Question about CHL Insurance

[DaveT]

Morning everyone !

I know this has been discussed several times before, but with my son in the process of waiting for his CHL to arrive in the mail, the topic of CHL insurance comes to mind again.

If it is worth it, I'll sign both of us up, but something in their ad in the latest issue of 'The Concealed Handgun', the bi-monthly publication of the Texas Concealed Handgun Association , causes me to wonder if it would be money well spent:

The ad for the CHL Protection Plan on page 6 of the Jan-Feb publication says that if you have the plan, you will be provided with protection in your defense through the grand jury process with no deductible, no maximum costs, and competent criminal defense attorneys.

Do defense attorneys appear in a grand jury hearing, or is that just when the DA presents a case ?

I am not an attorney, but would appreciate the advice of Charles and others here. Is this money well spent..... or not ?

How many folks here actually have this, or some form of this insurance ?

Thanks in advance !

[one eyed fatman]

When you consider the fact that nine tenths of us are never going to get into a shootout it smells like easy money for an insurance company.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Do defense attorneys appear in a grand jury hearing, or is that just when the DA presents a case ?

Your defense attorney cannot even go into the grand jury room with you! That's why many attorneys recommend a defendant not testify before the Grand Jury. 90+% of the time the DA is going to get what he wants anyway; indictment or “no bill.�

I am not an attorney, but would appreciate the advice of Charles and others here. Is this money well spent..... or not ?

I have commented on this issue before and I was very uncomfortable doing so. I have a hard time recommending against someone buying insurance of any kind, if that's what they want. Many types of insurance are not worth the premiums charged, in my personal opinion. However, it may be the best money spent to someone else, especially if they need to use it.

I will say this much. The program you mentioned isn't really insurance; it's more like pre-paid legal services. My advice is to fully understand what you are getting for your money, what you will have to pay for if you are indicted, then decide if it's worth the cost to you.

Also consider this. If you are provided an attorney up to and including the Grand Jury process, then you will have to hire your own attorney if you are indicted. That may or may not be the attorney that first represented you. I am frequently asked to take over someone's representation because of various factors. When I do, I have to live with what the client has previously done, based upon his/her first attorney’s advice or actions. Often, it's not fun and it usually makes my job harder.

Regards,
Chas.

[jbirds1210]

Dave,
In my opinion, I have read the policy on one of these deals and it didn't sound great to me. I was left wondering exactly what it did pay for....the one you found might be much better.
I think I am keep my money and invest it in some specialized training in the next 6-8 months. I have been talking to my wife and she is in partial agreement with me spending some time in Oregon!
Jason

[DaveT]

Thanks Charles and Jason.

Your replies are pretty much what I was thinking.

When I was LE and involved in a shooting where I shot and killed the subject in a domestic disturbance call who shot at me and missed, I had to go through the Grand Jury process and remember that it was only the DA who was in the room.

I was asking because I might be 'behind the times' since I have not been active in LE for the past 25 years. Things change and I needed more up to date information.

I do appreciate you both taking the time to reply.... thanks !

[switch]

While you do not have a right (nor your attorney) to appear before a GJ, in Tarrant county, the DA has a polcy of allowing either to appear and argue their case.

I hate to recommend against your attorney's advice, but it has been my experience, if you are not guilty, if you or your attorney choose to make a presentation to the GJ, it helps you, especially if it is borderline.

The DA may not present your side or all the relevant law.

It is true, that you cannot have your attorney in the room while you are testifying to the the GJ, however, he can be outside and you can take breaks and consult with him before answering the questions.

The DA likes to have witnesses testify before the GJ because he can use their GJ testimony to challenge what they say later in court, if they change their story. You can testify before the GJ and later refuse to testify in court. (Then, the DA could NOT use what you said in court. He could use it if you told the GJ where you hid the murder weapon.)
It is true the GJ follows the DA's recommendation 90% of the time (probably more like 99%) but most of the time the DA makes good recomendations. They usually weed out questionable cases and they sometimes recomend the defendant be 'No Billed' (let off, not indicted).

I saw a case indicted that I thought was clearly self defense. I saw a defendant no-billed that I thought should be thrown under the jail. But those were the exceptions.

Personally, I think CHL insurance is expensive. I do not insure what I can afford to lose. I suspect that if you can afford $140 for chl insurance, you could afford to finance a $10,000 attorney's bill.

[zeroskillz]

> jbirds1210

Instead of Oregon, you may want to take a look at Colorado, especially if your wife will go with.

http://www.valhallashootingclub.com/

Check out the vids and the Elk Mountain Resort that its attached to. Very nice. My wife can't wait to go back.
-Zeke

[txinvestigator]

> jbirds1210

Instead of Oregon, you may want to take a look at Colorado, especially if your wife will go with.

http://www.valhallashootingclub.com/

Check out the vids and the Elk Mountain Resort that its attached to. Very nice. My wife can't wait to go back.
-Zeke

I know a guy who went there. They have some strange ways........