Law on your side?

[SigP250]

Hi, everyone I am looking into getting my CHL next month. The more I read into the law and understand our rights as civilians and for our own protection, its seems that its easy to get a CHL however hard to use it. I mean I understand avoid any conflict and run when possible but say your cornered or someone is going to stab/shoot you or your spouse and shoot them in self defense I keep hearing that you more likely be charged with murder then self-defense. So I mean I want to protect myself but what if I do have to protect myself and then go to prison, kinda a double edge sword. Is the law on our side or ? Thank you everyone for your input!

[RottenApple]

Hi, everyone I am looking into getting my CHL next month. The more I read into the law and understand our rights as civilians and for our own protection, its seems that its easy to get a CHL however hard to use it. I mean I understand avoid any conflict and run when possible but say your cornered or someone is going to stab/shoot you or your spouse and shoot them in self defense I keep hearing that you more likely be charged with murder then self-defense. So I mean I want to protect myself but what if I do have to protect myself and then go to prison, kinda a double edge sword. Is the law on our side or ? Thank you everyone for your input!

I'm not sure what sources of information you've had, but that's false. Make sure to read through TPC 9 (which can be found in the CHL-16).

ETA: In TX, if you use your gun defensively, the case will be going before a Grand Jury. Provided that there is no evidence of wrong doing, you will most likely get no-billed (i.e. - it was a justified shoot).

[steve817]

It should be hard to use it. A CHL is a license to carry a gun concealed, not a license to kill. It is a last resort, not the first thing you go to when a situation gets a little tense.

[Moby]

The old saying I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6 comes to mind.
The truth is IF you are in a justified shooting you will not go to jail.
Texas law will not only protect you criminally but civilly.

But here's the catch. YOU need to be able to articulate clearly how your life was in danger.
And you must be right. You must use common sense and avoid a situation if you can.
And even all of this may in fact, in some circumstances, have you in hot water.
You will most certainly need a lawyer. There are prepaid legal services available for CHL holders.

But let's look at the alternative. YOU OR A LOVED ONE IS DEAD!!!!

The bottom line is there are no absolutes. Be smart when you carry.
Keep your situational awareness high, and if you must, defend those you love or yourself.
Be stupid with a firearm and you'll end up in jail. Know the law and follow it.
If you're looking for absolutes you do not have them now and adding a firearm will not add them either.
What a firearm will give you is a fighting chance should you or a loved one be in grave danger.
It's a big respnsibility. And after you get one the training must be regular and on going.
The last thing you want to do is send lead past your intended target and hit an innocent.

[SigP250]

Thank you sir, great points.

[n5wd]

The old saying I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6 comes to mind.
The truth is IF you are in a justified shooting you will not go to jail.
Texas law will not only protect you criminally but civilly.

But here's the catch. YOU need to be able to articulate clearly how your life was in danger.
And you must be right. You must use common sense and avoid a situation if you can.
And even all of this may in fact, in some circumstances, have you in hot water.
You will most certainly need a lawyer. There are prepaid legal services available for CHL holders.

But let's look at the alternative. YOU OR A LOVED ONE IS DEAD!!!!

The bottom line is there are no absolutes. Be smart when you carry.
Keep your situational awareness high, and if you must, defend those you love or yourself.
Be stupid with a firearm and you'll end up in jail. Know the law and follow it.
If you're looking for absolutes you do not have them now and adding a firearm will not add them either.
What a firearm will give you is a fighting chance should you or a loved one be in grave danger.
It's a big respnsibility. And after you get one the training must be regular and on going.
The last thing you want to do is send lead past your intended target and hit an innocent.

Golden words, Moby! Should be a sticky.

[gigag04]

Interesting first post - where is it that you keep hearing these things?

[Charles L. Cotton]

This is Texas, not New Jersey, and our attitude about self-defense and even defense of property is different than you'll find in New England. Chp. 9 in the Texas Penal Code is pretty broad, but that is not an invitation to act irresponsibly. Something often missed by folks is the tremendous impact that our version of the "Castle Doctrine Bill" (SB378 - 2007) had on self-defense in your occupied home, business or car, or when you are trying to prevent certain violent crimes. (See Tex. Penal Code §9.32(b)). As others have said, this is not a license to kill, but it provides tremendous protection to law-abiding citizens.

Hopefully, this will be covered fully in your CHL class.

Chas.

[Jumping Frog]

. . . . Something often missed by folks is the tremendous impact that our version of the "Castle Doctrine Bill" (SB378 - 2007) had on self-defense . . . . ... when you are trying to prevent certain violent crimes.

....
Hopefully, this will be covered fully in your CHL class.

I vividly remember you stressing in my CHL course that every licensee needs to memorize "aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated robbery;"

It is quite a comfort to know that if I should be forced to defend life in those circumstances, my actions will be "presumed to be reasonable".

[grumble]

. . . . Something often missed by folks is the tremendous impact that our version of the "Castle Doctrine Bill" (SB378 - 2007) had on self-defense . . . . ... when you are trying to prevent certain violent crimes.

....
Hopefully, this will be covered fully in your CHL class.

I vividly remember you stressing in my CHL course that every licensee needs to memorize "aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated robbery;"

It is quite a comfort to know that if I should be forced to defend life in those circumstances, my actions will be "presumed to be reasonable".

If you were to only have the capacity to remember one thing from your CHL class, this should be it.

[tommyg]

Another thing I would like to add.. Practice shooting on a regular basis
Know the gun you carry ... Remember in a real life situatiion you will be less than 1/2
as good as your best day on a practice range

[bagman45]

[E.Marquez]

Remember in a real life situatiion you will be less than 1/2
as good as your best day on a practice range

Your not doing something right. or your referencing the new shooter, or one that is not serious about learning to shoot in tactical manner.

I will guess your just quoting some "experts" opinion and published statement.. But if you truly feel that way, I'd suggest you find a better trainer and work on skills... As there is no excuse or reason to be "1/2 as good as your best day on a practice range" other then lack of training...

[RottenApple]

Your not doing something right. or your referencing the new shooter, or one that is not serious about learning to shoot in tactical manner.

I will guess your just quoting some "experts" opinion and published statement.. But if you truly feel that way, I'd suggest you find a better trainer and work on skills... As there is no excuse or reason to be "1/2 as good as your best day on a practice range" other then lack of training...

I don't mean to speak for someone else, but I'm sure he is somewhat exaggerating. However, unless you have been in combat or are someone who participates in extreme sports, the rush of adrenaline through your system will destroy a lot of fine motor control. Which is, I am sure, one of the reasons to shoot for center mass.

[MeMelYup]

The lady that shot the home invader a week or so ago, was under duress. She shot 6 times and hit him 5 times. She was shooting for his head and didn't fire a kill shot. She was under extreme duress. Personally she was lucky to hit him 5 out of 6 in her condition.
Practice helps a lot. You must practice a lot to develope good muscle memory that will help in that type situation.
The military doesn't practice enough for that type situation, if they did they wouldn't use over a hundred rounds per kill. We definitely know the NYPD don't practice enough.
Practice helps but is no guarantee.