the state.

I've never seen or heard about a lot of safety beyond the basic 4 rules being taught in CHL classes, so I don't buy into the whole "CHL classes are important for safety" argument. They're important for learning the law. Most of them pretty much teach you jack squat about firearms safety or good pistol shooting.