Concealed carry apps. up 40% over last yr. in Texas...

[SteveM]

http://www.keyetv.com/content/news/topnews/story.aspx?content_id=770446b9-b4d3-4c61-a3fa-50ae73f615f0

From the above link:

"There's a few diehard Republicans who think if a Democrat gets in office then it may be more difficult to have their own handgun," says Matt Billingsley with Lone Star Gun Range. "But I think that's a minor part of it. I think they're starting to realize they have to take care of themselves."

Another take:

"People are not sure what's going to happen after the election," said Bransford, who owns Austin-based CHL-Texas.com. "Both Democratic candidates are anti-gun in one fashion or another."

He said Sen. Barack Obama, who is leading the race for the nomination, is a "friend of (Democratic Senator) Ted Kennedy, and that scares everybody to death."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5762984.html

The Houston Chronicle article cites the presidential campaign as one reason among many; the local Austin "KEYE TV" interviews an area firearms instructor who provides a more prosaic reason. If you Google up similar abbreviated stories by AP (the edition used most frequently) it mentions the presidential race as the chief reason. Considerable differences in reporting.

[spin]

1. Getting an concealed permit is always a good idea...

even if you don't plan to carry.

1) If you have a firearm in your vehicle, it reassures the cop that pulls you over on a traffic stop that you're a good guy.

2)A CCW permit makes buying a firearm easier. In Florida the three day waiting period is replaced by a phone call if you have a permit.

3) You have to take a firearms training course if you have no prior military experience. A course is always a good idea. Too many people, who have little or no knowledge of firearms, purchase a weapon for self defense. Some don't even know how to load or unload their weapon. Such people are accidents waiting to happen.

Most courses require you to fire at least a few rounds through your firearm to prove minimum proficiency. Try to find an instructor who teaches a more in depth class that will require you to shoot 50 or so rounds at different ranges. A good instructor can teach you a lot about accurate shooting. The more familiar you are with your weapon, the more confident and capable you will act in a real life confrontation with a bad guy. This may save your life as he will be less likely to attempt to grab your weapon. He may even decide to run, which means you don't have to fire a shot. No one gets hurt. All is well that ends well.

Realize that watching Hollywood action films will not teach you anything about how to handle a weapon or how to shoot. The experience you gain from these films is like watching a karate or judo flick and thinking you can use the techniques you watched in a real life fight.

4)If you ever feel that your life is in danger, you can just start carrying your weapon without having to wait for your permit.

5) If you have a concealed carry permit, you may be grandfathered in and be able to keep your license even if more restrictive laws are passed.

‘‘ the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation (where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.’’
— James Madison, Federalist, No. 46.

[jody]

2. Now that BO has the nomination locked up, his past history associating with gun-grabbers will be

used against him non-stop.

The only thing that might, just might save him is if says "I promise to veto every bill that comes to me as president that infringes upon the natural, inherent, inalienable right of law-abiding citizen to keep and bear arms for self-defense."