Texas CHL - Concealed Handgun License - Notes [rev: 8 Mar]
Concealed Carry -or- Open Carry ...
Tx has "Concealed" licensing.
THIS IS THE PREFERRED LICENSE. (AZ has Open-Carry)
it seems that an OPEN-CARRY makes you a target...
(ie Policemen are some(often?)times the target).
a potential crook/thief/assaulter may give some thought
as to whether he wants to risk that the victim MIGHT
have a gun... The "statistics" seem to support that
"licensing" causes a reduction in certain AGRESSIVE
ASSAULT type crimes: RAPE, ASSAULT, MURDER...
Bear in mind, you DO NOT need a CHL to own a gun and have it
in your home... and use it to protect your life/property.
You can carry it in your car to/from the Range or on
a "trip"... but "trip" has conditions to it (not "commute").
Carry into another state can be trouble, too (ie. NewMex).
The CHL is 'extra time/place carrying license' of a CONCEALED HandGun.
Several states have "reciprocal" license agreements
with Texas, giving you THEIR CHL privaleges when visiting.
(NOT NewMex at this time). www.TXDPS.state.tx.us Reciprocity
TX reaches reciprocity deal with PA Mar 7, 2005 11:34 am US/Central
AUSTIN, TX (AP) -- Add Pennsylvania to the list of 18 states
with which TX has reached a concealed handgun reciprocity deal.
TX Gov. Rick Perry's office announced the deal today.
The agreement allows licensed gun-carrying Texans to have the
same or similar privileges to legally carry such weapons in those
other states as they have in TX.
TX also has concealed-handgun reciprocity deals with
AR AZ CO FL GA ID KY LA MS MT NC ND OK SC TN UT & WY.
Concealed handgun laws vary from state to state.
On the Net: http://www.Governor.state.tx.us/
The CHL permits you to have a gun with you (in your car)
or on your person properly-concealed (under shirt/jacket).
BUT there are "NO-CARRY" places: When Posted by Owner,
when you're explicitely asked to leave by Owner...
or WHERE ALCOHOL IS SERVED, ALL-SCHOOLS, COURT, POLLING-PLACE,
BIG ATHLETIC EVENTS, GAMBLING(racetracks), most HOSPITALS,
Big/Permanent Amusement/Swim Parks(Six Flags, FairGround ? )
basically places where emotions/crowds may become elevated.
CHL holders MAY carry in Texas State Parks (TPWD Exec Order 98-001)
Giving it some serious thought. You really don't want to
shoot (at) anyone with a gun. The legal recourse of them
or their family will be far more than giving up your car...
However... **IF** you are legally correct in your action,
there is a "satisfaction", or in the case of ASSAULT,
any $expense$ may be well worth NOT BEING ASSAULTED.
Rule of thumb...
if you shoot your gun, expect a few grand in legal expense...
if you KILL someone(legally justified), expect it to cost
about $10 grand to defend your action.
*IF* you WOUND someone... the cost will be MORE,
as they are still around to give their side of the story
(and it WILL NOT agree with your story)...
or MORE... MORE...
However, in a confrontation when you carefully and accurately
assess that the perpatrator(sp?) will back-down, simply and
quietly and assertively letting them know you're "packing",
will often send them running (especially the punks,
*IF* they AREN'T PACKING !!!)...
and you may never have to draw ('Brandish') your gun...
this will also likely cost you a pair of underwear, pants
and CarSeat... as they will be stained beyond repair... ;)
There are a THOUSAND things to think about...
TxDPS is the licensing agency.
THERE is an extensive background check on your
criminal history (anything involving AGGRESSIVE or EMOTIONS)
Class/Range is fairly easy... cost $100+ & takes all day.
YOU MUST PREPARED FOR IT, going in without practice/reading
will likely be a disaster...
PassPort Photos: $8 at Walgreen, ready in 10 minutes.
FingerPrints: likely FREE at your police dept(mine were,@Hurst PD)
Notary: some BackGround-check release forms need notarized.
Application Fee is $140, non-refundable.
It takes about two months to PROCESS,
so, it can be a 3-4 month process.
The written test was some 40-50 Multi-Choice and True/False questions.
The class session coveres the material, mostly over the laws of
when and where to NOT carry and how to conduct youself with Police
and how to recognize and avoid excitable situations.
My Instructor made my FingerPrints, Photographs and did the Notary
for $25... BUT the prints were not clear and had to be redone,
and the photograph has to be signed by the fingerprint-person
to confirm that the photo & prints are the same person...
SO, I ended up having to pay TWICE... might as well get it done
by the Police-Pro and actually save money.
Hurst PD uses an electronic finger scanning. No-Ink !
My prints were actually imaged on a small glass screen
and viewed on a computer monitor and SAVED when clear & sharp.
Then after all prints were done, the laser printer made copies.
NOTE: about six-weeks after submitting the CHL application,
they ask for replacement-prints for the FBI.
They send out two different Print-Cards.
Use THEM and do it in regular-old INK.
Seems the FBI will ONLY process their card with ink.
(Hi-tech scanned prints are not accepted... yet? )
Here is the CHL Legal/statute booklet, a difficult read,
but it is most of what is in the Class/Test.
www.TXDPS.state.tx.us/
-- CR-80 is Initial Applic-Form to get CHL-license
forms and Materials, includes LS-16 printed (next).
-- LS-16 is CHL-laws booklet .pdf(free)
http://toyfj40.FreeShell.org/TxCHL.rtf
-- this is THE BOOKLET, but re-formatted to be able
to print it on less paper and change font...
(some 35 pages, instead of formatted 65 pages)
Disclaimer: I may have deleted a line, a comma, "and/but/or"
... but only accidentally.
a BUNCH of Gun-facts... FYI
.pdf eBook of GunFacts www.GunFacts.info
Concealed info www.Packing.org
TX specific www.Packing.org Texas
The Texas-Gun Lobby www.TSRA.com
Guns in the News www.FireArmNews.com
More Gun News www.SAF.org
Still more www.KeepAndBearArms.comGUN:
remember, we are talking about carrying a HANDGUN,
Rifles & Shotguns are different laws and
not effective for close range defense.
This is a bottomless pit of a discussion...
'Which caliber, which brand, which model... ???'
Yes, there are Great-Quality Excellent Life-Long-lasting
brand-models... for $500+, but these are the Mercedes.
a good reliable "Chevy" will be $250, and when at a good-price
(ie. Academy) can be found for $200+ new.
try this: go to Academy Sports,
they have handguns of all common calibers
and some of the best prices you'll find.
Ask to look/examine a Bersa Thunder .380 / $200
and look/examine a holster:
Uncle Mike's "SideKick" size 1
about $12 (right and left handed versions).
www.Bersa-Llama.com
ALSO. *IF* this is something you're sincerely interested in,
then consider getting a .22LR pistol, too.
they are CHEAP to shoot
(about $0.02/bang vs $0.15-0.50 for larger calibers...)
and the practice+practice+practice of firing the .22 pistol
will be the best thing you can do to gain "experience".
NOTE: there is one model that I really like and it just happens
(as of May2005, likely all Mark-II have been "sold" :(
to be recently discontinued and the Next-model is not as good:
Ruger Mark-II 22/45 $200 at Academy.
Mark-III Series is not as good and is more$.
Forum: www.MarkII.org/forum/Shooting:
nobody can shoot a specific gun without practice.
they all behave/kick/"feel" different.
The CHL "test" is about your knowledge and handling of the gun...
only basic marksmanship, but it takes some practice.
(see attached target/photos)
You have 50-rounds to score 175 points...
TX-CHL Shooting Test
any salesman or enthusiast will insist you need
.45 .44 9mm caliber for "stopping power".
well... yes, BUT you're gonna use your head
and avoid or leave a situation and not need "stopping power"...
BUT then just HAVING a GUN will stop most situations...
BUT if he's MAD/ANGRY and gonna get you...
MISSING with a .44 is a LOT WORSE than
HITTING with a .22LR !!
just give him an empty gun (ie FIRE ALL ROUNDS AT HIM, FIRST!!)
.380 caliber is like a "9mm-lite"(tm)
The "Bersa" is a nice little lightweight gun that is easy to carry
(full size pistols are heavy and HURT and are BIG)
to carry all day every day...
Forum: www.ezBoard.com
So, read-over this stuff and give it some thought.
check-out some of the WebSites/info.
Go to any SportingGoods or GunShop and look-at and
(Walmart is Rifles ONLY) ask lots of questions about
Guns: pistols(semi-auto), Revolver("wheel guns"),
cartridges(load=TnT:powder, bullet=Pb:lead )
caliber: .22LR .22Mag .380 9mm .45 .44
and figger out all kinds of questions and THEIR answers.
then remember, all answers are specific to the answerer!
(like cars... ask me? LandCruiser!!) but YOU need YOUR answers.
Probably the BIG question to consider before getting a CHL is some
big-time intro-spection to determine IF this is something you want
in your house with your spouse, kids and visitors...
and have the "responsibility" for the gun, cartridges, locking it up,
loading/unloading, carrying it...
and (*MY OPINION*) the best thing for overall safety is to teach/instruct
EVERYONE on what the gun is and how to use it and how to NOT use it...
but what is YOUR idea?
Getting a CHL will put you in a pretty exclusive Law-Abiding club:
http://toyfj40.FreeShell.org/ConvRates.html
