TexasCHLforum.com

jmra wrote:

maintenanceguy wrote:

jmra wrote: Let's break that down. First, you don't have to pay $100 for a class. I see much cheaper classes advertised frequently and if you really keep your ear to the ground some organizations will even sponsor free or greatly reduced fees for classes. Very easy to find classes at $60. Add the other $150, your total is $210. That is less than 82¢ a week for the first 5 years and after that it's only 29¢ a week.
So the cost to protect yourself and your family the first 5 years comes out to about 12¢ a day. Calculate the daily cost over 10 years and you're down to less than 8¢ a day. If you can justify a stick of chewing gum every day, you can justify a CHL.

For me, the question of whether it's constitutional to charge a fee to "grant" a right was settled in 1966 when the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to charge a poll tax to "grant" the right to vote.

Very well. Forgo the license and let us know how that works out for you.

It works fine in lots of places. States that allow open carry without a license include: Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota, Vermont, Kentucky, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. There may be others. Several of these also allow concealed carry without a license. It works fine.

jmra wrote: Let's break that down. First, you don't have to pay $100 for a class. I see much cheaper classes advertised frequently and if you really keep your ear to the ground some organizations will even sponsor free or greatly reduced fees for classes. Very easy to find classes at $60. Add the other $150, your total is $210. That is less than 82¢ a week for the first 5 years and after that it's only 29¢ a week.
So the cost to protect yourself and your family the first 5 years comes out to about 12¢ a day. Calculate the daily cost over 10 years and you're down to less than 8¢ a day. If you can justify a stick of chewing gum every day, you can justify a CHL.

For me, the question of whether it's constitutional to charge a fee to "grant" a right was settled in 1966 when the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to charge a poll tax to "grant" the right to vote.

Would it be constitutional to require a background check, training, competency test, and a paid fee to obtain a license to criticize a government official? To present a defense if charged with a crime? To keep the police from searching your home without cause or from taking your private property?

"Sorry Sir, you're search and seizure license is expired so we're going to take your car and look around your house to see what else we might want."
"Sorry Sir, you didn't pass the "right to a trial" competency exam so we're just going to sentence you without a trial."
"Sorry Sir, your check bounced for your "freedom of religion license". You won't be able to attend church or pray until you contact your bank."

Either the Second Amendment enumerates a right or it doesn't.