Eagerness to shoot ...

j1132s · Post by **j1132s** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:40 pm

Its been almost a year since I took my CHL new permit class, and I still can't forget the questions my fellow classmates asked during class... and the impression I got from them.

Those questions all centered around "when can I shoot" and always related to something minor (IMHO) like "if some guy steals my TV". And a great many of these questions. I can understand the need to ask questions since the use of deadly force is a serious topic, but the examples in the questions are so trivial (again, IMHO).

When I came home after the class, I remember telling my wife that my fellow classmates were not only ready to shoot but seem quite eager to. I told her that I fear that my classmates may be looking for ways to shoot people.

This was a class of 20 people and I remember over half seems to be looking for ways to shoot. I actually felt uncomfortable in the class w/ them and was glad none of them is armed (yet).

What was your class /classmates like ?

propellerhead · Post by **propellerhead** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:52 pm

My instructor described a scenario where someone is stealing your car and is backing out of your driveway. The suspect is still on your property. You come running out, weapon drawn and you order him to stop. He continues to back up. Do you shoot? Many said yes. They said it was preventing the theft. I didn't answer. I wasn't sure.

In the end, the advise was not to shoot. You life isn't threatened. Property can be replaced. It will be far cheaper to deal with your insurance company than to defend yourself in court. Almost all shootings (justified or not) are followed by a lawsuit.

Our class wasn't of the type looking for reasons to shoot. Fortunately, most in my class were there to learn the laws.

j1132s · Post by **j1132s** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:58 pm

Almost all shootings (justified or not) are followed by a lawsuit.

The lawsuit part wasn't mentioned much (if at all) in my class. We were mainly stuck in the details of if the shoot's justified or not.

Actually my class was very different than my wife's class (w/ different instructor at different facility). In her class, nobody asked any questions.
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pfgrone · Post by **pfgrone** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 2:18 pm

If you follow several of the handgun related forums, you may find it frightening that quite a few posters who are into guns seem to also be angry people.

Now, me, I have always been a laid back, mild mannered and serene person - that is, until I had to start waiting past 60 days on DPS to approve my CHL application.

Paul

seamusTX · Post by **seamusTX** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 2:48 pm

pfgrone wrote:If you follow several of the handgun related forums, you may find it frightening that quite a few posters who are into guns seem to also be angry people.

Yeah. I wish they would go away, because they give the rest of us a bad image.

I think some of them are phonies -- teenagers, probably. If the others act in real life the way they do online, they're on their way to finding themselves in a place where the pistols are on the guards' hips and the rifles are in the towers.

- Jim

nitrogen · Post by **nitrogen** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:04 pm

I remember there were 2 stereotypical "rednecks" in my class.
Every time the instructor asked a situational question, these "larry the cable guy wannabes" answered with, "I'd probably shoot 'em."

After the lunch break, they did not return. I'm guessing they were kicked out or convinced not to return.

oilman · Post by **oilman** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:30 pm

The guy in my class who did the most talking failed the shooting portion of the test. Generally seemed to be a decent level headed bunch of guys.

bauerdj · Post by **bauerdj** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:28 am

My class was very poorly done. It consisted of watching tapes with a quick "any questions" at the end of each tape segment. Very little discussion. The person owning the facility did mention to me later that it was the first time that instructor taught the class and he would have to spend some time with her about how to run it in the future. (instuctor was his daughter)

Dave B.

jbirdswife · Post by **jbirdswife** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 6:27 pm

My class was GREAT! I took the class from our own El Gato at the beginning of June and he took care of everything. . . fingerprinting, photographs, notary, and he looked over all of our stuff to make sure it had been done correctly. All I had to do when I got home was finish filling out the yellow form and mail it off to Austin. It was received and I have my PIN, but still have awhile to wait for the license.

The others in the class were a mix of new licenses and renewals (in the morning) and seemed to be nice people. We also talked mostly about the law and that deadly force should ALWAYS be a last resort. There were 5 other women in the class, which was nice too. We asked a lot of questions and talked through a lot of scenarios which made the 10 hour day not seem quite so long.

Considering that I don't have the new license yet, I know I have quite awhile, but I will definitely take the same class for my renewal.

Kimberly

nuparadigm · Post by **nuparadigm** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:32 pm

I never had to take the class in order to obtain my CHL, but some of the people described above (by pfgrone, j1132s, and others) are absolutely scary individuals. The overly-egar-to-know-when-they-can-shoot are solid proof that the State of Texas can issue a license, but issuing common sense is beyond the competence of the State.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:14 am

With reguards to shooting... it can be a fine line that you need to walk. Obviously it's important to avoid shooting if you can. But lots of people talk big, but can't do it when they need to for real.