Interest In Concealed Handguns Is On The Rise

kcbd.com ^ | 7/17/07 | NA

[neverdem]

7/17/07
Interest In Concealed Handguns Is On The Rise

Recent violence in Lubbock appears to have sparked a larger interest in concealed handgun licenses, so NewsChannel 11 taking a closer look into what it takes to receive one of those permits.

"The object of carrying a weapon is to prevent things from happening," Beverly Ellis, owner of Gun Shak in southwest Lubbock County said. 

Ellis is also a concealed handgun license instructor.  Before you can get a conceal-carry license from the Department of Public Safety, you'll have to spend hours of class time with her, or at least another instructor like Ellis, and it appears more people in Lubbock are up to the challenge.

"In the last two or three months there's been a much greater interest.  With all the things that have been going on, they just feel like they want to be prepared, in the event that something happens," Ellis said. 

"I am safer," Paul Bean said.

Bean has a conceal-carry permit, and he takes his weapon with him almost everywhere.

"I just feel like citizens have a right to protect themselves and their family and their property," Bean said. 

To carry a gun in public folks must first pass an extensive background check and complete ten hours of training, which includes learning all the laws and safety measures.  They also must demonstrate proficiency with their handgun. But those who carry say there's another step that comes before all of the training.

"You must a have a long, hard talk with yourself and say yes, I am prepared to take someone's life if mine or my family or my friends are in danger, and if you're not prepared to do that, don't get one," Bean said. 

Ellis says some people are taking her course just to learn how to handle a gun for home protection, and not necessarily to carry, so there are different reason why people take the class.

To learn more about getting a concealed handgun permit, click here.

[randog]

"You must a have a long, hard talk with yourself and say yes, I am prepared to take someone's life if mine or my family or my friends are in danger..."

Hmmmm, let me think about thatOK, I'm done--I'm down with that.

[j. earl carter]

My wife and kids or some worthless piece of excrement...gee, let me think about that.

[wjcsux]

People are starting to figure out that calling 911 isn’t going to save you from some low-life POS who is intent on harming you.

[wjcsux]

People are starting to figure out that calling 911 isn’t going to save you from some low-life POS who is intent on harming you.

[papertyger]

Hmmmm, let me think about thatOK, I'm done--I'm down with that.

Not so fast.

This is serious.

Taking a life is something that causes *severe* traumatic stress.

That's why many sensitive, responsible, people choose to be... dead.

[absolootezer0]

in case of emergency, dial 1911

[DeFault User]

On a similar thread there was an old saying from Switzerland...seems to fit the situation.

A man who can't defend himself and his family with a weapon has no honour.

[George from New England]

don’t they out-source the 911 call bureau to India these days?

[garyhope]

At last, some good news.

[Spktyr]

I recently called the Irving, Texas (a large and well funded/equipped suburb of Dallas) 911 line to report a car fire I observed on the freeway.

My first call generated a “number busy” signal. I checked to make sure the message on the cell wasn’t “network busy” and that I hadn’t hit the wrong speeddial button.

My second call got through after ringing quite a few times - to a recording. “You have reached the Irving 911 center. All of our operators are busy right now. Please stay on the line and the next available operator will be with you momentarily.”

About 90 seconds later, I finally got to an operator.

That’s over two minutes *before* I was able to even *begin* to speak to an operator. Imagine if it had been a life-or-death situation. I’ve been in fights that took far, far less time.

911? Yeah, that’s the number for the clean-up squad. Not for emergency protection from others.

[paulcissa]

When my life or the safety of my family is threatened, I’d rather have a gun in my hand than a cop on the phone.

[papertyger]

People are starting to figure out that calling 911 isn’t going to save you from some low-life POS who is intent on harming you.

The sheepdog's PRIMARY job is keeping sheep "in line."

[absolootezer0]

not where i’m at. they WILL however, put you on hold, transfer you multiple times, often back to someone you’ve already spoken to, ask questions, put you on hold, tell you to call non-emergency, then the same person picks it up...

[indiana_gop]

When seconds count, the Police are only minutes away.

[metmom]

bang

[metmom]

So where can we do this in NYS?

[Spktyr]

Donate heavily to political campaigns, you’ll get a permit almost automatically. And by heavily, I mean many thousands of dollars.

Or become a theatre or film star, that will do it.

[paul51]

So where can we do this in NYS?

Your elected officials and LEO don't believe you should have the right to defend yourself.

[Caipirabob]

The best ways to respect laws that infringe upon the 2nd amendment is to ignore them altogether.