Senior Citizens - opinions requested

[N2rock]

I'm a bit in a quandry over this, and thought I would enlist some opinions from here. FWIW, I have my CHL and carry every day.

Over the weekend while having dinner with my folks, my dad says "I think me and your mom want to get CHL's". Of course I should be happy that they would want to take the the time to protect themselves. But...

My dad is 70 years old. He's a tough old guy, but he has health issues (currently dealing with bladder cancer among other things). His ability to be in a class the amount of hours required, would probably be an issue. Not to mention spending the hours in class and then hitting a gun range (he would be exhausted just from the hours in class).

My mom OTOH, she's 68 and healthy as an ox. She's so active that the class and range time would not be any problem at all.

Both of them have some history with guns. They both grew up in the country (they are city dwellers now, living in a nice higher end community) so they had experience with guns growing up. My dad joined the Air Force in his teens, so he had additional training there. They do have a couple rifles at home, but those are locked away in a gun cabinet and haven't been touched in probably 40 years or more. They also have a .22 pistol, but again it's locked up and hasn't been fired in 40+ years.

My dad having a CHL is pretty irrelevant. Because of his health issues, the only time he leaves the house is when they go out to eat (once or twice a week). So I'm pretty sure he's thinking more about mom needing one since she is on the go all the time. She is one of those "easy targets" that someone could follow home and ambush in the driveway. And I bet that is his thinking.

I don't want to discourage him, especially since he's most likely looking out for mom. But I don't think he would be capable of sitting thru the class and range time. I know mom has no fear of guns, and could easily handle one, but could she react properly in a situation???

In addition, there is the additional considerations that my brother's children (age 2 and 5) spend a lot of time at their house. So inevitably the guns would be locked up most of the time. I'm not sure if they would ever even bother taking them out of the gun cabinet even if they had CHL's.

[oljames3]

Everyone's situation is different. I can only tell you about mine. My dad is 83. His getting an LTC this year is a high priority of mine. Yes, the class will be tiring as well as the range. Still, I don't want to bury him without one. He really wants one, just needs encouragement and support. YMMV.

I'm a bit in a quandry over this, and thought I would enlist some opinions from here. FWIW, I have my CHL and carry every day.

Over the weekend while having dinner with my folks, my dad says "I think me and your mom want to get CHL's". Of course I should be happy that they would want to take the the time to protect themselves. But...

My dad is 70 years old. He's a tough old guy, but he has health issues (currently dealing with bladder cancer among other things). His ability to be in a class the amount of hours required, would probably be an issue. Not to mention spending the hours in class and then hitting a gun range (he would be exhausted just from the hours in class).

My mom OTOH, she's 68 and healthy as an ox. She's so active that the class and range time would not be any problem at all.

Both of them have some history with guns. They both grew up in the country (they are city dwellers now, living in a nice higher end community) so they had experience with guns growing up. My dad joined the Air Force in his teens, so he had additional training there. They do have a couple rifles at home, but those are locked away in a gun cabinet and haven't been touched in probably 40 years or more. They also have a .22 pistol, but again it's locked up and hasn't been fired in 40+ years.

My dad having a CHL is pretty irrelevant. Because of his health issues, the only time he leaves the house is when they go out to eat (once or twice a week). So I'm pretty sure he's thinking more about mom needing one since she is on the go all the time. She is one of those "easy targets" that someone could follow home and ambush in the driveway. And I bet that is his thinking.

I don't want to discourage him, especially since he's most likely looking out for mom. But I don't think he would be capable of sitting thru the class and range time. I know mom has no fear of guns, and could easily handle one, but could she react properly in a situation???

In addition, there is the additional considerations that my brother's children (age 2 and 5) spend a lot of time at their house. So inevitably the guns would be locked up most of the time. I'm not sure if they would ever even bother taking them out of the gun cabinet even if they had CHL's.

[MONGOOSE]

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.

[LSUTiger]

Instead of looking for reasons to discourage them, look for ways to encourage them. People like him need to be armed the most. Let your father decide for himself what is right for him and if he can sit through the class. It's worth the try. I would also inquire with the instructor what special assistance he could be allowed to help him endure the class.

I have a 4 & 6 year old and we have figured out how to have kids and guns in the house safely. My carry gun is always on my body. The rest of the guns are locked up. I have a system worked out when we are sleeping for gun accessibility.

Also, my 68 year old mother has her CHL at my encouragement.

That's my 2 cents.

[JALLEN]

I'm 70 and in poor health with pulmonary fibrosis, coronary artery disease, back problems and a few other minor ailments. I have gradually been compelled to give up most of my activities. I'm on supplemental oxygen for any strenuous activities, like walking out to the car, shopping at Costco or HEB, etc. My pilot's license is history, of course. I can still play tuba a little.

When I got my Texas CHL two years ago after moving from CA, I shot 242-258, depending on whether the flyer on my target was my shot or the guy in the next lane. The class, then 8 hours, was no problem

I say let them have a go at it, as long as they understand and can execute the required safety protocols without fail.

[oljames3]

As far as young ones in the house, my youngest four are 12 - 18. When they visit, my BTA90 is where it usually is ... on my hip. My wife's Ruger LCR .38 is in a drawer in our bedroom with a lock through the cylinder. Bottom line is that the house can be made safe.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I've had quite a number of elderly folks in my classes, but most of them had no health issues of which I am aware. The oldest was an 86 year old woman who was exhausted by the end of the 10 hour class. She had to shoot the course twice, primarily because her husband bought her a gun that was too small.

You don't have to shoot and take the classroom portion of course on the same day. Perhaps you can find an instructor who will let him shoot first, them come to class on another day. If they are in the Houston area, I'll be happy to do that if it will help. In fact, I can do the range portion of the course, give them a CHL-100 for the range, then they can take the class elsewhere if they prefer.

Chas.

[allisji]

The CHL class that I took was 6 hrs long max. And we did the range qualification first.

I know that the class used to be 10-12 hours, but the classroom portion is now only required to be 4 hours.

We had a gentleman in our class who was carrying an oxygen tank with him, and he performed fine.

I think that if he wants to do it, he most likely could make it happen, especially if he asks around and finds an instructor who will do the range qualification before the classroom portion.

[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?

[N2rock]

Thanks everyone! You have all given me encouragement to help him with this goal.

It looks like G2G range in Rosenberg is the closest to their house. But Charles Cotton, I will keep you in mind. I'll discuss everything with my dad this weekend, and if he feels it might be too much for him to handle, I will get in touch with you. Thank you sir for the offer!

[MONGOOSE]

We had our classroom portion one day and were able to schedule our range day at our convienence.

[Abraham]

By all means encourage them to get their CHL's.

Predatory criminals have no remorse about preying on us older folk.

Splitting class time between shooting qualification sounds like a great plan.

[RoyGBiv]

Instead of looking for reasons to discourage them, look for ways to encourage them. People like him need to be armed the most. Let your father decide for himself what is right for him and if he can sit through the class. It's worth the try. I would also inquire with the instructor what special assistance he could be allowed to help him endure the class.

I have a 4 & 6 year old and we have figured out how to have kids and guns in the house safely. My carry gun is always on my body. The rest of the guns are locked up. I have a system worked out when we are sleeping for gun accessibility.

Also, my 68 year old mother has her CHL at my encouragement.

That's my 2 cents.

Any instructor worth their salt will try to find allowable ways to help them complete the course.
After that, it'll be up to them, with guidance from you, as to how, when and where to carry. Stuff you can work out after getting the license.
Folks with limited strength and agility are some of the most in need of a carry gun, assuming they are healthy enough to do so safely.

[Mike S]

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.

[RPBrown]

When my daughter took the course, she said there was an older woman that would have to go to a potty break every 30-45 minutes. It was not an issue with the instructor. He kept on teaching and she still passed the test.