Run on guns

[Lodge2004]

The Chronicle stirrs the pot. They must have been pleased with the response to the CHL article last week and want to keep the interest up. As with most newspapers/media types, they make some silly comments ("With more people packing lead..." ???)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/edi ... 77776.html

With a surge in demand for concealed handgun permits, Texas needs to carefully screen applicants.

Nobody knows why, but Texans in increasing numbers are applying for licenses to carry concealed handguns. The crunch has led to delays of several months before the Department of Public Safety can issue or renew them, far longer than the period mandated by law.

Despite some farfetched speculation that the 39 percent spike in license applications is linked to the election year and the possibility that the next president might push gun control, the likely reason is closer to home. Violent crime continues to be a public menace, even if rates in Houston are down this year. A front page story in Thursday's Chronicle documented a rampage by armed carjackers who stole four cars within minutes.

Another reason handgun licenses might be more attractive is the Texas Legislature's decision last year to make the records confidential. When the concealed weapon statute was first passed in 1995, those documents were considered public records. When access to the gun permit data was withdrawn, Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas board member Joel White rightly criticized the action as a bad idea.

"This has nothing to do with whether you can carry a concealed weapon," White said, "but we need as citizens to know whether authorities are granting handgun licenses to the right people."

The Legislature also liberalized circumstances under which people with a concealed weapon may use it to defend themselves. Under the so-called "castle" doctrine, citizens may use a firearm to protect their vehicles as well as their homes.

With more people packing lead, enforcement of the state law's restrictions will continue to be needed, even if issuance of the license is delayed. People charged with or convicted of a crime cannot carry concealed weapons, and license applicants must pass a gun-handling course taught by a certified trainer.

Perhaps those tempted to road rage will think twice before they threaten other drivers, considering that firing from a motor vehicle can be construed as self-defense.

[melkor41]

Perhaps those tempted to road rage will think twice before they threaten other drivers, considering that firing from a motor vehicle can be construed as self-defense.

someone has been watching too much A-Team

DUUH dun DUUHH dun dun dun dedo dun dun deee dun.. deee dun dun doo dun!

As far as citizens all deciding to take a stance in the protection of their lives and the lives of their loved ones.... "I love it when a plan comes together"

[Armed-Texan]

considering that firing from a motor vehicle can be construed as self-defense.

uh......................no. i think its safe to assume that nobody on this forum would fire from a moving vehicle. that is ridiculous. you're not in a covered wagon fighting off outlaws, sheesh. i LOVE the spin media puts on things. 'let's make gun owners look like wild banshees, running around shooting every chance they get!' i think if you fire from a moving vehicle, even if you are being rammed by someone, you are gonna have some esplainin' to do! too many options to resort to a gun at that point. but that is to be expected from the media, anything to feed the hysteria of the public and keep a story going, way to go chronicle.

[KC5AV]

Hey, if they need an idea for another expose', they should do some research on this:

The crunch has led to delays of several months before the Department of Public Safety can issue or renew them, far longer than the period mandated by law.

[KBCraig]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/edi ... 77776.html

...Another reason handgun licenses might be more attractive is the Texas Legislature's decision last year to make the records confidential. When the concealed weapon statute was first passed in 1995, those documents were considered public records. When access to the gun permit data was withdrawn, Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas board member Joel White rightly criticized the action as a bad idea.

"This has nothing to do with whether you can carry a concealed weapon," White said, "but we need as citizens to know whether authorities are granting handgun licenses to the right people."

Excuse me, but just how does Joel White believe that he and "we as citizens" are going to conduct a more thorough background check than the one already conducted before a CHL is issued?

[Mike1951]

Hey, if they need an idea for another expose', they should do some research on this:

The crunch has led to delays of several months before the Department of Public Safety can issue or renew them, far longer than the period mandated by law.

They just ran two articles on consecutive days.


STATE CAUGHT OFF GUARD AS MORE SEEK HANDGUN PERMITS / Some point to anti-gun politics as applications rise 39 percent and swamp DPS

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archi ... 08_4563752

Legislators eye ways to alleviate gun permit backlog / Early renewals seen as key as DPS struggles to cope

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archi ... 08_4564185

[aardwolf]

There's a reason the paper is known as The Comical in Houston.

[Doug]

You really must take whatever is in the Chron and try to decode the liberal nonsense to see what the real story is.

[Greybeard]

That's some of the poorest writing to come along in a while. You Houstonians can keep that guy down there. (We already have some like him here.)

[camjr]

"With more people packing lead..." Somebody actually used that phrase? What is this, 1875?

Also, this passage: "The Legislature also liberalized circumstances under which people with a concealed weapon may use it to defend themselves. Under the so-called "castle" doctrine, citizens may use a firearm to protect their vehicles as well as their homes.". Obviously not familiar with the fact that it applies to everyone, not just those with CHL.

Agree with Graybeard. You can keep that guy down in Houston. I thought it was going to be a letter to the editor from some concerned citizen. That was actually an editorial from the board! Yikes!

[Mithras61]

"With more people packing lead..." Somebody actually used that phrase? What is this, 1875?

Also, this passage: "The Legislature also liberalized circumstances under which people with a concealed weapon may use it to defend themselves. Under the so-called "castle" doctrine, citizens may use a firearm to protect their vehicles as well as their homes.". Obviously not familiar with the fact that it applies to everyone, not just those with CHL.

Agree with Graybeard. You can keep that guy down in Houston. I thought it was going to be a letter to the editor from some concerned citizen. That was actually an editorial from the board! Yikes!

When I first saw the headline I thought they were going to write about one of these:



Instead I got more nonsense and poorly written opinion untainted by exposure to facts. Typical of the Chronicle, unfortunately.

[nuparadigm]

... White said, "but we need as citizens to know whether authorities are granting handgun licenses to the right people." .....

That sort of thinking really gets me hot under the collar.

[sbb]

The only thing that this liberal rag should be used for is a liner to a bird cage.

[oilman]

Just a silly article on many points...

[phoneguy]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/edi ... 77776.html


"This has nothing to do with whether you can carry a concealed weapon," White said, "but we need as citizens to know whether authorities are granting handgun licenses to the right people."

Excuse me, but just how does Joel White believe that he and "we as citizens" are going to conduct a more thorough background check than the one already conducted before a CHL is issued?

Excuse me, but exactly how would Mr. White define "right people"? Would he limit permits to those who lived in the "right neighborhoods", or those of the "right skin color", or "right income bracket" or "right political connections"?