I think the forum is dying

[Ruark]

I think the general topic of the forum has been somewhat diluted by events of the past few years. At first, we couldn't carry concealed weapons at all, and there was the big push to create a "Concealed Handgun License" law, which Bush Jr. finally did. So a CHL was a big, novel, new deal, and it was a ripe situation for a Texas CHL forum. Later we got open carry passed, which was a big hullabaloo that amounted to nothing, and a CHL was then called an LTC.

We coasted along for awhile, and eventually just about everything that could be said about a CHL (LTC) had been said. Then we passed constitutional carry, after which we don't even NEED a license to carry. So the very basis for the existence of the forum has pretty much dissolved.

On some other sites, like Texas Gun Forum, our forum, and Charles in particular, is HEAVILY flamed as being too restrictive and censored. Of course, that's bull, Charles is a great guy and we all know it. One accusation is that if you say ANYTHING negative about the NRA on here, you'll be kicked off and banned. Check out these two discussions:

https://www.texasguntalk.com/threads/te ... com.77334/

https://www.texasguntalk.com/threads/ch ... st-1498470

[C-dub]

For me it's just been that I've been busy with other things. Life has moved on. Daughter, H-dub, has grown up and had twins. Work, I'm a Medical Technologist in a hospital laboratory and we are busy. For all that everyone hears about nurses in the news we are just as busy performing the tests they and the docs rely on for treatment strategies. It's different, but just as busy. Overtime all over the place. More than I need available. We've had no slow time except for last summer (2020) for about a month and that was it. Now we don't have enough staff and are swamped at least 80% of the time.

Anyway, it's also not like I'm visiting other sites. I'm just not on the web as much. Well, except for reading about bbq or smoking my next brisket, pork butt, or rack of ribs. I've stumbled upon how to get more out of my BGE than just grilling and really enjoying it. So is my wife and the rest of the family. My mother-in-law had been cooking Italian for me for years and now I'm returning the favor with smoked meat.

The GoldWing my wife tricked me into buying several years ago has also contributed to my delinquency around here. We ride whenever we can and what little we do ride isn't enough. We only take one big 7-10 day trip a year and maybe a small 3-4 day trip a couple times and a few other one day rides that end back at home.

[K.Mooneyham]

It's a lull - people can't easily or cheaply get guns/ammo/components (to varying degrees), so they turn to other things for a while.

I think that AndyC is right in very large measure. I know that due to ammo prices, I haven't been shooting as much as I used to.

Also, due to all the mess from COVID, I've not been going as many places as I used to prior, so I'm just not carrying out and about as much as I used to. Hopefully at some point both situations will clear up.

[03Lightningrocks]

I think the general topic of the forum has been somewhat diluted by events of the past few years. At first, we couldn't carry concealed weapons at all, and there was the big push to create a "Concealed Handgun License" law, which Bush Jr. finally did. So a CHL was a big, novel, new deal, and it was a ripe situation for a Texas CHL forum. Later we got open carry passed, which was a big hullabaloo that amounted to nothing, and a CHL was then called an LTC.

We coasted along for awhile, and eventually just about everything that could be said about a CHL (LTC) had been said. Then we passed constitutional carry, after which we don't even NEED a license to carry. So the very basis for the existence of the forum has pretty much dissolved.

On some other sites, like Texas Gun Forum, our forum, and Charles in particular, is HEAVILY flamed as being too restrictive and censored. Of course, that's bull, Charles is a great guy and we all know it. One accusation is that if you say ANYTHING negative about the NRA on here, you'll be kicked off and banned. Check out these two discussions:

https://www.texasguntalk.com/threads/te ... com.77334/

https://www.texasguntalk.com/threads/ch ... st-1498470

Those discussions are from 5 years ago. Other than that, I do agree with your first paragraph. It is my story anyway. When I first joined having a CHL was fairly new and still somewhat of a novelty. Info on it was not easy to find. Now, many years later, it is somewhat diluted by constitutional carry and the novelty ended for me many years ago.

[tomneal]

Alien Gear Cloak Dock

Is it Stand Alone?

I screwed it into my center console. Found a paddle holster in my "tub of holsters". Checked the fit on the gun. Put the holster in the pickup.
Alien Gear has paddle holsters that may fit the Cloak Dock better.

I was unsure how it would hold up with a heavy pistol. It's just 4 screws into plastic. I decided that I didn't want to disassemble the console to allow through bolts

I've been driving with it for less than 2 months. No issues.

I've had a vehicle gun for a long time. This is the first time I've mounted a holster.
I find it comforting without being uncomfortable.

[Paladin]

Fresh content is key to keeping a website going. Providing content relevant to current members while also of interest to new viewers is vital.

I don't believe that restricting the most popular topics will help keep forum members. Popular topics are a sign of successful engagement. What makes this website unique and important is that it is different than CNN, MSNBC, Facebook, etc.

[allisji]

Alien Gear Cloak Dock

Is it Stand Alone?

I screwed it into my center console. Found a paddle holster in my "tub of holsters". Checked the fit on the gun. Put the holster in the pickup.
Alien Gear has paddle holsters that may fit the Cloak Dock better.

I was unsure how it would hold up with a heavy pistol. It's just 4 screws into plastic. I decided that I didn't want to disassemble the console to allow through bolts

I've been driving with it for less than 2 months. No issues.

I've had a vehicle gun for a long time. This is the first time I've mounted a holster.
I find it comforting without being uncomfortable.

I wonder if pop-rivets would work in a sheet plastic console. I would think that as long as the pilot holes were drilled to the proper diameter that it would hold better than screws, but the question would be whether it would crack the plastic causing the rivet installation to fail.

But hey, if the screws are working fine for you then it seems like a solution in search of a problem.

[PUCKER]

I have a Kimber 1911. It's just like a Glock, only for men!

Speaking of which - I lay full claim to have invented that saying back in 2014 on Facebook:

LOL!!! Y'all are KILLING me!!! I'm going to shamelessly STEAL this and have some fun with my friends...LOL...

[tomneal]

I found a Kimber t-shirt on one of the custom shirt places. Had them add the line. Wore out the t-shirt.

For the last couple of years, I've been shooting USPSA Carry Optics.
BUT...
I just reloaded enough .45 ACP to shoot a few matches and have some left over.
I am planning to dust off my Kimber.

[AndyC1911]

It's royalty-free, Tom - I'm just delighted to have come up with a saying that others found good enough to run with

[FastCarry]

Some rude and confrontational members in the "old boy's club" have killed it for me.

100%

[74novaman]

What makes this website unique and important is that it is different than CNN, MSNBC, Facebook, etc.

True for the topics I will actually click on.

Unfortunately most of the time the most recent topics are all spam news from the sources you mention aggregate threads. If I wanted to see that, I’d go to those sites.

But when all the recent posting here is one dude “control c, control v” everything on Drudge, it kind of dampens my enthusiasm to wade through the junk to find the interesting stuff.

[Paladin]

What makes this website unique and important is that it is different than CNN, MSNBC, Facebook, etc.

True for the topics I will actually click on.

Unfortunately most of the time the most recent topics are all spam news from the sources you mention aggregate threads. If I wanted to see that, I’d go to those sites.

But when all the recent posting here is one dude “control c, control v” everything on Drudge, it kind of dampens my enthusiasm to wade through the junk to find the interesting stuff.

I don't completely understand your argument. Drudge has become no different than CNN, MSNBC, etc with a massive loss in readership. Nobody reads Drudge anymore. I like most people, I haven't gone to Drudgereport in at least a year.

[74novaman]

I don't completely understand your argument.

So pick your own news site to compare it to if Drudge was a bad example.

Almost half the topics on page one in this off topic subforum are topics posted by one guy. They're all 24/7 cable news style topics. If I wanted that, I'd be on a news website.

I come to read about gun/Texas chl stuff, but all the recent activity is always that one guy posting random news he finds online.

[jmorris]

I don't completely understand your argument.

So pick your own news site to compare it to if Drudge was a bad example.

Almost half the topics on page one in this off topic subforum are topics posted by one guy. They're all 24/7 cable news style topics. If I wanted that, I'd be on a news website.

I come to read about gun/Texas chl stuff, but all the recent activity is always that one guy posting random news he finds online.

While I mostly agree, if you check the original date of the posts quite a few are months or years old. One is four years old. So it's other people keeping the thread alive.