Unlicensed car carry a "gateway" to a CHL

[drw]

I had an epiphany today. Once the legislature put in the law allowing citizens to bear arms in their vehicles, I've had numerous firearms in all my autos at all times. I love the sense of freedom and ability to defend my family should a BG attack us while we're in our car.

This, however, has made it all the more painful for me to step out of the vehicle to go unarmed into the store.

In short, carrying in the car has given me a taste of being armed in public, and it's something I no longer feel like I can go without. So, despite my serious misgivings about getting permission to exercise a God-given right, I'm signing up both my wife and me for the Lock n' Load (Tyler, TX) CHL course as soon as possible. This is something I'm pretty sure I never would have done if I hadn't already gotten the taste of carrying in my car.

I bet the more unlicensed people there are out there who become educated about car carry, the more CHL applications will be submitted.

[Liberty]

I think that the new car carry laws have a lot to do with the the increase of CHL applications that we are seeing. I got my CHL mostly so I could car carry, then I discovered that I often felt naked leaving it in the car.

[longtooth]

Good posts from both of you.
Probably will encourage othere too.

[boomerang]

It could also have the reverse effect. I talked to people who got a CHL so they could legally carry a gun in their car. Now they don't need a CHL to do that, so some of them might decide to save some money and not renew. Especially people who don't carry at work because of 46.03/46.035 or 30.06 or fear of being fired.

Are there any statistics on renewals?

[dukalmighty]

Like a smoker feels a sense of fear when they forget their cigarettes,I feel the same way if I forget my gun when I leave the house,I carry almost 24/7 but there are a few times i realised my holster was empty when i got in the jeep