Senior Citizens - opinions requested

[Charles L. Cotton]

I know that you can complete the range portion separately from the classroom, but is there anything that would restrict someone in this situation from splitting the class into two sessions -- same instructor, just the first half one day and the second the next time? I'm wondering if the requirement is to complete the entire training and pass the exam, but does it specify the entire class in one sitting?

No problem splitting the range an classroom portion of the course over two or more days. In fact, you don't even have to use the same instructor. That's why the CHL-100 has separate spots for the range and classroom.

Chas.

[Glockster]

I know that you can complete the range portion separately from the classroom, but is there anything that would restrict someone in this situation from splitting the class into two sessions -- same instructor, just the first half one day and the second the next time? I'm wondering if the requirement is to complete the entire training and pass the exam, but does it specify the entire class in one sitting?

No problem splitting the range an classroom portion of the course over two or more days. In fact, you don't even have to use the same instructor. That's why the CHL-100 has separate spots for the range and classroom.

Chas.

Good to know as I have a neighbor who may also be in a similar situation as the OP, and he's been asking me about CHL. Thanks!

[Glockster]

I know that you can complete the range portion separately from the classroom, but is there anything that would restrict someone in this situation from splitting the class into two sessions -- same instructor, just the first half one day and the second the next time? I'm wondering if the requirement is to complete the entire training and pass the exam, but does it specify the entire class in one sitting?

No problem with splitting up the classroom portion over two days. The CHL-100 just reflects the date that the classroom portion is completed, ie all mandatory subjects have been given and the Written Exam completed/passed. The DPS also allows for reasonable accommodations to be made on the range, such as firing from a wheelchair if needed.

Thanks!

[Richbirdhunter]

I'm not sure where your parents live but DFW Shooters Academy is offering an all female CHL class next month.

[viking1000]

I am 68 years old and in a motorized wheel chair,my hips are gone however I cant get a hip replacement because I have RSD in my right leg from my knee down to my foot. It is twice the size of my left foot.
No cure for RSD.
I also have four other issues that make life miserable. I can still shoot and reload. I just cant run away from trouble should it happen. So I got my CHL about 2 years ago..
I spent 5 years in Vietnam, and 15 years as a Deputy in Bexar County Texas.
I am glad I got the CHL, It is like having peace of mind..

Ed

[Skiprr]

I am 68 years old and in a motorized wheel chair,my hips are gone however I cant get a hip replacement because I have RSD in my right leg from my knee down to my foot. It is twice the size of my left foot.
No cure for RSD.
I also have four other issues that make life miserable. I can still shoot and reload. I just cant run away from trouble should it happen. So I got my CHL about 2 years ago..
I spent 5 years in Vietnam, and 15 years as a Deputy in Bexar County Texas.
I am glad I got the CHL, It is like having peace of mind..

Ed

God Bless. And thank you for your service both to our country and as a peace officer.

[The Annoyed Man]

I am 68 years old and in a motorized wheel chair,my hips are gone however I cant get a hip replacement because I have RSD in my right leg from my knee down to my foot. It is twice the size of my left foot.
No cure for RSD.
I also have four other issues that make life miserable. I can still shoot and reload. I just cant run away from trouble should it happen. So I got my CHL about 2 years ago..
I spent 5 years in Vietnam, and 15 years as a Deputy in Bexar County Texas.
I am glad I got the CHL, It is like having peace of mind..

Ed

God Bless. And thank you for your service both to our country and as a peace officer.

What Skiprr said.

I would argue that the more disabled a person is, the more a CHL makes sense. While I'm just a young pup compared to viking1000 (I turned 63 a week ago) and do not suffer anywhere near the degree of disability he does, I do have some impairment of my ability to run or get physical with a bad guy, and the older I get, the more pronounced that becomes. I am very glad that I have a CHL.....or LTC, or whatever they call it these days.

Which begs a question..... Do those of us who have CHLs which are not near expiring yet continue to use them until expiration, to be replaced by an LTC at expiration? Or, is the state going to mail us all LTCs at the end of the year?

[o b juan]

MONGOOSE » Mon Oct 12, 2015 1:48 pm

I had a 86 year old lady in my class. She shot a 238 out of 250 to qualify. About a month after she received her permit she shot and killed a would be rapist who had broken into her apartment.

Where did this happen?
I hadnt read about it before now
I am putting together a booklet on self defense by senior citizens. please inform me : Thanks

[ron_houston]

To be very honest, I don't really see how/why this question exist.
I have known many CHL holders of all ages from 21 to 91 (yes, 91). It has absolutely nothing to do with physical age, but more about mental ability and stability.
I have known people in their mid-twenties that just scared me to death at the range. I was shooting at an indoor range in Dallas next to 3 idiots trying to hit a silly-wet with a stub nosed .44 mag at about 15 feet and missed the paper.
I also met a man in his late 50's that was so proud that he finally passed the shooting test after FOUR TIMES trying. He passed by 2 points. Nope, I really don't want to be around him in a fire-fight.
When I took my class (many years ago), I thought I was a great shot because I scored a 248. The last guy to be scored got a 250 and looked at me and smiled and said "nice shooting young man" and I was the same age as him. And he did it with an engraved, nickle plated, gold inlayed 1911 with pearl grips. If there was anyone in this world that I would have guessed was "all show and no go" it would have been him
You just can't tell about a CHL holder and basically age means nothing.
I can still consistently shoot in the 240's and I am now 74 (75 in Jan.)
FYI, I have had my CHL almost 20 years now.

[Skiprr]

I took a John Farnham advanced course a few years ago in Victoria, Texas.

John always offers free slots to local law enforcement. Two Victoria PD SWAT officers opted in.

John appointed them team captains, and playground selection ensued. Yep; I was old, so I was picked last.

Fast forward: Farnham's advanced course requires a very prescribed course of fire; it ain't easy.

My first time up, I nailed it. One up, one down. Ended up having the second fastest time overall and won me a CTKR folder.

The SWAT officers struggled. Neither of them finished in fewer than a dozen attempts.

The moral of this story?

When gun-banners say that only trained police officers should have guns, understand that lowly civilians may even be better trained and more capable than SWAT officers.

[VMI77]

If my son questioned my ability to get a CHL I'd tell him thanks for your concern, but I'll manage just fine and you don't need to worry about it. I will decide for myself what I can and can't do.

[VMI77]

To be very honest, I don't really see how/why this question exist.
I have known many CHL holders of all ages from 21 to 91 (yes, 91). It has absolutely nothing to do with physical age, but more about mental ability and stability.
I have known people in their mid-twenties that just scared me to death at the range. I was shooting at an indoor range in Dallas next to 3 idiots trying to hit a silly-wet with a stub nosed .44 mag at about 15 feet and missed the paper.
I also met a man in his late 50's that was so proud that he finally passed the shooting test after FOUR TIMES trying. He passed by 2 points. Nope, I really don't want to be around him in a fire-fight.
When I took my class (many years ago), I thought I was a great shot because I scored a 248. The last guy to be scored got a 250 and looked at me and smiled and said "nice shooting young man" and I was the same age as him. And he did it with an engraved, nickle plated, gold inlayed 1911 with pearl grips. If there was anyone in this world that I would have guessed was "all show and no go" it would have been him
You just can't tell about a CHL holder and basically age means nothing.
I can still consistently shoot in the 240's and I am now 74 (75 in Jan.)
FYI, I have had my CHL almost 20 years now.

I"m in my 60's. I have no trouble scoring a 250 with a 1911 but I find it even easier with a Glock, and I don't consider myself to be a particularly good shot. If you're physically capable of shooting the gun and seeing the target there is no reason for age to be a limiting factor in the CHL shooting test.

[Jim Beaux]

Your dad needs to get up & move- face new challenges and stimulate his brain.

I bet he will enjoy the devil out of participating in something besides having to dwell on his health issues. So what if he cant sit too long in class? So what if he cant handle the activities? He can go back.

If he is lucky, he will not die in bed having someone feed him-but go down while moving forward.

It's also about his health. Keep him active. Push him out the door.

[treadlightly]

CHL's for seniors? By all means, yes, encourage them.

Who cares about any practical need, anyway? A gun in my belt tells me I'm responsible, trusted, capable, level-headed - all kinds of things good for my mental image. It puts pleasant thoughts in my head and brings courteous greetings to my fellow citizens.

There is nothing unhealthy that comes from honest citizens keeping and bearing. To the contrary, the practice of armed citizenship is therapeutic.

Just my opinion. I'm still a whippersnapper at just shy of 60. Personally, I plan to carry, ride motorcycles, and singlehand sailboats until I'm either lost at sea or make a personal determination to hang up my spurs. I'll be honest with myself and I won't endanger others, I just don't want to be marginalized for having more experience than others think I should.

And fly airplanes. It's been a while, but I might get back into that at some point.

[ron_houston]

yep, it is all about mental ability first, then physical ability. Age really shouldn't be a factor. Asians have a completely different mindset about age. An expression used all over Asia is "age is only a number" and it is well meant and well practiced. Age being a determining factor for anything is purely a "western concept". I ride a rocket bike daily and I am 74 but nobody here notices or cares.