Texas CHL App for Android Iphone

[bzo311]

MasterOfNone:

You are right. The app contains PC 9.32(2) "if a reasonable person in the actor's situation would not have retreated...."


I'm guessing that the app creator got hold of an old version of the handbook. Unfortunately, old versions are still available, even on the DPS Web site (e.g, when I did a Yahoo search for Texas concealed handgun laws, the first link took me to a PDF file at the DPS from 2001-2002).

The most current version of the handbook is at:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/InternetFo ... CHL-16.pdf
and if that was not used to create the app, then it needs to be corrected.

I will supply an update very soon, maybe tonight, tomorrow at the latest. I pulled the handbook down the day that I created the database. Thanks for the heads up!

[bzo311]

Good evening, CHL community!

I have been working on the 30.06 database feature over the weekend which will allow the app users to add 51% and 30.06 locations to the database as they see them, as well as browse listings of entries sorted by city. The menu hierarchy is as follows: Main menu as it is now:

*main menu
> Texas 30.06 / 51% Locations

*Texas 30.06 / 51% Locations Menu
> View Location listings
> Add / Edit Location Listings

*View Location listings Menu
> City #1
> City #2
> City #3
etc

*City Locations Menu
> Location #1
> Location #2
etc

Here is where I wouldn't mind some helpful feedback! As you can see from the menu system, you'll choose to View Locations first by city, then by locations in that city. When a user clicks on the location it will show an information page, listing the specific info. I would like to know what key pieces of information that this page should have. Here is the layout I have chosen for this page:

LOCATION NAME
City: Houston
Type: (this will say either 51% sign, 30.06 sign, or both)
Comments: This will be comments entered by the originator of this entry.

Any suggestions as to what other information should be garnished at the time of capture to be viewed on this page?

[bzo311]

MasterOfNone:

You are right. The app contains PC 9.32(2) "if a reasonable person in the actor's situation would not have retreated...."


I'm guessing that the app creator got hold of an old version of the handbook. Unfortunately, old versions are still available, even on the DPS Web site (e.g, when I did a Yahoo search for Texas concealed handgun laws, the first link took me to a PDF file at the DPS from 2001-2002).

The most current version of the handbook is at:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/InternetFo ... CHL-16.pdf
and if that was not used to create the app, then it needs to be corrected.

The app has been updated on the market, please visit and update your app if you haven't gotten the notice via your phone. A BIG Thanks to MasterOfNone and RiverCity.45 for pointing that out.

[MasterOfNone]

bzo, it looks like the whole thing needs a proofread. 411.183(b) still shows four-year expiration, and 46.02 still is pre-MPA. These are just two points I have noticed.
Also, it looks like in copying the text from the PDF, you got the page titles too (TEXAS CONCEALED HANDGUN LAWS XX.XX). It might be easier or cleaner to copy the sections from http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/.

[bzo311]

bzo, it looks like the whole thing needs a proofread. 411.183(b) still shows four-year expiration, and 46.02 still is pre-MPA. These are just two points I have noticed.
Also, it looks like in copying the text from the PDF, you got the page titles too (TEXAS CONCEALED HANDGUN LAWS XX.XX). It might be easier or cleaner to copy the sections from http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/.

I think so. last night I updated the parts in question but I will be re-compiling the entire doc from the new manual posted here yesterday. I will verify that it contains an update for what you've posted here. Look for this next content update over the next few days.

Ah, yes. The page numbers sometimes appear differently in the manual, they are not consistent, making it tougher to grab every one. I can create process to strip out the text in the manual, but when it throws curve balls at me I have to keep my eyes open to catch them. ;)

[Hoi Polloi]

My big suggestion on the 30.06 postings: make it entirely searchable. Then it doesn't matter if you know the name of a place but not the city, or the type of establishment but not the name, or if you're in the middle of nowhere and don't know anything but that you're hungry and want to find some food and a hotel close by. You'll be able to put in whatever it is you know and get what you're looking for.

LOCATION NAME
Address:
Category: This will say the general type of establishment. Example list to choose from below.
30.06: This will say one of 4 things--30.06 posted (compliant), 30.06 posted (noncompliant), 30.06 posted (nonbinding [govt property]), No 30.06 posting
TABC: This will say one of 5 things--51% posted (compliant), 51% posted (noncompliant), Unlicensed Possession posted (compliant), Unlicensed Possession posted (noncompliant), No TABC signs
Other Restrictions: This will say between one and three of 4 things--Status disputed, Statutorily off limits (continuously), Statutorily off limits (occasionally), No other restrictions.
Comments: This will contain comments entered by the originator of this entry as well as any follow-up/disputes by other users.

This is all just what I'm throwing out and totally up to interpretation, change, discarding, whatever.
Types of establishments: Restaurant, Gas Station, Convenience Store, Banking, Retail, Services, Mass Transit, Religious House, Education, Fitness/Recreation, Medical, Offices, Lodging, Theater, Museum/Zoo, Forest/Park, Parking, Government Offices, Military, Amusement Park, Ball Park/Stadium, Other
Types of statutorily off limits places: courts, polling, K-12 school/event, sporting event, university/college buildings, w/in 1000ft of executions, federal offices, Army Corp of Engineer property, correctional facility, secure area of airport, racetrack, secure area of police dept

[G.A. Heath]

bzo311: Have you contacted Russell with Texas3006.com? It seems to me that you could both benefit from the others efforts. His website already has a database of sign locations which would be invaluable to you and your app's ability to update his database would be invaluable to him. As someone with a little bit of coding experience I hate to see duplication of efforts.

[bzo311]

bzo, it looks like the whole thing needs a proofread. 411.183(b) still shows four-year expiration, and 46.02 still is pre-MPA. These are just two points I have noticed.
Also, it looks like in copying the text from the PDF, you got the page titles too (TEXAS CONCEALED HANDGUN LAWS XX.XX). It might be easier or cleaner to copy the sections from http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/.

I think so. last night I updated the parts in question but I will be re-compiling the entire doc from the new manual posted here yesterday. I will verify that it contains an update for what you've posted here. Look for this next content update over the next few days.

Ah, yes. The page numbers sometimes appear differently in the manual, they are not consistent, making it tougher to grab every one. I can create process to strip out the text in the manual, but when it throws curve balls at me I have to keep my eyes open to catch them. ;)

The newer chl manual seems to have a lot less info and/or the 2 chapters, LAWS RELATING TO THE CARRYING OF A CONCEALED HANDGUN IN TEXAS and DPS RULES RELATING TO THE CARRYING OF A CONCEALED HANDGUN IN TEXAS, were merged in some way since the 2nd one is missing.

The info was easier to merge so I should have another update to the app live this afternoon with the entire 2009-2010 manual info. Thanks again for your efforts in checking this data. I'll have to add a special thanks section in there somewhere for all of the forum help I'm getting from you guys n' gals!

[bzo311]

bzo311: Have you contacted Russell with Texas3006.com? It seems to me that you could both benefit from the others efforts. His website already has a database of sign locations which would be invaluable to you and your app's ability to update his database would be invaluable to him. As someone with a little bit of coding experience I hate to see duplication of efforts.

No, I have not yet made any attempts to contact Texas3006.com. I may do so when the majority of the scripting for this feature is done so I will have a better understanding of what the limitations and possibilities are. I will be attempting to store the info and allow comments by multiple people on each entry, most of which has been discussed here, so it will take some effort.

[Smily]

Lets get core functionality working before pipe-dreams, but I would like to eventually see:

A CHL evangelism section.

Sections for Texas CHL Stats like numbers of CHL, Percent of population, crime rates,
Rebuttals to the top 10 anti arguments like "but there will be a shootout over running a red light"
Links to studies like John Lotts More guns less crime.

-Smily

[bzo311]

The app has now been updated on the Android market with all of the information found in the 2009-2010 manual.

[Chrispy]

Just downloaded the app. It looks great so far. Can't wait for the location based functions if you can get those to work. Thanks so much for creating this for us.

[Heritage1]

I just downloaded it as well and have one thing to say right off the bat. Wow, I'm impressed! In 5 days you put this together and it looks and runs great. Thank you very, very much.

[The Annoyed Man]

Love it. I just installed it on my wife's phone too, and texted my son to put it on his phone.

Good job!

[cubbyjg]

i just downloaded it and will begin playing with it tonight. Good job and thanks for creating it!