The Test:

CHL Shooting Distances

The CHL Shooting test is fired at three distances: 3 yards – 20 rounds fired 7 yards – 20 rounds fired 15 yards – 10 rounds fired The majority of students pass the proficiency test when they have completed shooting at 3 and 7 yards. CHL Shooting Proficiency Test Scoring

5 points – shots fired in the X, 10, 9, & 8 rings 4 points – shots fired in the 7 ring 3 points – shots fired outside the 7 ring but on the silhouette 0 points – shots fired outside the silhouette or off the target paper Shots that hit just outside the ring but break the line count as the higher score

CHL Passing Score

The Texas CHL shooting test passing score is 175 points out of 250 points or a score of 70%. The state allows for three chances to pass the shooting test.

Here is my story in Texas a few months ago. I did a class with about 30 people and one instructor. Each of us did the practical in groups of 10. The first group had 2 young guys, very nice but you could tell they were buddies and not a lot of instruction or gun safety.

Group 1: The instructor warned them at least 3 times for painting others while reloading and putting their guns away, fingers on triggers, etc. Not on purpose, just not understanding or having understood or been taught gun safety before. They were quite proud of their shooting and they passed but I wouldn't have let a soul see my target if it looked either one of theirs. picture shotgun with bird shot from about 50 yards.

Group 2 (My group): This was terrible and I felt so sorry for the instructor. Lane 1: Little old lady who was very nice and talked and talked and talked. Lane 3: late 20's woman with 9mm gun and .40 caliber ammo. Yikes Lane 10: late 40's woman with a gun she had never shot before that day.

Lane 1: Little old lady barely passed the practical. I mean by 2 points with a lot of shots missing the entire target even from 3-7 yards. I don't think she hit the target more than once or twice from 15. Passed by 2 points. Seriously.

Lane 3: 9mm ammo was found and given to the young lady after she had painted all of us a few times with finger on trigger with the .40 ammo. She did shoot pretty well though but her husband had to help her with the gun a few times who was in Lane 2 as she didn't know how to load/clear gun.

Lane 10: Gun jammed every 2nd shot. I mean every second shot. She didn't know how to clear it properly although she didn't paint anyone that I could see. Instructor couldn't get gun to work either but it was obvious this was the very first time the gun had ever been fired was that day and then she told us all it was. This took forever to get the group through with this kind of problem.

I felt terrible for the instructor and I am willing to bet he was glad to get rid of my group. I passed easily and nothing outside of the black. Could have been better but a respectful 244 and with this much distraction and watching my left and right the whole time I was ok with it.

I believe that people should not be allowed to pass with so little knowledge of how to use a gun, how to handle a gun, no gun safety knowledge and in the case of the little old lady shoot so poorly. Given the score you much achieve, I could have shot over my shoulder backwards with a mirror and still passed easily. I am not sure I couldn't shoot blindfolded to score at least 70% with those distances.

My other point is, a CHL class is not where you start and it should never ever be your first class in firearms and learning how to shoot. You are a liability to not only yourself in a situation but in the case of the little old lady, anyone downrange including her little old husband. The bad guy might be the safest one there. Its taken me a few months to calm down about it but wanted to share. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE CHL/LTC CLASS UNTIL YOU ARE PROFICIENT WITH NOT ONLY THE FIREARM BUT ALSO GUN SAFETY AND YOU TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF UNDERSTANDING HOW TO USE, CLEAN AND HANDLE THE GUN RESPONSIBLY. I DON'T CARE IF THE STATE DOESN'T DEMAND IT, DO IT BECAUSE ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

Ok....thanks for reading my rant. Edit: see my additional comments below.

I guess here is my point. I welcome comments and opinions. If this is a consistent theme then we are NOT helping the cause against the people who want to ban guns in the US and especially CCW. I believe our rights are important and I fully support the 2nd Amendment and 100% against Hillary/Feinsteins attempt to ban guns or at the very least make them so expensive that none of us can afford them or carry them. But I also believe that this comes with responsibility and responsibility comes with training, practice and knowledge. Everytime someone does something stupid like break a law, shoot someone accidentally, engage inappropriately, collateral damage, etc. it plays right into the Left wings agenda to ban guns. These examples are used as marketing backup as to why they should win the election and pass laws against guns. Isn't it important that all of us set some reasonable standards that are expected so that the few don't jeopardize the rights of the vast majority of all of us? Isn't it reasonable to expect some proficiency and knowledge so its not used against us? I believe the overwhelming majority of us are actively doing this but there are some that simply aren't interested in learning further or practicing and becoming proficient and when those people have an negative event, it is used against all of us. Thoughts?