Buying guns vs CHL

[FireAtWill]

OK,

New to the forums but wanted to share my last experience and a little frustration.

For my CHL license:

Paid $250 total, Took a 10 hour class, went to go get fingerprinted, went to post office to mail packet, waited a month.

Went to buy a concealed gun last week (not yet approved for CHL):

Filled out one page
They called it in
30 seconds later was writing the check and walking out the door.
They even asked me if I wanted to buy ammo with it.

So a less honest individual could enter a store, buy a gun, ammo, and illegally carry 30 seconds later. But to be "legal" my background check took 2 weeks and over a month soup to nuts.

Just some levity about the process.

[The Annoyed Man]

OK,

New to the forums but wanted to share my last experience and a little frustration.

For my CHL license:

Paid $250 total, Took a 10 hour class, went to go get fingerprinted, went to post office to mail packet, waited a month.

Went to buy a concealed gun last week (not yet approved for CHL):

Filled out one page
They called it in
30 seconds later was writing the check and walking out the door.
They even asked me if I wanted to buy ammo with it.

So a less honest individual could enter a store, buy a gun, ammo, and illegally carry 30 seconds later. But to be "legal" my background check took 2 weeks and over a month soup to nuts.

Just some levity about the process.

Yes, but your willingness to go through the onerous process of obtaining a CHL and carrying legally makes you a good guy. The other person, not so much.

[AEA]

And the good news is no more calling in when you buy your next gun (once you get your CHL).

Plus, if you buy your next gun online and have it shipped to one of our friendly FFL's from this site that charge avg $10.00 for transfer you will really be making out. Gun prices online cannot be beat by local retailers.

Go around to the local gun shops to fondle what you have in mind, decide on exactly what it is you want and then search online for the best prices. Gunsamerica is a good place to start your price search.

[MasterOfNone]

Isn't this typical of most things?

Driving a car legally takes going to DMV, passing the tests, getting the license.
Getting into the country legally requires doing the proper paperwork and awaiting approvals.

Most things are quicker and easier to do illegally, unless you count the jail time and fines.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Filled out one page
They called it in
30 seconds later was writing the check and walking out the door.
They even asked me if I wanted to buy ammo with it.

So a less honest individual could enter a store, buy a gun, ammo, and illegally carry 30 seconds later. But to be "legal" my background check took 2 weeks and over a month soup to nuts.

Just some levity about the process.

Well, if this "less honest individual" was clean enough to pass the background test, he would get the gun.

But then if he started carrying it illegally (not just to take it to his vehicle and drive to his residence with it),
he would cross the line from being a law-abiding citizen to that of a law-breaking citizen.

Now that Texas allows us to be CHL's, there's no reason for a law-abiding citizen to start living on the dark side.

SIA

[johnson0317]

Does having the plastic really exempt you from them having to call it in?

[speedsix]

OK,

New to the forums but wanted to share my last experience and a little frustration.

For my CHL license:

Paid $250 total, Took a 10 hour class, went to go get fingerprinted, went to post office to mail packet, waited a month.

Went to buy a concealed gun last week (not yet approved for CHL):

Filled out one page
They called it in
30 seconds later was writing the check and walking out the door.
They even asked me if I wanted to buy ammo with it.

So a less honest individual could enter a store, buy a gun, ammo, and illegally carry 30 seconds later. But to be "legal" my background check took 2 weeks and over a month soup to nuts.

Just some levity about the process.

Yes, but your willingness to go through the onerous process of obtaining a CHL and carrying legally makes you a good guy. The other person, not so much.

...just as much legally a good guy...we just have to jump through more hoops to carry concealed...more buy with the Brady than flopping down the CHL...most of them are good guys, too...just different...plain truth is, we're both inconvenienced by bad law...and choose to obey it anyways...

[speedsix]

Does having the plastic really exempt you from them having to call it in?

....

...depends on the licensee...got a retired cop 'round here who doesn't care if you have a CHL...he says you might have killed someone since you got it (DUH)...so in his pawn shops he forces CHLs to have the 4473 called in everytime "so I don't have a hassle"...I don't trouble him at all...don't buy guns from him...it's his right...and it's my right...

[AEA]

The no call for CHL holders in Texas is a perk that comes with the
"privilege" the State gave you (SOLD YOU) to carry out your Constitutional right.

The no call by FFL's/Dealers for a CHL holder is sometimes ignored by some sellers and they have their own "policy" (which is to call anyway).

Those sellers will not get any of my business. I have already jumped thru enough State hoops to get my CHL and I want everything that having it affords me. I will not deal with anyone that tries to call in and I don't mind telling them so.

If I am purchasing from a place I have not been to before, I will ask them if they are going to call in (BEFORE I even fill out the 4473). If they say yes, that is their policy, I simply tell them it is then my policy to shop/buy someplace else.

Edit: Clarification

[LikesShinyThings]

I hadn't even thought about asking if they call it in - just assumed they did not. Maybe I'll have to start asking. Haven't yet run into someone who called after getting my CHL, but I visit new stores regularly. Thanks for the heads up, speedsix and AEA.
LST

[michael e]

I never had anyone call it in since I got my CHL. Thats half the reason I went and got mine, FBI says i'm 5 9 120 and black ( Im 6 2 270 white).

[kjolly]

I've always showed the CHL to the FFL dealer and they have never called it in.

[schufflerbot]

Isn't this typical of most things?

Driving a car legally takes going to DMV, passing the tests, getting the license.
Getting into the country legally requires doing the proper paperwork and awaiting approvals.

Most things are quicker and easier to do illegally, unless you count the jail time and fines.

this.

[Purplehood]

On every purchase I still fill out the form. No calls, just the form.

[RoyGBiv]

And the good news is no more calling in when you buy your next gun (once you get your CHL).

Plus, if you buy your next gun online and have it shipped to one of our friendly FFL's from this site that charge avg $10.00 for transfer you will really be making out. Gun prices online cannot be beat by local retailers.

Go around to the local gun shops to fondle what you have in mind, decide on exactly what it is you want and then search online for the best prices. Gunsamerica is a good place to start your price search.

Do your local guy a favor and let him have a shot at meeting the best price you can (legitimately) find.
Without the local dealers, you wouldn't have a place to go touch that new gun before you buy it. At least give them a chance.

I'm prepared to pay a bit extra (in sales tax plus a bit higher price if necessary) to help a good local guy stay in business.
How many times have you seen a gun in the news, fell in love, then found out it wasn't "the one" for you when you held it in your hands?
There's real value in that... No?

IMO, YMMV.