Last Saturday, October 20th, I opened the mailbox to find the package I had been so eagerly awaiting. It was so sweet. Just a small envelope with a simple plastic card inside. I expected more fanfare. Perhaps a large envelope with tons of ads, a welcome to CHLdom letter from the President, or Governor, or Mayor even? Nothing. Just the card. But that's ok. Other than the picture on the front, I couldn't have been more proud. I had expected a 4-6 week turn around, but mine took 8 weeks.
I couldn't wait to tell David (my CHL instructor), and a few friends that had encouraged me to get my CHL. I'm honored to be a part of this select group of CHL holders. If you haven't taken the class, it would be hard to understand the responsibility that comes with holding this license. That's one of my favorite parts of taking the class from David (www.chltx.com). He prepared us so well and instilled in us the responsibility and pride that comes with the license. I get nothing from David for mentioning his site or his classes except a friendship with a great like-minded guy. I can't recommend him as as instructor enough.
I've spent the last week trying to figure out how I'm going to carry. I've hit all the gun forums and looked at all kinds of holsters, rigs, tactical clothing and even underwear made to conceal a carry weapon. I haven't made any decisions yet. I need to get to a gun leather store and try out a few. My biggest fear is that I'm going to have to change the style of clothing I wear. I've long been a jeans and tucked-in polo shirt wearer. I can't stand an untucked shirt, but I may have to get used to one. I'm going to look at the "tactical" pants and see how those fit. Maybe even look at the SmartCarry. So that is my next worry, how I'm going to carry.
But, the decision has been made to carry and I'll find a way to do it. I'm sold on this program and all the intended benefits. I want to be a part of it and I'm proud that I now am.
Trent
CHL class taken Saturday, August 4th
Online application filled out and application fee paid, August 4th
Application received from DPS, August 13th
Application and packet mailed back to DPS, August 21st
LICENSE RECEIVED, October 20th.
After a week of taking that excited walk to the mailbox, just to walk back bummed out, it finally came. The packet from the DPS arrived today with my application. I filled it out last Saturday online, so it took 9 days, or basically a business week. That's about what I expected, but that doesn't mean I wasn't wishing it would be shorter. So now I can get the packet back to them completed and wait some more.
So here I am, trying my best to be patient. I'll keep you posted!
Trent
Schedule so far:
CHL class taken Saturday, August 4th
Online application filled out and application fee paid, August 4th
Application received from DPS, August 13th
My wife and I attended our first CHL class today!
We have been waiting for a weekend where we had all 3 children out of the house so we could have a Saturday free. It finally came and we jumped at the chance. We found the class online at http://www.chltx.com/. The class was a full-service class (photos, fingerprints, paperwork, etc). Our instructor was David Gilreath. Class started at 9:00 am.
When we arrived, David let us know that we were going to the range first, so we immediately headed for the range. We did our range session at The Shooting Gallery Indoor Gun Range (http://www.winchestergallery.com/index.php?page=Gunrange). I was excited, as this was the range where my wife and I shoot when we can. It would be considered our "home court".
We arrived at the range and got geared up. There were 10 people in the class and we got on a range with 10 stalls. Everyone shot together. The whole process from walking in, shooting, scoring our targets, packing up, and checking out of the range took a total of about 30 minutes. Everyone in the class passed. I think the high score was a 249 and the low score was 237. (A perfect score would be 250 and you must have a 175 to pass.) I was fairly happy with my 246, but I'll probably never hear the end of my wife's 247! She's always been a great shot. She shot the S&W 1911 and I shot my Kimber Ultra CDP II, both are .45s.
We gathered back for our classroom portion. This was a very enjoyable class. David was a great instructor. He is funny and very entertaining. David had prepared a slide show in Power Point to help us follow along with the lecture. The slide show was great as David had embellished it with some great video clips from the internet. Some were just funny and some showed a particular point that we were discussing. It really broke up the class and kept us interested.
David is an obvious fan of the CHL program and is a great spokesman for the program. He drove home to me at least the awesome responsibility that comes with the CHL. While he kept the mood lively, he NEVER took any part of the course lightly. He was serious about what we had to learn. He didn't try and scare us or chase anyone off with horror stories. He simply went into great detail as we discussed the laws concerning CHL and the use of deadly force. I don't think any of us walked out of there with any questions unanswered as it pertained to the course. We all got to ask questions and we discussed a great many scenarios.
What I learned in the class was not at all what I expected. I was amazed at the laws concerning CHL and use of force by a CHL holder. The Texas law is pretty straight-forward and gives a great deal of protection to the CHL holder. I grew up hearing that you can't shoot a person unless they are in your house and you are in immanent danger. This may have been true before CHL laws, but it isn't true anymore. A CHL holder is a vital part of a civil society. Just taking the course and learning what CHL truly is, I feel safer knowing (and hoping) that some of the people around me are as interested and as equipped to protect my safety as I am (soon to be) their's.
During breaks, David would fingerprint a few of us and after the lecture, he worked on our paperwork with us. He took our pictures and printed them for us. Everyone left with a completed package of all the necessary documents that had each been reviewed by David.
If anyone is reading this and looking for a place to take their CHL class, I wholeheartedly recommend David's class. You can find all of his course and contact information at http://www.chltx.com/. If you go to the site, you will also notice that David as a Kimber dealer. Owning a Kimber myself, I can attest to the greatness of a Kimber weapon. If you're ever in the market for something with the Kimber name on it, give David a call. He has some great prices, from what I can tell. The next time I'm looking for a Kimber, David will be my first call.
I came home from class and did my online application. If I had more advanced notice that I was going to get to take the class this weekend, I would have done the application before the class, so I could turn in my packet as quickly as possible. After filling out the application online (and paying the fee), I should receive the packet in about a week. I then sign the application they sent in the packet and mail it back with all the materials received in the class today. From then, it should be 5-6 week before I receive my license.
I was excited before the class, but now I'm even more excited. I've said it before and I'll say it again, CHL is an awesome responsibility. It makes me feel good that I can protect my family, myself and others. It also makes me feel good that I can participate in such an American ideal. I follow this course with the utmost respect. I completely agree with the CHL program. I completely feel, without any hesitation, that it makes for a safer society. I'm proud to be a part of this program.
I'll keep the blog updated with my application and license process.
Trent
P.S. I mentioned David Gilreath and chltx.com on my own accord. I found the site online and took a chance that the course would be enjoyable. It FAR exceeded my expectations. I happily and personally endorse David and his class. David did not ask me to write this. I did not tell him that I was writing about the class. I will tell him about this post after it is posted and I do hope he uses it as a satisfied customer comment on his site if he wishes. But it was not solicited by him in any way.
Two years ago, I had never owned anything more powerful than the 20.00 CO2 BB pistol I bought in high school. I never had thought much about guns, at least not much more than any normal kid has. They were forbidden in my parent's house. Not because my parents had anything against the 2nd amendment. Guns were just something they didn't want to have around. I have no problem with them feeling that way. I know the thing that makes me most nervous about owning them now is having them in the house with my children. But, let's face it, the safety mechanisms in place today are quite a bit more advanced than what my parents had. Not the gun safeties, but the fact that we now have gun safes with digital locks. I wouldn't think locking up a gun behind the old combination wheel locks did that much for your peace of mind when you heard that bump in the night. But now they are there right behind the keypad that takes seconds to use. I now feel (fairly) comfortable having the guns where I think I can quickly get to them and the little ones can't get to them at all.
So how did I get interested in guns? I have a friend from high school that I recently got back in touch with through our children's elementary school. He grew up spending time on ranches and he now has his own 200+ acres in Oran, TX. We started hanging out at his ranch and I fell in love with being in the country. I have always lived in Fort Worth and never thought about wanting to live in the country. Well, spending some time in the country can make you change your mind. Anyway, he was a gun afficionado and we spent some time shooting at his ranch. He and another friend that we always saw had their concealed carry permits and always had a handgun or two around them. So I decided that I wanted one!
About this time, they opened a Cabela's near us. For Father's Day '05, I bought a Smith and Wesson 1911 .45. It was just two weeks later that I was back at Cabela's buying myself a Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum revolver. That thing is a hoot to shoot! Well, I was hooked. My buddy took me bird hunting and that gave me an excuse to buy a Remington 11-87 12 Gauge. Deer hunting on his ranch that winter didn't bag me a deer, but it did allow me to bag a Remington Model 700 .30-06! I eventually bought a Browning Arms .22 LR Buck Master so I could let the children get a feel for shooting. I subscribed to the theory that if I was going to have guns in the house, the children would know about them and what they did. That should hopefully help curb the natural curiosity of them wanting to touch something mom and dad never let them near. So they have been shooting at the ranch with us and have even gone to the range with us a few times.
I have always wanted to get my concealed carry license and I know someday that I will. My wife has finally decided that she wants her's too, so we are trying to find a Saturday where we have the whole day without the children and not something else more pressing to do. If you have any children, you surely know how hard that is to accomplish. But, wanting to be able to carry someday, I found a Kimber Ultra Carry II .45 that I just had to have. It is such a sweet gun. Very easy to carry, much easier than the S&W 1911 was going to be. So, to get my wife on board for carrying, I had to bribe her. A Smith and Wesson Airweight .38 Special 5-shot with a laser grip brought her over to my side.
So that's our collection. We don't get the chance to go get the guns dirty near as much as I'd like, but it sure is fun when we do. Now that I have so much to shoot with, I'd love to spend some time learning HOW to shoot WELL! If you share my new found affection for the shooting sports and hunting (and basically the outdoor life), then join in here as I chat about experiences, equipment and dreams of the easy life.
Trent