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Those who want to live like they were in a war zone are free to do so. However, civil law dictates the rules of engagement.

Can we just let this thread die?

- Jim

We've all had our say. Let's go on to the next topic.

- Jim

surferdaddy wrote:I choose to carry at the beach, perhaps you do not,

I do carry at the beach, and I said why.

Peace, dude.

- Jim

... trite little box.

Some of us notice these subtle put-downs.

- Jim

surferdaddy wrote:Not really understanding why so many say carry 24/7 but when the beach is brought up, why it would be silly to carry in such a place.

Who said "silly"?

I have been trying to discuss what is reasonable and practical.

- Jim

A person who won't go anywhere he can't legally carry a handgun is going to have a cramped existence. He can't vote, go to any school, professional or interscholastic sports game, or other place off limits under Texas law. He can't go to any post office or federal facility. He can't go to about 1/3 of the states, Washington DC, or any foreign country. He can't go on a cruise.

Ultimately people who think this way find themselves in a rusty trailer in Idaho surrounded by rolls of barbed wire and "no trespassing" signs.

Life is all about choices.

- Jim

Alvins,

Most of the people who live in Galveston are honest, hard-working people. I am one.

Millions of people come here every year and have a good time. They come back every year. Some of their families have been coming here for a century. Some of them buy houses here when they retire or get rich enough.

I have never been a victim of a violent crime here or had a reason to fear being a victim.

"Kappa" weekend died out years ago. When it was a phenomenon, I didn't hide anywhere. I was out on the Seawall, on foot, as usual.

- Jim

Maybe we need to take a reasonable look at risk analysis.

Several million people a year go to the beach in Galveston. Nearly all of them return home with nothing worse than sunburn or a jellyfish sting.

As far as I know, no one has ever been murdered or sexually assaulted at the beach in Galveston in day time.

There recently was one robbery that I can recall. It did not actually occur at the beach. Two people returning from the beach to their condo were robbed in a parking lot.

There's about one shark bite a year on the entire Texas Gulf Coast, and most of those cause no permanent injury.

About five to ten people a year drown at Galveston beaches. At least half of them did not know how to swim. Many are children whose parents or guardians "forgot" to watch them. (At least once a year a family comes to Galveston and goes home with one fewer kid. Hours later they are frantically calling the police.)

Many adults who drown are drunk.

Many more people nearly drown, requiring rescue and a trip to the hospital. Many fall on the rocks, fall off boats, fall off surfboards, or are run over by watercraft.

An even larger (unknown) number are injured or killed while driving from their homes to the beach.

All of these people would have been better off with a kiddie pool and lawn sprinkler in their back yard.

- Jim

If you want to go swimming, there is no way to carry a concealed handgun bigger than maybe one of those NAA mini-revolvers.

You could have someone who isn't swimming stash the weapon. Obviously this person would have to have a CHL to be legal.

Otherwise you have to stay minimally clothed and wade in up to your knees.

(I do this all the time. I don't much like swimming at the beach, because I don't like having salt water and sand all over me until I get home.)

The beach and Seawall in Galveston are practically free of assaults and robberies during the daylight hours. The cops and life guards keep a pretty good eye out.

If an assault does occur, it is more likely to be between acquaintances who have been hitting the bottle.

There is theft of possessions left on the beach while people swim, so never leave anything more valuable than an old towel or flip-flops that way.

The more remote west-end beaches are less heavily used than the beach in front of the Seawall. At many of them, you can park right on the beach within maybe 100 feet of the water. Dellanera Park is just past the west end of the Seawall. They charge admission, which keeps out the riff-raff you mentioned. They also have bathrooms and showers.

The situation at night on the beach is much different, especially the far east end. There is more drinking and drug use, and violent crimes do occasionally occur. I would not go there alone or unarmed.

- Jim