Events of the last year have convinced me of a need to create an organization to promote the interest of Texas concealed handgun licensees through education and advocacy. As noted in my recent TexasCHLblog.com article Storm Clouds Are Gathering we have enjoyed eight peaceful years under President George Bush, as they relate to Second Amendment issues. But the peaceful years are coming to an end.
The Democrats control both the U.S. House and Senate and their margins are expected to widen with the 2008 elections. For the first time in years, the likes of Senators Schumer and Feinstein dare to speak of passing "sensible gun safety law"? and a sweeping new version of the "assault weapons ban"? has been introduced. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are both ardent supporters of gun control. Senator Obama has even stated that he supports a federal law against concealed carry throughout the nation. In an attempt to disguise their long-standing opposition to the right of citizens to carry self-defense handguns, each of these candidates point to their alleged support of hunting and target shooting. The fact that they never mention self-defense uses of handguns speaks volumes about the threat that CHLs face.
But the deception does not end with Senators Clinton and Obama. The well-funded anti-gun forces with financiers like George Soros are founding bogus organizations to fool gun owners. One example is the American Hunters and Shooters Association. It is the creation of rabid anti-gunners and the sole reason for its formation is to make gun owners think a pro-gun organization is supporting Barack Obama!
Hunters and sport shooters of all descriptions have organizations that promote their respective sports to the public through education, but people who own and/or carry firearms for self-defense do not. This lack of an organization dedicated solely to educating the public on the value of concealed carry is one reason politicians feel safe feigning support of hunting and target shooting, while promoting laws to bring concealed carry to an end. Promoting the lawful use of handguns for self-defense cannot be sporadic, if we are to be successful in thwarting efforts to bring an end to, or creating restrictions on, concealed carry as Senator Obama envisions. It must be an on-going effort; part of an organized plan to keep the issue before the public in a positive light.
Potential problems do not lie solely at the federal level. The makeup of the Texas House and Texas Senate are going to be different in 2009 as compared to recent years, perhaps markedly different. It wasn't long ago that successful Texas Legislative Sessions were measured by defeating anti-gun bills, not passing bills that benefit gun owners. Many of our long-time friends in the Texas Legislature retired and some were defeated in primary elections. Many of their successors profess to be "pro-gun" but only the opportunity to vote on gun bills will determine their level of support. During the last general election, every Republican judge in Dallas County that was up for reelection was defeated by their Democratic opponent. For the first time in years we are seeing activity at the state level by the Million Mom March and the Brady Campaign. They are back with renewed vigor, greater funding, and a belief that the pendulum has started to swing their way. The Brady Campaign is touting victories in several state legislatures and these victories will embolden them to take these efforts to other states. Check their website to see their claims: Brady's report on "Victories." With Brady again on the move we have to ask, will newly elected Democrats support us as did our friends in the Republican Party? No one knows at this point, but history tells us that we should be prepared for change.
Texas has approximately 280,000 CHLs. Although this is a large number, it represents only a small percentage of Texans who qualify for a CHL. Efforts must be made to increase the number of CHLs in Texas and education and training is the key. The NRA and TSRA are doing an excellent job in the political arena, by energizing our supporters and getting them to the polls and by working with elected representatives to pass laws that support honest law-abiding citizens. It is critically important to supplement the efforts of these organizations by educating the millions of Texans who are not NRA or TSRA members and who know little or nothing about Texas' concealed carry laws, in order to bring them into our ranks. Not only do we need these people to become Texas CHL holders, we need them to join both the NRA and TSRA.
The unprecedented short-term growth of the newly formed Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is encouraging. Though formed just over a year ago, SCCC has over 30,000 members and it is growing daily! If even a small percentage of Texas' 280,000 CHLs would support an education and advocacy effort, I believe Texas would lead the nation in terms of the percentage of CHL-eligible citizens that actually hold a Texas Concealed Handgun License. This larger, better informed and politically motivated CHL community would be a significant deterrent to efforts to restrict our right to carry, to make the CHL program more costly or burdensome to license-holders, or to reverse the improvements to Texas self-defense laws embodied in the recently passed "Castle Docrtine" Bill and other bills.
With that general background, here is what I hope to accomplish with newly-formed Texas CHL Forum, Inc. While I would like to go to Austin and/or Washington D.C. representing 280,000 members, this is unrealistic. Education is the key to dramatically increasing the number of CHLs in Texas and in developing a politically significant community dedicated to preserving and expanding the rights of CHL holders. The goals and proposed activities of Texas CHL Forum, Inc. are listed below.
Initial efforts will directed towards providing free seminars on various CHL-related topics throughout the State. The Texas Self-Defense & Deadly Force Laws Seminar I have been giving for a few years now has been very popular and it needs to be offered in several cities around Texas. The Ladies Information Seminar I did at PSC Shooting Club, Inc. was also well received and it too should be offered throughout the State. Women need to have a CHL every bit as much as men, perhaps even more. Seminars directed at their needs, desires and concerns can be a valuable information source that prompts them to move from the stage of merely considering getting a self-defense handgun and CHL to actually doing so. I am developing seminars on other topics that will be completed sometime this summer.
Other educational opportunities include the provision of free or reduced-fee CHL classes to people with documented physical, medical or financial disabilities. The NRA Basic courses (Basic Pistol, Personal Protection in the Home, and Personal Protection Outside the Home) could also be made available to people who may not be able to afford them at the going rate in their area. Ideally, this would be accomplished by using Texas CHL Instructors and NRA Certified Instructors in the area and either getting a reduced rate, or subsidizing the course fees.
Though education will be the prime function of Texas CHL Forum, Inc., it will not be the sole activity. I have helped a number of TexasCHLforum.com members with CHL-related legal issues and I would like to do more. I am often interviewed for radio and TV spots, or newspaper/magazine articles during the Texas Legislative Sessions, or whenever something gun-related is a hot topic with the media. I am also a guest speaker at several events each year. I would like to actively promote the interest of CHLs through these outlets, again with an emphasis on education and training.
Here are the "official" Goals and proposed Activities for Texas CHL Forum, Inc. How much of this will be possible will depend on how many people share this vision and support it with their membership and/or donations.
GOALS:
- Promote CHL to the public, legislature and elected officials through education and training
Increase the number of CHLs, NRA and TSRA members in Texas
Educate people on Texas Law regarding CHL and self-defense
Promote training opportunities
Advocate for CHLs at all levels of government
Provide a resource(s) for members with CHL related issues
- Conduct free seminars on the CHL statute and related Texas laws throughout the State
Sponsor free or reduced-fee CHL classes and other firearms training for persons with documented disabilities
Publish on the issue of self-defense and Texas CHL
Provide a resource to media outlets (print, radio and TV)
Offer CHL-specific continuing education for law enforcement agencies
Purchase advertisements (print, radio and TV) to educate and promote CHL and CHL issues
Comprehensive website with public and member-only areas
I have taken the necessary legal steps to create Texas CHL Forum, Inc. It will be membership organization dedicated to furthering the goals set out in the preceding paragraphs through education and advocacy. Restrictions set out in Federal and State campaign finance laws make it necessary to operate as a membership organization, as certain information can be provided only to "members." (That is why the website will have a members only section.)
Although this post is rather long, it's only a very general overview of what I hope Texas CHL Forum, Inc. will be able to accomplish. There is still a good bit of work to be done before memberships will be available, but I wanted to let all TexasCHLforum members know what is going on.
I should also note that TexasCHLforum.com will not be affected by the creation or operation of Texas CHL Forum, Inc. It will remain an independent resource/discussion board and will continue to operate as it currently does. The website for the newly formed entity most likely will carry a .org extension, since I own that domain name as well.
This is a very ambitious undertaking and to be perfectly candid, I have no idea where it will lead. If CHLs become as motivated as the students who are joining Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at a near-record pace, then we can accomplish much and change the political landscape in Texas, as it relates to self-defense and CHL.
Chas.
