10 Points On Concealed Carry

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As an outdoors journalist of 28 years (started when I was 19), I have seen many changes in gun laws, gun culture and have heard every conceivable argument for and against concealed carry.

I would like to take this space to shoot from the hip so to speak to take down some misconceptions and perhaps start conversations on this important and serious issue.

Point #1: To reiterate my opening statements, the blessing of having carry options in Texas is that we are going against the grain of many states. On top of concealed and open carry we now have campus carry which in a world where college shootings seemingly happen on a monthly basis, there will now be a balancing factor at hand.

Point #2: Concealed carry hasn’t made Texas “the wild West” as anti-gunners always claimed it would and neither will open carry. There will certainly be a more “interesting” period of adjustment to open carry but it will become part of the culture and will certainly not contribute to any more shoot-outs than we already have. In fact, it will likely contribute to fewer.

Point #3: Those planning to start carrying for the first time would do best to go with something they can easily handle and maneuver. A .38 special revolver is a good option for first timers and also for ladies who might not feel comfortable with a semi-automatic or larger caliber. It might not be the flavor of the week but it will get the job done.

Point #4: According to the National Institute of Justice is is estimated that the percentage of completed or attempted rape victimization among women in higher educational institutions may be between 20 and 25 percent over the course of a college career. However less than five percent of rape victims report the crime. Additional studies shows that freshman and sophomores are more likely to be raped than juniors and seniors.

The bad guys always go after the most vulnerable.

This statistic alone should have us considering getting our daughters and granddaughters trained with a handgun and licensed to carry. There are many handguns and holsters designed with a woman’s touch so this would be a great starting point of conversation with a young girl.

As a father, I would certainly rather get the call saying my daughter shot a guy who tried to rape her than she is in the hospital after a rape. I know you would too.

Point #5:Training is important. Being proficient with your weapon is crucial as being able to draw and fire it under a high stress situation puts you in the zone to make mistakes.

No one wants to have to use their weapon but it is certainly better than getting killed by a maniac. Someone with a cool head and who is competent in the mechanics of their handgun and in shooting in different situations will fare better than others.

Point #6: An article on politifact.com cites some interesting statistics on violent crime in Texas since concealed carry went into play in 1996.

“From the CDC, we found reports online covering 1996-2010, drawn from death certificate information reported by medical professionals and coroners, and we got 1996-2012 data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, most recently updated Sept. 16, 2013, with information on murders and other crimes known to law enforcement agencies.”

“By the CDC tally, the rate of firearms homicides in Texas 1996-2010 fell 32.2 percent. Calculating with the FBI data for 1996-2012, the rate fell 42 percent.”

Point 7: A poll conducted by usacarry.com gleaned some interesting facts about preferred concealed carry calibers. The 9mm was first with 39 percent, .45 ACP with 29, .40 S&W had 25 percent, .380 had 13 percent and .38 special had five. A variety of other calibers had much lower favorable ratings

Point #8: Carrying is not just about protecting oneself from muggers, murderers and rapists. It can help save you from animal attack.

A few years back I used my concealed handgun to defend myself from a pit bull attack. Dog attacks are increasingly common in Texas and I daresay you have a better chance fighting off a knife-wielding mugger than rabid Rottweiler, pit or other big, powerful dog.

Point #9: It is crucial to educate children about firearms, especially those in your home and vehicle. Kids are naturally curious and should know that firearms are not to be feared but that they should also not be handled without an adult around for supervision.

Make sure and drill into their heads that they should assume any gun is loaded. As we all unfortunately know, many have been killed by “unloaded” guns.

Point #10: It’s better to have the option to defend yourself or our family than to wish you had that option when it’s crunch time. Carrying can save lives.

Texas has a rich history of gun culture and with the advent of social we have many so called “experts” running around espousing their techniques, opinions, etc. Carrying isn’t about being macho. It is not about a political statement. It is about defending life and therefore we should take it very seriously.

We at Texas Fish & Game are dedicated to providing monthly features like our Dept. of Defense and continuing coverage of the latest in firearms news. Fish and game are our forte but we have long recognized the importance of not only firearms but the right to keep and bear them.

God bless the great state of Texas!

Chester Moore, Jr.

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4 Comments

  1. Buck Burr says:

    It is always a good idea to be armed in the wild or in town .I have been attacked by wild dogs & wild men . The Us should pass a law requiring all law abiding citizens to own & know how to use a fire arm. We could be speaking Japanese today if it had not been for the enemy knowing we had armed citizens .

  2. John Keedy says:

    Good article. Too bad it was finished with Buck’s comments.

    First, Buck states he has been attacked by MULTIPLE wild dogs and wild men! Amazing. BUCK, you should consider a lifestyle change.

    Second, it’s obvious Buck doesn’t know much about the United States. If you want a gun, fine. But the idea that the government would REQUIRE anyone to own a gun is repulsive. Not a dictatorship, Buck.

    Finally, The idea that private gun ownership kept the Japanese from taking over our country is simply a ridiculous statement.

    Perhaps you should gather your thoughts before writing. Follow Chester’s lead of writing an insightful column.

  3. Howard Hashida says:

    “Carrying isn’t about being macho. It is not about a political statement.” = Personal belief only, not a reality. Why is it necessary to carry an AR15? And without any certified training? Defense against gang rape or a pack of 10+ dogs? Both are contradictions to the author’s points. While the points are valid, there really isn’t any discussion to be had as both sides are intractably planted. The only fully inalienable right to the gun rights lobby is the “right” to carry/own any type guns, opposed by the other zero guns side. I’m somewhere in the middle. Heck, how can someone be against AR15 ownership when .50 cals are legal?

  4. Pete says:

    Good article with many good points to consider.

    As for some of the previous comments: There are historical accounts that the Japanese did consider the fact that America citizens were armed. It was a concern. It obviously was not the only consideration. You have to admit that American citizens are different than many others in the world. Our culture of self reliance and self protection are bred from our history. I have many friends in Europe and their attitude towards defending themselves is definitely different.

    There is at least one county in Europe that requires their citizens to own a firearm. They are not a dictatorship. As the progressives constantly chip away at out constitutional rights, the conservatives only play defense constantly giving in a little at a time. Would it be a good strategy to propose a more offensive strategy? When they propose taking something away they propose additional rights?

    I’m not sure that concealed carry is about making a political statement. I am a law abiding citizen. I am a retired emergency responder and carry routinely almost everywhere allowed. As the overwhelming majority of CHL holders I am a “good guy” (A CHL ID Card is routinely considered or nicknamed a “good guy card”). Frankly carrying concealed is somewhat of a burden. It can be uncomfortable, you have to consider keep it concealed as I have no desire to alarm anyone. However, I actually feel an obligation to carry. I constantly consider how bad I would feel if I needed it to protect my family or someone else in a terrible situation. For this reason I carry. I have had to branish the weapon on at least two occasions to warn off certain trouble. Once in town and once at a rest stop while traveling through West Texas. By doing so no issue occurred and the threat decided to move on. My wife also carries and has been concerned at night when traveling or in a downtown parking lot where she ensures her hand is on the pistol hidden in her purse.

    Finally, an AR15 is just another rifle. Frankly it is a low caliber rifle (There is a common debate on whether it is even ethical to use for deer hunting. I use it for hog hunting only). It just happens to be semi-automatic as it can shoot multiple rounds without reloading. It requires no more specific training than any other specific rifle. I also believe its a good self-defense weapon, even for the home. It is light and easy to carry for just about anyone. As with any rifle, you have to consider how far the projectile will travel or penetrate a wall. Depending on where you live (densely populated area), it may not be the best choice for an apartment or townhouse. I live in a rural area and consider it a good choice as besides a bad guy we have an occasion for having issues with wildlife and wild dogs.

    As always, its great to be able to live in a county that we can share thoughts freely. Thanks again for another good article.