Gun Laws in Texas

[The Texan]

I already own a 12 gauge remington pump shotgun and a 243 bolt action rifle both of which were gifts from my dad since we are avid hunters but if I go thru with the CHL I think I was already thinking of what Tiger suggested just a 9mm of some kind or maybe even a 45.. but, im to poor to buy the license,gun and a gun safe so I would have to think of another safe way to keep it away from drunk roomates or whoever. We have parties at the apt every now and then and drunk people and guns definately dont mix.

[Tiger Shark]

and then and drunk people and guns definately dont mix.

Then how are you keeping the shotgun and rifle from them now?

Frankly, they can have free access to the weapons themselves any time they like... They make wonderful clubs... It's the access to the ammunition and the trigger than can be easily controlled... If they can't get to ammo easily or if they bring it to the apartment they find a solid trigger lock and no hope of finding the key then the weapons are still just a club... even if they are loaded...

Guns are not hammers... They require several items to make them work in the fashion they were designed to. Absence of any renders them "harmless"... Like fire... It requires fuel, heat and oxygen... Without all three it isn't fire... Same with a gun, it needs three things, (the weapon intact, the ammo and the ability to **** it or pull the trigger). If any are missing it's just a hammer...

[The Texan]

I have a fail safe system to keep my rilfe and shotgun away from hands over than my own.... Keep them in my parents gun safe

[Tiger Shark]

So... You have to leave your apt. Run over to your dad's place, get your gun, ammo and unlock the weapon, return home and confront the invader....

Suggestion...

Leave the apartment, run to your dad's place, pick up phone and call 911...

You're safer that way unless you are prepared to get involved in combat shooting...

Tex: That isn't a criticism of you or the thought that you may not be safe and capable... It's called "a good idea"... Avoid the issue if you can... It's only if you can't avoid it and can't win that it becomes an issue.

I can own a weapon... practically any weapon I like... and I can handle them and use them effectively and safely in stressful situations... But I don't. I have lived in/around some of the "funner" areas the USA has to offer in my 18 years here and have never felt the need to have a gun... Others may differ... But _I_ didn't... I live in a nice safe area andhavedone for the last 13 years - but there is always the chance a moron might decide to make it unsafe... He'd get a shock when he realizes what I can still use as a weapon... and I do think about what I can use, where they are and how I would use them - often... and they are the most innocuous things until they are "presented" in an inappropriate fashion... But yes, there will come a time where I need the "advantage"... and I will get a gun... until then, my wits will serve me well... and save those around me from the stress of a weapon in the house that is probably unecessary...

[The Texan]

Well Tiger I appreciate your thoughts and concerns as well as everyone's else and I will definately "look at the whole picture" so to speak before I make a final decision to get a CHL or not. another aspect of all this is money which I dont have alot of lol. It is quite expensive ( 140 bucks for the CHL plus you have to pay for the cert class then a gun and ammo)

[ZomBieMann77]

Point taken on the 9mm versus the #7 birdshot. and barrel length. I have allways lived in fairly large spaces so that wouldnt have been an issue for me. IE I hadnt thought about that. I just know a lot of people who thought they were going to buy a gun to defend thier home so they went out and bought a SKS 7.62 or AR-15 5.56. Not realizing they could end up doing more harm than good.

On a side note when you finaly do purchase your weapon take it to a range with a couple boxes of bullets. Make sure you follow the recomended "break in" procedure for your weapon. For example most manufacturers recomend shooting a number rounds, cleaning the weapon, shoot more rounds, clean again so on and so forth. When you are done clean it real good and put it away. Leave it where its supposed to be. Take it out about once a month and fire off a box or so of rounds. Last i checked around here a box of 9mm cost about $20. Keep yourself familiar with your weapon. And for petes sake keep it clean. But dont over clean it.

On another side not: Browning makes good guns but I am a HUGE Sig Arms fan.

[Relyt]

Well Tex,

Listen closely to the wise counsel that has been provided. Be sure of your target before you clear leather because once the firing pin strikes the primer the bullet will exit the weapon in the direction it is pointed.

cheers

[Tiger Shark]

It occurs to me that you have been given plenty of advice regarding when to shoot but not how...

The first thing you need to be aware of is that you will be heavily stressed. This causes rapid breathing and rapid breathing is one of the most common reasons for errant shooting. You have already been advised to try to control it in order to "slow things down"... When you are ready to fire you need to work even harder on it.

Secondly, this isn't hunting or target shooting. We're not looking for a nice group or a headshot. We want death or disability... Nothing less is acceptable. So, the rule is aim for the center of the largest part of the exposed target. You want hits. In circumstances where the intruder is coming up the stairs his head will expose first. Depending on range you might want to wait a second or two until the chest exposes to give yourself a better chance of hitting.

Thirdly, firing a double tap, (two rounds in rapid succession), at ranges between 3-7 yards, (10 to 20'), will usually result in the second round impacting between 5" and 10" higher and 2" to 6" to the right of the first round. Thus you cause a little "spread" that can accommodate some inaccuracy and will become very important for the next item. Lastly, concentrating on, and practicing, double taps will prevent you from firing wildly and wasting ammo.

Many of the home invasion events take place at night. Due to the nature of the human eye we have a tendency to fire low at night, (it's a rods and cones thing). Thus, double tapping helps correct that issue without you having to think about making corrections in a stressful situation. NOTE: Many ranges will not allow you to practice double taps... I have no clue why. Find one that does and practice it.

So... You have done _everything_ right... You are hitting the target but he still keeps coming, (a druggie or there are multiple "bogeys"). You have a problem... Come to the standing position and withdraw such that your back is to a wall - better yet in a corner. Once the closest target is at 6' withdraw the weapon placing the butt of the grip in your kidney with the weapon on it's side. This protects the weapon and it is on it's side for two reasons. Firstly, we aren't aiming any more - it's instinct now. Secondly, it's on it's side to keep it's moving parts away from any loose clothing... We don't want to jam it with that nightshirt the GF gave you to keep you warm now do we? As you withdraw the weapon extend your other arm out forwards at shoulder height to keep the intruder away from you. Turn from the waist if you have to turn keeping the arm extended and the butt in your kidney. Done right the weapon will always point where your extended arm is pointing. Shoot when you feel you need to.

Practice, practice, practice counting your rounds as you fire them. The dead man's click is not a sound you want to hear. Don't try to be clever and count down. In a stressful situation it is much easier than you think to lose count if you go downwards. Every time you are on the range count your rounds until it becomes second nature.

If you are being crowded by a target that will not fall then with your last round you need to get "fancy"... This is the _only_ time you would ever try for a specifically "aimed" shot though it isn't aimed per se.... Take your extended arm and place your hand in the invaders face with the heel of your hand on/under his chin as you advance forwards as if you are trying to push him back. As you do this, using the extended arm as a guide, bring the weapon up to the wrist of the extended arm aligned with the arm. The muzzle of the weapon should now be pointing slightly upwards under the chin of the invader. DO NOT press the muzzle of a semi automatic pistol against the invader's throat in the hope of being more accurate. Most semi auto pistols have a safety mechanism where, if the muzzle is pushed against something, the slide will give about 1/4" preventing the hammer from striking the pin. You really don't want this mechanism to engage now. The action needs to be carried out simultaneously. The extended arm is intended to distract his attention from the weapon coming up to his throat. The intent of the shot is to send the round slightly upwards through the center of the throat where the chin and throat join. The round should pass through there into the Medulla Oblongata, (the brain stem where the involuntary systems such as breathing, heartbeat etc. are controlled from). It is the place that _should_ drop the invader immediately and silently - it's also the method used with a knife for a silent and quick kill. The angle of this shot from the aimed location is the path which has the least protection for the Medulla so it is almost always effective. If you screw up then remember what I said in a previous post... You have a weapon with no rounds... But it makes a good club...