CCP == Free Pass?

[DavyRay]

Did any of you see this?

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon.../stories/072010dntexgunpermits.155470533.html

I've gotten the word from some good buddies of mine that law enforcement is starting to view a concealed carry permit as a "good citizen" card. Apparently, the combination of compatible attitudes, and the extensive background checks, make this permit a ticket to law enforcement good favor.

A work buddy was in a traffic stop the other day. It was two days after he got his concealed carry permit. The SHP officer told him that when he presented the card, officers would assume that he was not worthy of further attention.

 

[AndrewWiggin]

I saw a story like this the other day. I'm in Dallas and once I register as a resident here (I'm a student from Alabama) I plan on getting a handgun and the CHL. If it can get me out of any hassles, that's just a bonus.

I really like the Texas CHL program. Not too pricey compared to stricter states, and they actually make sure you know what you're doing. Probably the only form of gun control I'm happy about.

 

[pspdonatelli]

And armed society is a polite society....


What bad guy would want to rob a bank where EVERYONE has a gun?

 

[raisindot]

I read this article as well. It's hilarious! To think that a minister who didn't have a gun would have to stand in line in a security check while a convicted criminal carrying a pistol could bypass all of this is amazing to me.

But let us examine this argument that an armed society is a polite society.

If we assume that gun ownership in Texas is higher than most places in America, we must therefore conclude that Texas cities have significantly lower crime rates than the national average, because criminals would be crazy to attempt crimes knowing that everyone is packin'.

But, according to NeighborhoodScout, nearly every major city in Texas and some of the smaller ones are among the least safe places to live in America, including Dallas, Houson, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and even little Lubbock, home of my idol, Buddy Holly.

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/austin/crime/

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/dallas/crime/

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/houston/crime/

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/san-antonio/crime/

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/lubbock/crime/

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/corpus-christi/crime/


Now, to be fair, my nearby city of Boston is also one of the most dangerous, according to the same site. However, I am far likely to get robbed or killed in any of the above-mentioned Texas towns than I am in Boston.

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ma/boston/crime/

Boston's neighbor city, Cambridge, one of the most hippie-dippie liberal burgs in America and one with a very markedly anti-gun ownership mindset, yet with a socioeconomic makeup very similar to other larger cities, is far less dangerous to live in than any well-armed Texas city.

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ma/cambridge/crime/

In fact, one is far more likely to become a victim of crime in Texas cities than in New York:

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ny/crime/

Chicago

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/il/chicago/crime/

..and those hippie-dippie liberal towns of

Los Angeles

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/los-angeles/crime/

and that most earthy-crunchy, anti-gun town of all, San Francisco.

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/san-francisco/crime/

Don't get me wrong...I believe that responsible people should have the right to purchase firearms, and I'm not arguing for limitations on gun purchases (although I do favor a 15% federal tax on gun purhases, but that's a totally different issue). I may buy one myself one day. But the argument that well-armed societies are low-crime societies simply doesn't hold water.

Jeff in Boston

 

[flylot]

Don't get me wrong...I believe that responsible people should have the right to purchase firearms. May do it myself one day. But the argument that well-armed societies are low-crime societies simply doesn't hold water.

Jeff in Boston

Have you been to Switzerland lately?

 

[Go West Young Man]

The Swiss have an entirely different culture and mindset, their "organized and polite society" far predates gun culture.

 

[ckirk]

the swiss have an entirely different culture and mindset, their "organized and polite society" far predates gun culture.

+1

 

[BrianL]

Arizona's will soon be able to conceal carry without permit with very few restrictions.

 

[Gravy]

I read this article as well. It's hilarious! To think that a minister who didn't have a gun would have to stand in line in a security check while a convicted criminal carrying a pistol could bypass all of this is amazing to me.

How does a convicted criminal w/ a pistol bypass this?
Apparently I'm missing something in the article?

 

[ctr]

I read this article as well. It's hilarious! To think that a minister who didn't have a gun would have to stand in line in a security check while a convicted criminal carrying a pistol could bypass all of this is amazing to me.

But let us examine this argument that an armed society is a polite society.

If we assume that gun ownership in Texas is higher than most places in America, we must therefore conclude that Texas cities have significantly lower crime rates than the national average, because criminals would be crazy to attempt crimes knowing that everyone is packin'.

But, according to NeighborhoodScout, nearly every major city in Texas and some of the smaller ones are among the least safe places to live in America, including Dallas, Houson, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and even little Lubbock, home of my idol, Buddy Holly.

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/austin/crime/

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/dallas/crime/

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/houston/crime/

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/san-antonio/crime/

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/lubbock/crime/

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/corpus-christi/crime/


Now, to be fair, my nearby city of Boston is also one of the most dangerous, according to the same site. However, I am far likely to get robbed or killed in any of the above-mentioned Texas towns than I am in Boston.

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ma/boston/crime/

Boston's neighbor city, Cambridge, one of the most hippie-dippie liberal burgs in America and one with a very markedly anti-gun ownership mindset, yet with a socioeconomic makeup very similar to other larger cities, is far less dangerous to live in than any well-armed Texas city.

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ma/cambridge/crime/

In fact, one is far more likely to become a victim of crime in Texas cities than in New York:

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ny/crime/

Chicago

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/il/chicago/crime/

..and those hippie-dippie liberal towns of

Los Angeles

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/los-angeles/crime/

and that most earthy-crunchy, anti-gun town of all, San Francisco.

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/san-francisco/crime/

Don't get me wrong...I believe that responsible people should have the right to purchase firearms, and I'm not arguing for limitations on gun purchases (although I do favor a 15% federal tax on gun purhases, but that's a totally different issue). I may buy one myself one day. But the argument that well-armed societies are low-crime societies simply doesn't hold water.

Jeff in Boston

NIce try Jeff, but I don't agree with your conclusions, or the data.

The real crime stats are available here at the FBI. 2008 is the latest year that full statistics are available.

 

[elkaholic]

How does a convicted criminal w/ a pistol bypass this?
Apparently I'm missing something in the article?

You didn't miss anything. A convicted criminal would never be allowed a CHL, especially if it was a gun-related crime.

I plan on getting mine as soon as I retire and move back home. Texas seems to be a lot more lenient than some of the western states. In Oregon and Idaho, it is easy to get a concealed carry permit, but you are not allowed to take a weapon into a government building, like the Capitol.

 

[DavyRay]

A long time ago, I heard that Texas was not a plain-carry state. Most non-Texans would assume that a citizen there could walk around with a six-shooter on his belt, in plain view. I heard that was not true. Any Texans here?

 

[BCatl]

I think in my state they passed a law that you can carry a gun into a bar now with a CCP.

I'm a Second Amendment supporter, but this is going too far. I think I'll be doing my drinking at home from now on.

Once the police walk into a shoot out that occurs between a bunch of drunks in a bar a few times, they won't be wild about the CCP so much, or they will put reasonable limits back on them.

 

[dpm802]

The state of UTAH will issue CCW permits to non-residents, subject to meeting certain criteria. You can apply for this permit by mail. They have a reciprocity agreement with 34 other states.


http://www.myutahccw.com/

 

[BCatl]

What worries me is that some of these new suburban gunslingers will think that because they can drive a Mercedes, they can shoot a gun.

So you get in a crowded place, and they all decide to unload on a criminial, and instead of (or in addition to) hitting the criminal, they take out a number of innocent bystanders.

One of those bystanders could be me or mine!

Time will tell how this works out.

 

[psychlopath]

A long time ago, I heard that Texas was not a plain-carry state. Most non-Texans would assume that a citizen there could walk around with a six-shooter on his belt, in plain view. I heard that was not true. Any Texans here?

This is true. In my CCW class, they had said it is no longer legal to carry openly, permit or no.

 

[Gravy]

4 of 5 States have a "shall issue" system for concealed pistol permits. Since this started over 20 yrs. ago and more states adopted this there has been a lot of data collected on those who own permits. I wonder what the data shows now that only a few states are left that don't allow permits? I wonder what the data shows if areas allow people w/ carry permits to avoid congested check points?

From reading the article, it sounds to me they just want people who are legally armed or licensed to go through a different line. They make it sound like a "free pass" but it's probably just a shorter line. Not a big deal.

 

[Agent8426]

I have a different perspective on the origional post.

My experience, from talking with police, is that armed citizens make police nervious. Good guy/bad guy/permit/no permit it does not matter. Knowing that there is a possibility of a weapon in the car puts the police officer on edge.


I personally would not advertise my permit to an officer for the mere fact that it might prolong a stop or add stress to a stressful situation. I of course would comply with state laws regarding the disclosure of a weapon in the vehicle if one were present.

 

[Barcochris]

I think in my state they passed a law that you can carry a gun into a bar now with a CCP.

I'm a Second Amendment supporter, but this is going too far. I think I'll be doing my drinking at home from now on.

Once the police walk into a shoot out that occurs between a bunch of drunks in a bar a few times, they won't be wild about the CCP so much, or they will put reasonable limits back on them.

If you are talking AZ, it is Legal to Carry into a bar with a CCW... but it is ILLEGAL to consume alcohol while carrying.

 

[RayH]

Arizona's will soon be able to conceal carry without permit with very few restrictions.

But I would suggest getting one anyway. It will give you some training and knowledge of the state laws about when and how you can defend yourself with one. With mine, I'm allowed to carry concealed in 33 other states. Big bonus there.