State of Texas Concealed Handgun License

01/30/2018

Had a great day at the gun range yesterday. Hadn’t gone by myself to just shoot and relax in a long time. Six shots at 50 yards with iron sites. It was a great start. Been so busy teaching others I almost forgot how much fun some me alone time on the range is. If you haven’t done it, go do it.

10/04/2017

I am not normally political online, however, today I am.

The recent reaction to the shooting with regards to Gun Control shows the ugly side of Liberal RACISM.

Let me explain why.

What happened in Las Vegas is a complete and utter tragedy. It was perpetrated by PURE EVIL. We must do what we can to prevent things like that from happening without trampling our constitutional rights. My heart and prayers go out to the families and victims.

There is an outrage today by politicians and the media that want what they call, “Common Sense Gun Control,” because of the Las Vegas Shooting. These upset and angered anti-gun people are mostly democrats, liberals, and socialist who have always hated the 2nd Amendment. Whether it’s Hillary Clinton or Jimmy Kimmel they are flat wrong on their anti-gun stance. The world is a violent place and citizens have every right to protect themselves. Freedom is not pretty. Unfortunately, in a FREE world, bad things happen to good people, but not allowing citizens to protect themselves on the same level as the government is a recipe for disaster. History is full of examples of this.

100,000’s of US citizens are alive every year because they are able to carry a firearm for protection. Our government cannot be there to protect us 24/7. Take away our 2nd amendment rights and we become easy victims to criminals and bad governments. England has banned handguns and most rifles. Their violent crime increased by 18% and murder rate increased by 26% (posted by The Guardian). Murder rate in the US has decreased for the past 15 years.

Now, the Chicago Police Department said that last year, the city had:

762 murders
3,550 shooting incidents
4,331 shooting victims

Where is the OUTCRY for these Chicago murders and shooting victims? Chirp, chirp, silence from the left. Using their own words, a bunch of “White Privileged Kids” get shot up in Las Vegas, so it’s big news and an outcry for gun control follows, but, NOT a word when over 700 people are murdered in the black neighborhoods of Chicago. That sounds like LIBERAL RACISM to me.

Well it’s all about skin color for Leftist Democrats and Liberals. Republicans and conservatives want to bring ALL people up economically by helping to provide the means to support themselves, to be independent, and be productive members of our communities.

Money will be raised for the Las Vegas victims and I think that is great. They need it. However, I don’t see anyone raising money to help, or for scholarships for, the children of Chicago murder victims or any other city.

I dare anyone to prove what I just said is wrong.

Just something to think about.

10/07/2014

I only do this once per year. With 5 kids in scouting every bit helps. Thanks for any support given to my son Diego. He'll be an Eagle Scout soon.

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Thanks for your support,

Diego F

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09/16/2014

Shooting a burglar for stealing from your home.

In every CHL class I teach someone always asks me the following question:

"If I catch someone stealing stuff out of my home, can I shoot them?"

In other words, can you use deadly force to prevent someone from stealing your property to prevent them from fleeing with it.

Well under certain circumstances Texas law says you can use deadly force to recover stolen property if you are viewing the theft as it is occurring.

For me the more important question is:

Even if your are legally justified is it worth using deadly force to prevent a robbery or burglary and potentially killing the thief? Do you really want to kill someone over a $400.00 TV set? Some of you will say, "Hell Yes!" For some of you it's the principle and would say that a thief is a thief and I will do what is necessary to stop them. I have had students claim that they would use deadly force against a thief even if all they took was a tooth pick.

Wow! Really? You would kill someone over a TV? Even though I have chosen the path of a protector, there needs to be a reasonableness with regards to decisions concerning protecting life vs. protecting property.

I will not hesitate to do what I have to, to protect my life and the lives of others. But to take the life of another over property in my opinion is all together another matter. Is taking an others life over property truly ever justified. In some eyes it is and in others it is not.

For me it is not, that is why I have insurance. A life is a life, even if it is the life of a sorry, no good, thug of a thief. And yes I know that some things are irreplaceable like family heirlooms, photos, and such.

Let's look at the financial side of legally using deadly force to protect of recover property. You caught the burglars in your house and your shot them while they were stealing your $400.00 TV set. Even if you are justified how much is a defense attorney going to cost you for a criminal case and/or a civil law suit to make sure you represented properly.

IS IT REALLY WORTH IT TO USE DEADLY FORCE OVER PROPERTY. Even though I say no, I have never been in that situation and therefore don't truly do not know what my reaction would be.

Something to think about. Tell me how you feel about it.

08/28/2013

Changes in Texas Concealed Handgun Law

As of Sept. 1, 2013:
1. RENEWING your license:

No more class time or tests to renew your CHL. However, if you applied with the state before Sept. 1st. you will have to take the renewal class.

2. NEW CHL:

A. No longer 10-15 hour class. Now it's 4-6 hour class plus range time. Written and shooting test still required. But, half day class now.

B. If you have a Texas DL or ID that photo will be used for your CHL.

01/21/2013

Important CHL Responsibilities and Conflict Avoidance

As a concealed handgun license holder your behavior will be judged to a higher standard than an average citizen because of your training and the trust the state has placed in you to carry a concealed handgun in public.

Every person who carries a gun, with or without a permit, should sit down and give deliberate consideration to what being armed means; and what restrictions the armed person must place upon themselves. You must understand that because you have chosen to carry a handgun you must maintain better control of your emotions than the average citizen.

You cannot allow yourself to lose your temper over minor difficulties, and you cannot allow your judgment to be impaired by anger. There are no such things as ‘fighting words’ to a legally armed citizen.

REMEMBER:
What you say and how you say it can negatively affect your liability (being sued) even if you are found to have justifiably used your firearm in defense of yourself or others.

It is your responsibility to avoid conflicts and resolve disputes whenever possible.

This is not only to reduce your risk of physical harm, but also to protect your liability if the conflict escalates despite your efforts. Remember the question: ‘what else could I have done to prevent the situation from escalating or the conflict from occurring?’

If you don't ask it of yourself at the time of the conflict you may find a prosecuting attorney asking it of you in court.

Always remember that your actions will be judged after the fact by 12 ‘reasonable people’ on a jury. If they determine that you had less violent options other than use of force or deadly force (All 5 element of Use of Deadly Force) or that you were responsible for the conflict escalating you could find yourself convicted of aggravated assault, murder, or other felonies, and headed for prison.

Be responsible, be safe, and aware.

J.R. Frausto

01/13/2013

This is a good video for the Reactionary Gap. Just remember that these are police officers that are waiting for the attack and have an external holster. As a concealed handgun license carrier you firearm is concealed and would take longer to draw.

21 ft can be closer then you think. Would you have time to draw a weapon respond to an attack?

01/13/2013

When Do I Shoot? - Reactionary Gap - 21ft. Rule - Safety Zone

One of the most common questions people ask me in fi****ms and concealed handgun classes is, "When do I shoot when I'm being attacked?" Of the "5 Elements of the Use of Deadly Force" this one falls under OPPORTUNITY (see 5 Elements below).

Does the perpetrator have the OPPORTUNITY to attack you?

What constitutes OPPORTUNITY?

Attacker has is empty handed
Attacker has a gun
Attacker has a knife/machete/blade
Attacker has a baseball bat/stick/pipe
Attacker has pepper spray/taser

Law enforcement use the 21ft. rule.

Attackers using NON-FIREARMS weapons do not have the OPPORTUNITY to attack you unless they are within the 21ft. safety zone (reactionary gap) around you or someone you are protecting. If you use deadly force while the potential non-gun wielding attacker is outside of the 21ft reactionary gap you will lose your defense to prosecution and will be convicted of murder or attempted murder.

With a gun a perpetrator can have OPPORTUNITY to attack beyond 21 ft.

With a bat, knife, machete, chain, pipe, or other hand held weapon a perpetrator does not have OPPORTUNITY until they are within the 21ft. reactionary gap. However, if the attacker is 3ft. from you but there is a tall chain link fence between the two of you then the attacker does NOT have OPPORTUNITY.

Use common sense. Remember a split second decision you make will be dissected by attorneys for years if you are not careful.

NOTE: Before you can use deadly force to protect yourself ALL "Five Elements of Use of Deadly Force" must be present. If you use deadly force and even one of the 5 elements is missing you are very likely to be arrested, convicted, and sent to prison for murder, attempted murder, or manslaughter.

FIVE ELEMENTS OF DEADLY FORCE

A) Ability - Weapon
1. Is there a weapon present
a) Does the weapon possess the capacity to cause you
or a third party, great bodily harm or death?
b) The attacker can be the weapon. Bigger than you,
multiple attacker, etc..

B) Opportunity - Delivery System
1) Does the aggressor have the opportunity to get the
weapon to you or a third party?
2) Does the aggressor have the opportunity to cause you
or a third party great bodily harm or death?

C) Intent
1. Does the aggressor show his/her intent to cause you
or a third party great bodily harm or death with their
words or physical actions?

D) Imminent Jeopardy
1. Has the aggressor placed you or a third party in imminent
danger?
a) Imminent can be defined as a hazard, a danger, or peril
with the threat being immediate if action is not taken by
you.

E) Preclusion (You had no other choice)
1. Have you reasonably exhausted all of your options or
avenues of tactful retreat at that time and at that place?
a) A tactful retreat is taking a better position (not
required in Texas because of No Retreat Law but
may help with your defense to prosecution in
criminal and/or civil suit)
b) Putting more distance between you and the
aggressor, the more distance between you and
the aggressor the more time you have to react
to the situation.

For proper legal advice consult a licensed attorney. State of Texas CHL is not a law firm and does not guarantee any defense to prosecution. Laws vary between jurisdictions.

01/13/2013

Yelling "HELP!" vs. yelling "FIRE!"

There are many articles and training groups that teach victims to yell "FIRE!" instead of "HELP!" when they're being attacked. The reason for this is that some people will not get involved or even call 911 for police help for fear of reprisal from the attacker. However, if someone yells "FIRE!" people will come running for fear of their place or home from burning down. This will draw out people so they can be witness to an attack when they normally wouldn't come out increasing the chances of scaring off the attacker.

NOTE: Only use this technique if you are in real danger from an attacker. If you yell "FIRE!" and you are not truly in fear of your life you will be fined and maybe even arrested in most jurisdictions.

The below information gives more details on the attack that prompted the yelling HELP vs. FIRE technique.

Murder of Kitty Genovese
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kitty Genovese

from the New York Times article: "Thirty-Eight Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police"
Born Catherine Susan Genovese
July 7, 1935
Brooklyn,[1] New York City, United States
Died March 13, 1964 (aged 28)
Kew Gardens, New York City, United States
Cause of death murder by stabbing

Known for New York Times article about her murder
Title Manager

Catherine Susan "Kitty" Genovese (July 7, 1935 – March 13, 1964) was a New York City woman who was stabbed to death near her home in the Kew Gardens neighborhood of the borough of Queens in New York City, on March 13, 1964.

The circumstances of her murder and the lack of reaction of numerous neighbors were reported by a newspaper article published two weeks later; the common portrayal of neighbors being fully aware but completely nonresponsive has since been criticized as inaccurate. Nonetheless, it prompted investigation into the social psychological phenomenon that has become known as the bystander effect or "Genovese syndrome" and especially diffusion of responsibility.

01/05/2013

Awareness Keeps You Alive

With or without a firearm being aware of your surroundings will help keep you alive. Too many people walk around like they're wearing blinders. They would walk right into a bear trap before they would even know it. You may know people like that or, like myself, sometimes you're guilty of it too.

In addition to identifying potential danger being aware of your surroundings will help you avoid danger in the first place. It's better to avoid or sidestep danger than having to get out of it.

A prison study showed that criminals like to attack easy victims that are not paying attention to their surroundings. As part of the study they placed many photos of people walking down a street on a table and asked the prisoners to choose which people in the photos they would mug. They all chose nearly the same victims. Victims that looked like they weren't paying attention.

It's been proven that if someone is attacked and did not see their attacker before the attack, the victim very often can not identify their attacker. The victim may even describe the attacker differently then they look. Criminals know this and take advantage of it.

By looking at someone that may be a threat you are letting them know you can identify them.

So when you are out and about, look around and pay attention to where you're going. It could save your life or the life of someone you love. Remember, if it looks dangerous it probably is dangerous.

01/04/2013