The Pros and cons of Tx CHL

[picker]

Freshly retired here and thinking about getting me a CHL, but with Tx friendly gun laws I ask my self why ?
I shouldn't have a need to carry out side my home and now car.
I know some folks have a need to carry but I don't think I could benefit by CHL.
Your opinions welcome...........
Best Regards......Joe

 

[Koinonia]

No having to wait for the call in to NICS when buying firearms at the gun shop.
If you ever go to the capitol, you get your own line to go through.
Some places offer a discount to CHL holders.
It's nice to be able to carry them with you, if your car decides it doesn't want to lock. Throw it in an empty pocket, and go.

 

[jrbfishn]

Makes purchasing easier, and you can carry if the need does arise. If you don't think it will benefit you, don't.

 

[Kaos]

I think you've answered your own question, if you dont have a need to carry outside your home or car. You just will loose your safety net if you leave your house or car.

 

[Southpaw]

A CHL will technically allow you to pass thru School Zones within the letter of the law.

 

[picker]

Thanks folks for the timely replies, new member here and look forward to talking and visiting with everyone here and the San Antonio crowd 8AM @ THE ihop then saxet gun show [smile]
been years since I made a gun show.
Best/j

 

[Southpaw]

Welcome aboard

 

[Orbie]

Not the sole purpose but it could sway the decision of an officer if you were pulled over for speeding.

 

[robertc1024]

Thanks folks for the timely replies, new member here and look forward to talking and visiting with everyone here and the San Antonio crowd 8AM @ THE ihop then saxet gun show [smile]
been years since I made a gun show.
Best/j

Go to the SA hometown thread & meet some of us on the 31st.

 

[Charlie]

Joe, I live out in the sticks (kinda') up here in Kerr County and I carry all the time. Not because I'm afraid of the local folk but mostly when roaming around the property or out at a friends ranch and ya' never know whey mr. snake will show up. And as said, it's sooooo much easier to buy a gun from a dealer if you have CHL (no waiting on background check, etc.) and I'd guess at least about 30% or more of the adult males in this county carry concealed on a regular basis (not clue about the females).

 

[txinvestigator]

I shouldn't have a need to carry out side my home and now car.

How do you know that?

 

[Charlie]

How do you know that?

Exactly! Lots of dope, etc. runnin' up and down I-10 not far from your door, Joe. Your "chances" of needing to carry are probably much less than downtown in DFW, Houston, Austin, El Paso, etc. but ........................... ya' never know.

 

[txinvestigator]

Exactly! Lots of dope, etc. runnin' up and down I-10 not far from your door, Joe. Your "chances" of needing to carry are probably much less than downtown in DFW, Houston, Austin, El Paso, etc. but ........................... ya' never know.

Meh, my magic 8 ball sucks. Carry everywhere legal.

 

[Charlie]

TI's got an 8 ball! OMG

 

[superchief]

do it because you can!!!!!

 

[karlac]

Why not? You'll be adding to the numbers that help maintain your 2A rights, joining a group that is one of the most law biding in the state and, prudently in this day and age, keeping your options open with regard to the safety of you and your family.

 

[Shotgun Jeremy]

I spoke with a potential employer yesterday and mentioned my CHL. Even though guns are not allowed on the job or even in the building, the employer was able to appreciate the fact that I keep a clean enough background to be able to get a CHL and I'm more likely to try and keep my behavior clean in the future so I can hold on to my CHL. It was an interview for a construction job and as anyone can guess-you don't always get the best people applying to work construction crews. So that's one way that my CHL helped me that you don't normally hear about.

Also, I got pulled over for failure to stop last week. It was my first time being stopped since I've gotten my CHL. Not only did the officer not even head back to her car with my ID/Insurance, but she even allowed me to discuss how it was a simple misunderstanding on her part and let me go with no attitude being given on her or my part. I like to think that CHL had a little bit to do with that.

 

[TXARGUY]

Not the sole purpose but it could sway the decision of an officer if you were pulled over for speeding.

It does. The officer knowing he has someone pulled over who has passed a Federal background check casts a different light on the situation.

I'm not going to say it puts his/her mind at ease or that it's going to get you out of a ticket but it does change the dynamics of the stop a bit.

I personally have gotten tickets and been let go with a warning. It's hard to say my CHL played a role in either scenario but it didn't hurt.

One of my best "Hi-Po" buddies I met when he pulled me over for "touching the center line" on I-10 between Pecos and Van Horn.

I was the only car out there and I'm guessing he was bored.

We spent a good amount of time on the side of the interstate discussing firearms LOL.

Other than that a Texas CHL allows you to purchase firearms without any kind of delay and allows you to carry a concealed handgun anywhere you go with few and specific exceptions (another thread topic, it's been covered) and has either reciprocity or unilateral agreements with just about every state in America you may wish to visit.*

My concealed handguns are like my wallet, my keys, my glasses... Just something in my daily routine that I do automatically.

Absolutely zero downside unless you're one of those 'they're gonna take my gooons cause I'm on the list' type of guys.

*http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/RSD/CHL/legal/reciprocity/index.htm#

EDIT: Little known/shared fact - A CHL also allows you to be in possession of "other" items that would otherwise be frowned upon like batons, clubs and ASPs as long as you are concealing a firearm and have your CHL with you. Not that I do any of that...

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/chl/index.htm

 

[Hoji]

Because you may get the LEO that decides to charge you with reckless driving instead of the Class "C" traffic offense.

 

[txinvestigator]

TI's got an 8 ball! OMG

Not just an 8 ball, but a "magic" 8 ball.