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Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:02 pm
by DONT TREAD ON ME
http://WWW.AARONSGUNSHOP.COM/concealedh ... asses.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
GREAT class! The instructor was VERY knowledgeable and was able to teach very well. He made the class interesting and I must say the coffee and danish's were very good too!
I hope I am able to take my renewal from him too.
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:26 pm
by steveincowtown
Knowing what I know now, the CHL curriculum could probably be written better with more input from instructors and less droning from DPS.
http://www.safeshot.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Sgt. McGuire is an excellent teacher. Took my first class there when I moved to Texas and then renewed this part year. When you do your range time he has one LEO instructor for about every 2.5
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:59 pm
by WildBill
seamusTX wrote:Tom Estep.

'Nuff said. - Jim

"'Nuff said."
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:34 pm
by WildBill
I guess, for me, there is never "Nuff said." My personal belief is that you can always learn more on any subject. If a subject interests me I never stop learning. If any 10 hour CHL course can teach everything that can be learned, this forum would not exist.
Tom Estep is a top notch instructor and his CHL course met all of the legal requirement to get my CHL. But he also emphasized that there was much more to learn beyond what was covered in his class. In fact, he is the one who suggested that I join this forum.

Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:41 pm
by seamusTX
My personal belief is that you can always learn more on any subject.
Of course.
But the CHL classroom curriculum covers the basics when it is presented properly.
We have to remember that half or more of CHL holders rarely carry; and of those who do carry, most will go their entire life without having to fire a shot in self defense.
- Jim
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:46 pm
by WildBill
seamusTX wrote:My personal belief is that you can always learn more on any subject.
Of course.
But the CHL classroom curriculum covers the basics when it is presented properly.
We have to remember that half or more of CHL holders rarely carry; and of those who do carry, most will go their entire life without having to fire a shot in self defense.
- Jim
Some of us [you included], hold ourselves to a higher standard.
I have attended Charles Cotton's deadly force seminar four times. Every time I have listened to him I come away with more knowledge and a better understanding of the law.
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:05 pm
by seamusTX
Sure. But again, Texas has the most stringent requirements of any shall-issue state (as far as I know). The state of Washington issues a license to anyone who fills out the forms and passes a background check. They don't have rivers of blood or legal packers being arrested for some technical violation. Alaska, Vermont, New Mexico, Arizona ...
People who have their head screwed on and use deadly force to defend themselves from the big six offenses do pretty well in the justice system.
- Jim
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:19 pm
by boba
It's a money maker for someone. Probably one of Burnam's cronies.
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:27 pm
by TLE2
Took my CHL class from Mr. Cotton. Great class. I want to attend his deadly force seminar, but have been out of pocket for recent events.
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:28 pm
by WildBill
seamusTX wrote:Sure. But again, Texas has the most stringent requirements of any shall-issue state (as far as I know). The state of Washington issues a license to anyone who fills out the forms and passes a background check. They don't have rivers of blood or legal packers being arrested for some technical violation. Alaska, Vermont, New Mexico, Arizona ...
People who have their head screwed on and use deadly force to defend themselves from the big six offenses do pretty well in the justice system.
- Jim
That is not my motivation for continuing to learn and expand my knowledge about CHL.
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 8:02 pm
by PappaGun
Good question.
I have been thinking this through lately as I come across comments from forum members about their class.
Having had no frame of reference, at the time, I felt it was good.
But I can see now that it was lacking terribly.
My instructor focused more on trying to teach us that having a CHL was some sort of a membership card to an exclusive club.
He made many comments that CHL's don't get traffic tickets. Right. See the LEO Contacts on that one.
We wasted about 4 of the 10 hours. Lunch and shooting was part of the 10 hours. Class got started about an hour late and we
were done about an hour early.
I didn't know any better then, but i won't go back to him for renewal.
Same instructor as some one else mentioned as good, so maybe he was having an off day.
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:08 pm
by Dragonfighter
Fifteen years ago, a lot has changed since then. Mine was by a fellow I worked with who was an FFL, a defensive and tactical shooting instructor as well as an LEO on his off days. He also was a dive instructor and a competitive martial artist. What I didn't know about him was how funny he was. Within his humor I came away with a good grasp of the laws as well as a practical shoot/no shoot algorithm.
He has since surrendered his FFL (got tired of the hassle) and AFAIK does not compete any more.
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:57 pm
by Divided Attention
Middle Age Russ and I took from SRVA and Compvest. The day flew by, and the qualifying on range was not near as stressful as I had anticipated (I have a bit of test anxiety). As far as I know all of the info on laws etc. based on what I have learned here as well, and what I read in the book. It was presented in a refreshing non-droning manner and class discussion was highly encouraged which resulted in some great learning on some very helpful "extras".
I would highly recommend their classes to the Conroe/Spring area and beyond, including the ladies only class which was/is awesome. I can't wait to attend more, and plan to bring my teen daughters.... you know they aren't going to listen to a "dumb parent" about anything

Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:10 pm
by Piney
I took the initial class from a gentleman, an ex LEO, in East Texas. Excellent class- straight forward information combined with experience- but no "war stories". He handled the know-it-alls and the what-if folks in class sternly but politely.
Knowing what I know now after renewals and reading-- the original class was right on the mark.
Re: Knowing what you know now..How was your original CHL cou
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:13 pm
by ralewis
RoyGBiv wrote:My original CHL class (in NC, 1995?) was taught by a local Deputy Sheriff. A two-night class, IIRC. The class and instruction was VERY good. Covered the details very well, especially "Justifiable use of force". The instructor also brought along several holsters of different types and allowed students to try them out (no weapons)...
My recent TX class was a disaster. The instructor (who shall remain nameless) was HORRIBLE. I felt quite bad for the other folks in the class who, IMHO, did not get adequate instruction in CHL legal aspects.
TX and NC law is reasonably similar... some important differences (Castle), but I had already read the TX regs on my own, so, I was satisfied just completing the process and getting my certificate.
Apologies for being slightly off topic....I should probably have started another thread.....
I travel to NC often, and brought along a firearm a few times and familiarized myself with the differenced. I also have a good friend there with a carry license. My impression was NC and TX laws very different. Use of deadly force seemed very different to me. Also, it's my understanding you can't carry anywhere there is alcohol served or sold. That is very different from TX. Also, I don't think you can carry at public parks or anywhere else posted by any sort of sign. Aside from carrying in the car, having a CHL seemed pretty useless.