Have we made this CHL thing too complicated?

[red2000vette]

Maybe its just me but I am beginning to feel like a bad guy in Texas just for wanting to protect myself. I carried on a CHL in PA for over 20 years and don't remember anything like this here is Texas. Paranoia about printing; fear of some woman at the 7/11 screaming "he's got a gun", concern that some LE officer may have "lock up a CHL holder on his/her to do list today"; handwringing and fretting in general over the whole CHL business.

PA is liberal land. Notwithstanding, in 20 years I had a LEO ask me if I was carrying one time (I guess that day I printed). I showed him my CHL he tipped his hat, thanked me and went on his way. Have we made more of this process in Texas than need be? Here in the land of conservatives can it be that we are that skiddish over the concept of protecting ourselves and our right to bear arms that we make the CHL holders feel like a suspicious cult of some kind?

Let's discuss and exchange some thoughts on this.

Bill

[WildBill]

Notwithstanding, in 20 years ...

I don't think you will find many people on the Forum that have been carrying for more than a year or two who are really concerned about printing or women screaming at the 7/11. IMO, most questions about this topic are from newer CHLs. Can you remember the first couple months when you started carrying in public?

[seamusTX]

If you carried in Pennsylvania for 20 years before moving to Texas, my guess is that you didn't have an online forum for your entertainment pleasure.

I think what you are seeing are questions from people who are getting a CHL, don't know any or many people who have one*, and are somewhat alarmed by things that they read online. Everybody realizes once they start carrying that the police don't have X-ray eyes and the general public doesn't notice or care.

To be fair, there were some serious incidents in the first few years after the CHL law was passed, where citizens carrying legally were taken down, arrested, and charged with various offenses. That has mostly died down, but we have one active case where a forum member was apparently arrested for carrying in a DPS office.

*Aside from people that I met through this forum, I know only one person who has a CHL, and he is an instructor. There are 400 in my zip code and about 1,000 in my town; but the topic has never come up in conversation.

- Jim

[red2000vette]

OK - all good points so far. I just dont remember the PA law being so complicated. I almost want to make a laminated card listing the places I can and cannot carry in Texas, with some specific Metroplex venues listed on the reverse just so I don't accidently wander into unfriendly trerritory. I have one for golf shots that I carry out on the course with me. If you think there's a market for such a thing let me know - I'm always looking to make a buck.

[seamusTX]

I agree that Texas law is too complicated, but what we have was a necessary compromise to get the law passed.

Then there are the invalid postings on government buildings, many of which the local authorities intend to enforce. I don't know the solution to that problem, unless some brave soul with a lot of money want to become a test case.

Then there are the invalid pseudo-30.06 signs on private property. I don't even discuss those any longer. Everything that can be said about them has been said.

At least we have it better than states like Georgia, with their vague prohibition on carrying at public gatherings, or Arkansas, where you must notify residents when entering their home, or the states where you can't carry in any place that sells alcoholic beverages (e.g., grocery stores).

- Jim

[red2000vette]

Yahoo Jim, the more you talk the gladder I am to be in Texas!

[frankie_the_yankee]

TX is very CHL friendly IMO.

Most of the questions about screaming women etc. are from CHL newbies who are still getting used to the idea. In the real world, it doesn't happen. Likewise, the issue of printing is way overblown, again mostly by newbies.

There are also those who enjoy examining every possible technicality and unusual circumstance that might come up. Nothing wrong with that. It's one of the fun aspects of a forum like this, at least for some of us. But I can see where a new member might get the wrong idea as to the importance or relevance of some of the unusual scenarios that come up for conversation.

As for LEO contacts, all I can say is the few that I have had in the last 7 years I have lived here have all been positive.

Prior to moving to TX I lived in RI, where I also had a CHL. RI is a "may issue" state, and by comparison is very hostile to gun owners. Most people are not even aware that an ordinary citizen can get a permit to carry. Most cops seriously frown upon the idea of any non-cops carrying.

No comparison at all with TX.

[aardwolf]

OK - all good points so far. I just dont remember the PA law being so complicated. I almost want to make a laminated card listing the places I can and cannot carry in Texas, with some specific Metroplex venues listed on the reverse just so I don't accidently wander into unfriendly trerritory. I have one for golf shots that I carry out on the course with me. If you think there's a market for such a thing let me know - I'm always looking to make a buck.

How about a subscription service for a GPS enabled smartphone that warns...

Excuse me while I do a patent search.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I almost want to make a laminated card listing the places I can and cannot carry in Texas, . . .

Don't laminate it yet. Governor Perry has stated that CHLs should be able to carry everywhere in the State and I know some folks who are going to work hard to make his opinion the law of the land.

Chas.

[anygunanywhere]

If we adopted a few of the things that PA does better than we do here in Texas then it would be a plus.

At least we do not have anything here near as bad as Philadelphia and Philly's mayor.

Anygunanywhere

[red2000vette]

I almost want to make a laminated card listing the places I can and cannot carry in Texas, . . .

Don't laminate it yet. Governor Perry has stated that CHLs should be able to carry everywhere in the State and I know some folks who are going to work hard to make his opinion the law of the land.

Chas.

Just when I think the Gov. is a big bump on a log - he says something that makes me want to vote for him again!

[red2000vette]

If we adopted a few of the things that PA does better than we do here in Texas then it would be a plus.

At least we do not have anything here near as bad as Philadelphia and Philly's mayor.

Anygunanywhere

Since my pal Frank Rizzo passed away, Philadelphia Mayors have been anti gun. Pro bombs - they'll take out an entire city block with an airborne percussion bomb - but anti guns nonethe less!

[Greybeard]

Quote: "I agree that Texas law is too complicated, but what we have was a necessary compromise to get the law passed."

Yep, we went for 120+ years with what was largley prohibition before the 1995 Legislature passed the bulk of what we have now - with some major and minor tweaking done, as possible, every 2 years.

[asleepatthereel]

I almost want to make a laminated card listing the places I can and cannot carry in Texas, . . .

Don't laminate it yet. Governor Perry has stated that CHLs should be able to carry everywhere in the State and I know some folks who are going to work hard to make his opinion the law of the land.

Chas.

Just when I think the Gov. is a big bump on a log - he says something that makes me want to vote for him again!

If only he would abandon that Trans Texas Land Grab. I havent been happy with Perry lately, but I do give him credit for his support of CHL.

[lrb111]

I almost want to make a laminated card listing the places I can and cannot carry in Texas, . . .

Don't laminate it yet. Governor Perry has stated that CHLs should be able to carry everywhere in the State and I know some folks who are going to work hard to make his opinion the law of the land.

Chas.

I know some folks that are convinced Gov. Perry said it as a campaign promise. Surely, our governor won't allow Texas to be lagging behind the rest of the country's new laws.