Texas CHL's on the Rise

[The_Shootist]

Evidence is sort of anecdotal but I was at the range today, doing my best to put a dent in this 9x18 case of ammo for my Bulgy Mak. Rangemaster mentions casually that Tom (one of the local CHL instructors) is running class later with about 6 students this week.

I noted that it sounded like business is good and the rangemaster agreed. That had been the trend since after Christmas - more people in the local CHL classes, more guys coming out to the range.

He basically (and I agreed with him) that the recent crime wave in the Houston-Galveston area has people spooked (courtesy of the Katrina evacuees). He even mentioned that the odd Galveston cop who comes to the range has seen an uptick in gun related stuff and some local Houston cops that practice there have said the same thing - more local gun violence in the area since Sept.

Basically people are spooked about the crime wave and are scurrying to defend themselves. Either they are practicing more (and today WAS kinda crowded in both rifle and pistol sections on an otherwise miserable day).

I know myself I no longer carry my SP 101 on even short hops - its always at least my Mak with 3 mags and I'm thinking pretty soon I'll start carrying my G19 with 3 standard caps. Just seems like locally, the probability of facing 2-3 or more opponents has gone up.

 

[geekWithA.45]

Yup. It's a consistent phenomena.

When danger rears it's ugly head, Americans go gun shopping.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I wish everyone that says they want a license would get off their butts and do it.

Where are you shooting around Galveston?

I flew out of Galveston for years (PHI) and went to the range West of the airport a few times.

 

[Standing Wolf]

The wise are ahead of the violent crime trends.

 

[rhubarb]

From the Department of Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/demographics.htm

As I remember, the previous info posted about total Texas CHLs listed about 225,000 total in the state and now it shows 247,345. Nearly 10% increase in a year. Good.

I was bemused by the license breakdown by age. Below is a chart I made with the info from the website. The numbers shown are raw numbers of how many people each age from 21-100 have CHLs. The highest number of concealed handgun licenses are held by 58 year old Texans. As you can see, from the age of 21 to 58, there are steady increases in the number of licensees. From 58 on, there is a steady decline. There is one 100-year-old CHL holder in Texas.

I would surmise that the steady decrease in licenses held by those older than 58 is likely due to mortality. Attrition to old age. It would seem to follow then, that with the declining real population as you go up in age among seniors, the ratio of CHL holders would go up compared to the younger population.

All this to say: Don't mess with Texas geezers!