Number of Concealed Handgun Licenses In Lubbock "Low&qu

[Paladin]

http://www.klbk13.tv/news/default.asp?m ... ws&id=1283

"Number of Concealed Handgun Licenses In Lubbock Low

The number of people who have concealed handgun licenses in Lubbock is surprisingly low. Meanwhile, police say people are being arrested for illegal handguns on almost a daily basis.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, about 1 in 100 people have a concealed handgun license. On Tuesday, KLBK spoke with two local gun stores that say the number seems low, especially compared to the thousands of handguns they sell every year.

Lubbock County has a population of about 250,000. About 2,500 have concealed handgun licenses, or CHLs, in the county.

It was news to Justin Wright, who has been working at a gun shop for six years.

"It kind of surprises me...knowing Texas is a pro-gun state," he said.

The number was also a shock to Ricky Parrish, who has been a gunsmith for 19 years.

"It kind of surprises me," he said. "I wish more people had them and there would be less unlawful carrying of a weapon charges."

The figures show about one in every 100 people have a concealed handgun license. But police say within the last eight months of 2005, alomst 150 people were arrested for illegally carrying a weapon. According to police, a good portion of those weapons were handguns.

On January 8th, 63-year-old Alvin Morriel was charged for shooting two people at "The Hot Spot", a Lubbock nightclub. Police say Morriel was carrying a 9-millimeter pistol, a handgun he did not have a license for.

So where did Morriel get the gun? Wright says that you do not have to have a CHL in order to buy a handgun, but there are still certain restrictions.

Texas laws did change in September. Now, if you are traveling with a handgun, there are some cases where you`re allowed to have one in your vehicle. That does not include being able to walk around with it.

If you would like to find out more on concealed handgun laws, go to the Texas Department of Public Safety website at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us. "

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The author of the article seems a little confused, but they did a much better job than the average articles I see. I almost see it as an advertisement... numbers are low.. get your license now!

[stevie_d_64]

If you would like to find out more on concealed handgun laws, go to the Texas Department of Public Safety website at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us.

I love this closing statement...

[nemesis]

The number of CHL's is also very low in the Valley. I haven't looked at the statistics recently but the percentage was near the bottom of the list. There are reasons.

Some of the counties with the highest rates of CHL's are affluent, with low crime rates and stable populations. In the valley, where such an enormous percentage of our residents are here illegally, there are fewer persons eligible to qualify for CHL's.

If you removed that portion of the population from the statistics, we may find that the percentages here are quite high but as long as so many of our local folks are living under the radar; our figures will be skewed.

[KBCraig]

Don't forget cost as a factor. Coming up with $200+ for the class and license isn't easy for lots of people.

Kevin

[nemesis]

Very true but there are some breaks.

GC §411.194. REDUCTION OF FEES DUE TO INDIGENCY.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the
department shall reduce by 50 percent any fee required for the issuance
of an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license under this
subchapter if the department determines that the applicant is indigent.
(b) The department shall require an applicant requesting a reduction
of a fee to submit proof of indigency with the application materials.
(c) For purposes of this section, an applicant is indigent if the applicant's
income is not more than 100 percent of the applicable income
level established by the federal poverty guidelines.

GC §411.195. REDUCTION OF FEES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the department
shall reduce by 50 percent any fee required for the issuance of
an original, duplicate, or modified license under this subchapter if the
applicant for the license is 60 years of age or older.

[bauerdj]

I am disapointed; they did not include renewals under the senior citizen section, I wonder why.

By the way, while at Gun Emporium last week there was an 82 year old gentleman whose daughter was picking out a handgun for him for his birthday. I hope I am still shooting at that age. I noticed he had a significent tremor in his hand at rest, but when he raised the gun to firing position his hand was as steady as a rock.