[NGIB]

Currently live just outside Atlanta and it's a fairly gun friendly area with a good selection of ranges and stores. Have my CCW here in GA. Interviewing for a job today in Galveston (I'm civil service) and was just wondering about how gun friendly the area is.

I lived in San Antonio for 10 years, basically the 80s, and it was a gun friendly area. I've got about a 50% chance of getting this position so I'd like to get some feedback on the area if I can. Also, will it be tough to get a Texas permit considering I have my Georgia permit? Thanks in advance... Dave

[OMGWTFBBQ]

For Texas, it's a little anti(though the same can be said about any urban center in any other state), though with the exception of no OC there doesn't seem to be that much of a difference between TX and GA when it comes to what you can do or own gun wise. It isn't that bad, though, I mean their representative in the US house is Ron Paul (http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2006/tst110606.htm).

[nalioth]

It's as gun friendly as the rest of Texas (perhaps discounting some of the newly liberal areas).

Keep in mind that living off the island in Galveston County is cheaper and it's a lot of open countryside.

League City, Texas has the highest CHL to citizen ratio in Texas (this city is in Galveston County).

[Acera]

Good Luck on the Job, hopefully you will be able to return to Texas. We need more responsible gun owners in local governments.

Welcome,

[Mark whiz]

Yeah the mainland is where you want to be. From what I remember of Galveston, the areas that are good are VERY expensive and the rest of the living areas you will NEED a gun to survive. :what: We had to have a police escort for our school buses back in my High School days just to get in and out of Galveston Ball High safely. :scrutiny:

[Rob G]

It's TX man, mostly we're good on guns here. I do agree on living outside Galveston though, much cheaper and slightly better on crime.

As for getting a TX CHL I'm afraid having a current GA CHL won't really help you get one in TX. The upshot is that it's not that hard. In a nutshell you need:

1. $250 (approx.)
2. 10 hours free for the course (basically all day saturday)
3. A gun of atleast .380 caliber
4. The ability to hit the broadside of a barn with it
5. Clean record
6. Lots of patience, can take a few months for them to process you after you finish the course

Good luck with the job!

[skinewmexico]

Only problem with gun ownership attitudes in Texas is that all the major metropolitan areas are being overrun by outsiders (almost said Yankees), who bring their liberal agendas with them.

[lanternlad1]

"Only problem with gun ownership attitudes in Texas is that all the major metropolitan areas are being overrun by outsiders (almost said Yankees), who bring their liberal agendas with them."

True, but the less populated areas still have the right idea, and there are more politically minded people from those areas than the cities. Thats why things aren't so bad. I'm in Houston, and the cops here don't have any problem with CCW or self-defense shootings. I just came back from Midland, (west Tx for those who don't know) and the gun community is even stronger there. Austin/DFW are the not so gun-friendly areas, but everything else is fine. Galveston proper is run by anti's (as was told to me by a Galveston FFL) so much so that guns are not available to be bought on the island.

[mordechaianiliewicz]

Virtually all of TX is pro-gun. Outside of DFW, and Houston, you don't really encounter anti-gunners that often.

[vzenmn]

If you get the job I would highly recommend you do what every sane person does and get a home on the mainland around Texas City, La marque, or if you like a little country you could do the Hitchcock or Santa Fe area. All are a short drive from Galveston and every thing is cheaper.

As far as gun shops Galveston, it is rather slim. There is Academy which has a poor selection of ammo and no pistols,several pawn shops, and Combat Arms of Texas. There is one shooting range
http://www.galvestonrifleandpistolclub.com/

The longest range is 100 yds and has a pistol, plinking which is rather small and you can only use handguns and rimfire, rifle, and shotgun sections. I go there and it is a rather nice range with good people there. The only problem is that there is a unknown rambo wantabee who keeps shooting off the target stand legs and and tearing out the center of the target backboards with a shotgun at close range.:cuss:
I live in Texas City and there are two gunshops and a range in a 3 mile radius from where I live. The range there is pretty nice with a 25 yard pistol and a hundred yard rifle range (if anyone knows of a range over a hundred yards around here please tell me) but is crowded most of the time and it seems like every time I decide to go there they are close for police qualifications.

Good luck with the job.

[NGIB]

1. $250 (approx.)
2. 10 hours free for the course (basically all day saturday)
3. A gun of atleast .380 caliber
4. The ability to hit the broadside of a barn with it
5. Clean record
6. Lots of patience, can take a few months for them to process you after you finish the course


Wow, in GA I paid $43, got fingerprinted, and waited 67 days. The interview went well but who knows how well - I hate phone interviews. I've started to look at home prices on the mainland and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than it is here. Thanks for all the info folks, should know in a few weeks if I'll be a Texan again. At least I still have the Texas twang and "Howdy" is still my standard greeting...

[Halo]

Only problem with gun ownership attitudes in Texas is that all the major metropolitan areas are being overrun by outsiders (almost said Yankees), who bring their liberal agendas with them.

The same thing has been happening in NC for quite a while now too. You know, I really don't mind people who come South to get away from cesspools, but I do wish they'd have enough sense to not immediately start trying to turn their adopted homes into replicas of what they left behind.

[wdlsguy]

A Texas permit is more expensive than a Georgia permit, but the list of places where it's unlawful to carry is a lot shorter in Texas.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USOffLimitsA-M.pdf
http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USOffLimitsN-W.pdf

[nalioth]

(if anyone knows of a range over a hundred yards around here please tell me)

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=4151759&postcount=2

This place is an outdoor range and goes past 100yd (can't remember how deep it goes, but its definitely 200yards or better).

[langenc]

"A Texas permit is more expensive than a Georgia permit, but the list of places where it's unlawful to carry is a lot shorter in Texas."

We shouldnt have to buy our way in 'places'. yuk

[Wombat]

6. Lots of patience, can take a few months for them to process you after you finish the course


I seem to recall when I got my CHL that there is a 60 day maximum limit within which the State has to respond to your application. They didn't beat it by much, but at 60 days I was good to pack.

One advantage of Galveston and nearby areas is that it is possible for mere mortals to own ocean- or canal-front property. That is a pretty scarce commodity around Atlanta, at least until the Category 14 hurricane hits. ;)

[Rob G]

I seem to recall when I got my CHL that there is a 60 day maximum limit within which the State has to respond to your application

True enough but they're allowed up to 180 if they have any "questions" about your application.

Mainly though I'm just an impatient guy, in my original homestate of PA the whole process is less than a week start to finish and far less painful than TX's procedure. I wish they'd do it the same way down here.

[wdlsguy]

in my original homestate of PA the whole process is less than a week start to finish and far less painful than TX's procedure.

Yeah, but the PA license doesn't exempt you from the NICS check when purchasing a firearm. ;)

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/bradylaw/permit_chart.htm

[DFW1911]

Also, will it be tough to get a Texas permit considering I have my Georgia permit?

I second Rob G's reply. It is a pretty time-consuming process but worth the wait.

If we have reciprocity w/ GA you should be able to carry while your application is being processed - but you'll want to verify this. I was able to keep my permit from another state since I still own a home there and spend a significant amount of time visiting / conducting business there.

Welcome to Texas!

Take care,
DFW1911

[NGIB]

Found out today that these folks have called 2 of my old bosses which is a good sign. Looks like I'm a step closer to being a Texan again.

Just checked and my CCW is good in every state I'd have to drive thru between GA and TX and Texas does honor the Georgia permit. I would to check of course to see if I could use my current permit to carry until my Texas permit came in.

They appear to be moving pretty quickly so I may know by next week if I'm headed west...

[skinewmexico]

You know, I really don't mind people who come South to get away from cesspools, but I do wish they'd have enough sense to not immediately start trying to turn their adopted homes into replicas of what they left behind.

Amen brother. I think they're morons.

[Rob G]

Yeah, but the PA license doesn't exempt you from the NICS check when purchasing a firearm.


True enough wdlsguy but that law is in the works right now and very likely to pass, along with Castle Doctrine. I love my new home of TX but I'm awfully proud that my old home is kicking butt in the pro-gun-law department. Hopefully their good works will spread to neighboring states.

[The_Shootist]

Well I've lived on the Island for 10 years with no problems, then again thats about the same length of time I've had my Tx CHL.

I agree though for general shooting and buying Texas City is better, but thats just 15 min across the causeway. Go over there every weekend or two to shoot and have bought all of my firearms in Tx City.

Its better to live here than Austin or Dallas.

[Big Daddy K]

I know where you can by a canal house near San Loise Pass, Surf Side side.:D

[Nicolai]

You might want to browse through the Texas CHL Forum at http://www.texaschlforum.com/
Lots of posts on CHL application process, places to shoot, and others too numerous to mention.
Good luck with your job search.