TexasCHLforum.com

In reading most of the posts here I'm shocked at the posts that suggest that the class should be state sponsored.

Let me translate that for you - You want everyone to pay for your choices ?
The last thing I want is more things added to my tax burden.

Yes its expensive, but what part of the sport isnt ? Especially today ?

the reasons I waited were many :
Partly I didnt want to end up on some " list "
Partly I didnt think I needed it with the in car allowances in place with no CHL
Partly I didnt want to lose brain cells in a 10 hour class.

Having said all that its been on my bucket list for years and Im glad I finally did it.
I may never carry but I soon will be able to if i want

Good discussion. I have not read every post but I did not see anyone answer Cotton's concern about being able to vote more than once (for other people's answer to the question). NO, the forum will not let me, I logged out and back in to try also.

I voted cost due to answers from family members. The time in class was a second item of reluctance. Not so for me, I wanted to know everything possible with what I consider a big responsibility.

Yesterday at the ammo cabinet at Wal-Mart I ran into a gentleman
and we got to talking guns. A friend of his talked him into buying
a Glock .357, but then later he wished he had gotten a different
caliber since ammo wasn't as easy to find for the .357.

I asked him if he was CHL. He said "No, too much hassle to get one."
I told him it's really not bad and that he should get one so that he could
carry most anywhere (yes I'm aware of where CHL's can't carry).

He replied that he couldn't really get a Texas CHL because for business
purposes he has kept his Oklahoma DL and his wife has a Texas DL. It
somehow allows them to be flexible in their business dealings.

So I told him he should get an Oklahoma CHL (whatever they call it in
Sooner land) because the reciprocity should work out.

Then I gave him our forum address and asked him to visit for all kinds of
information. Hopefully I've gotten him to get a CHL somewhere!

SIA

I answered "other" for a couple of reasons. I did recently finally get around to applying for my Texas CHL, but I went 3 years carrying on my Arizona permit and not getting the Texas CHL because of the cost, processing time, and hassle of getting the Texas permit. My Arizona permit cost me $60 for the permit and $75 for the 8 hour course. I was already in Arizona, so there were no travelling costs. All I have to do to renew it is send in a renewal application. I don't have to take any more pictures or get anymore fingerprints. There is no training requirement for a renewal, though I wouldn't mind if there was one. The only reason I did finally apply for the Texas CHL is so I don't have to fool with NICS checks anymore.

dolanp wrote:

Paladin wrote:One suggested on-line classes (although obviously the shooting qual couldn't be done online)

You know, I'm sure some people would balk at that idea but I don't think it's so bad at all. After all, you are being tested on material that's written. It seems the class can be distracting with a lot of knuckleheads asking crazy hypothetical situations and confusing people about what the law really is. I guess the major problem would be ensuring that somebody couldn't cheat because you know if they got their license and were later arrested for doing something bad then it would all come back down on the CHL program.

Of course like you said you'd have to sign up for a range qual to shoot but that would be much less time consuming than spending all day at a range/classroom.

My instructor mentioned that DPS will be offering an online course soon (March 2010 or so), so the not having the time issue is almost eliminated. Of course you will still have to go in for a range qualification , but all in all I think alot of folks will jump at the chance to take it online. I'm not sure if it's just for renewals or for initial licensing, but anything helps I guess. The more sheepdogs the better!
Here endith my two cents.

CaptWoodrow10 wrote: My instructor mentioned that DPS will be offering an online course soon (March 2010 or so), so the not having the time issue is almost eliminated. Of course you will still have to go in for a range qualification , but all in all I think alot of folks will jump at the chance to take it online. I'm not sure if it's just for renewals or for initial licensing, but anything helps I guess. The more sheepdogs the better! Here endith my two cents.

That is a false rumor that's being spread. The online courses applies ONLY to instructors. No other changes are coming.

Charles Cotton(TSRA Executive Director and owner of this forum) spoke with DPS regarding these rumors, and verified that they are false"

http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic. ... 76#p366376" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Right now it is the cost of buying a good carry weapon and associated gear. The M59 I have is a nice handgun but I don't want to carry it for a couple of reasons. I am saving my pennies right now and am shopping around.

joe817 wrote:

CaptWoodrow10 wrote: My instructor mentioned that DPS will be offering an online course soon (March 2010 or so), so the not having the time issue is almost eliminated. Of course you will still have to go in for a range qualification , but all in all I think alot of folks will jump at the chance to take it online. I'm not sure if it's just for renewals or for initial licensing, but anything helps I guess. The more sheepdogs the better! Here endith my two cents.

That is a false rumor that's being spread. The online courses applies ONLY to instructors. No other changes are coming.

Charles Cotton(TSRA Executive Director and owner of this forum) spoke with DPS regarding these rumors, and verified that they are false"

http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic. ... 76#p366376" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm sorry to hear that. Kind of a bummer.

SQLGeek wrote:Right now it is the cost of buying a good carry weapon and associated gear. The M59 I have is a nice handgun but I don't want to carry it for a couple of reasons. I am saving my pennies right now and am shopping around.

Take a look at some of the Taurus pistols. They are great values for the money. I have a compact PT145 Millenium, which is a lightweight and compact DAO pistol that holds 10 rounds of .45 ACP. You can pick them up brand new for about $350.00, and even less if you can find a used one. I've put about 1000 rounds through mine, and I've yet to ever have a problem with it. It's not my FAVORITE pistol (that spot belongs to my Kimber) but it has been reliable and easy to conceal.

Here's a link to one place that sells them online: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... s_id/55250

Thanks for the tip, MojoTexas, I'll give those a look.

The reason I haven't applied for one until now is because I've always felt that I would be able to avoid bad situations, and up until recently this train of thought has served me well.

What has changed?
Current events,
Getting older,
Disabled veteran.

Current events - I live near Fort Hood, so that needs no explination other then my wife was two buildings away when it happened. (yes I know I can't carry a weapon on Fort Hood)

Getting Older - I'm only 41 but I already feel more like a target then a preditor. I'm a pretty big guy and people have mostly just left me alone because I don't choose to look weak. But as the years are creeping in on me and call it what you will I am beginning to feel less able to defend myself or get out of situations on just my wits alone. It's hard to explain. I'm not a violent person but bad guys always looked twice before coming after me in the past just because of the way I look or walk.

Disabled Veteran - I sometimes have to walk with a cane and am certainly not able to move like I used to when I was "fit for duty" you could say. I have a wife, and two kids and it's my responsibility to do what ever I can to ensure they get fed, have a home to live in and keep the security. Basic, I know - but when you consider everday there are home invasions, brutal assaults on innocent people and bad guys becoming more violent as the years go by I feel I need to be able to keep up or have an equilizer. Granted a gun isn't always the answer. Most of the time, being aware of your surroundings, knowing escape routes, taking simple actions to secure your home so it looks and is more difficult to break into and being less of a target will do the job. But just in case - in a gun fight or assault where I have no choice but to use a weapon - I'd like to be the one walking away with my family intact.

Little deep, but you asked.

Just waiting for my birthday in April to apply...figured I could manage w/out carrying for a month so as to gain an extra year before renewal. Fairly new to the forum and many thanks for all of the great info.

The hassle.

I already had a concealed carry permit before I moved to Texas for the new job. I'm covered under reciprocity. In order to get a Texas CHL, I would have to spend hundreds of dollars and spend a day or two in class. For what?

Same with getting Texas tags. It's a hassle and it's expensive. In return, I get no real benefits. If the State made it easy to pay the fees and switch over, I would pay the money, but I'm not willing to spend money and spend time to navigate a sea of bureaucracy to switch everything over. Not now.

If we buy a house in Houston, I'll switch everything at that time, but for now I'm keeping my Indiana papers.

MojoTexas wrote:Take a look at some of the Taurus pistols. They are great values for the money. I have a compact PT145 Millenium, which is a lightweight and compact DAO pistol that holds 10 rounds of .45 ACP. You can pick them up brand new for about $350.00, and even less if you can find a used one. I've put about 1000 rounds through mine, and I've yet to ever have a problem with it. It's not my FAVORITE pistol (that spot belongs to my Kimber) but it has been reliable and easy to conceal.

Mojo, thanks again for the suggestion. I went to Academy last night and checked out the PT111 (that's the only Millenium pistol they had) and really liked the way it fit in my hand and how it pointed. I'm going to figure out where around here I can go rent one and see if I like how it shoots.

SQLGeek, I was at Academy (Webster TX) yesterday afternoon looking at the same pistol.

I held off on buying it, as I am going to see what kind of deal I can make this weekend at George R Brown Convention Center at the Gun Show.

I was at the Pasadena Gun show 3 weeks ago, bought my wife her Glock 19, but I did notice that others with Cash In Hand, (not checks, not debit/credit), better deals were being made than what was advertised - in the "make me an offer" standpoint.. and I might add "DUH" I should have known that...
So I will be there, cash in hand, to make an offer, for a better price than advertised and see what I can come away with.