There have been a number of recent news reports of teenagers using firearms in self-defense with virtually all of these involving home invasions.  Anyone who is the victim of a vicious attack is going to be frightened, but with teenagers this fear is often combined with uncertainty about what Texas law requires in order to use deadly force in self-defense.  This fear and doubt can have deadly consequences, or it can result in the unlawful use of deadly force.

Nowhere is this more evident than during a recent home invasion where an eighteen year old mother and widow asked a 911 operator if she could shoot someone who had already broken into her home and was then breaking through her bedroom door where she and her three month old son were hiding.  Not only was she terrified, she didn’t know if Oklahoma law allowed her to protect herself and her infant son.

Pistol Director Charles Cotton frequently gives a free three hour seminar on Texas Self-Defense & Deadly Force Laws.  The seminar is comprehensive covering both law and real world application, but it is too long and too detailed for many teens.  As part of PSC’s dedication to our youth and junior shooters, a new seminar has been created specifically for teenagers.  It is geared for a younger audience and will present the material without much of the legalese that will cause many teens’ eyes to glaze over.  Real world application will be covered extensively and with scenarios and actual events that are of particular interest to younger people.

Parents, if you would like for your son or daughter to attend this free seminar, please fill out the registration form in the Event Registration link here on the PSC website.  The seminar is free and parents are encouraged to attend with their kids, but seating is limited so please register early.  This will be an interactive seminar, not a lecture session, so tell your kids to be ready to ask questions and to take part in discussions.  The estimated length of this seminar is 1 ½ hrs, but the number of questions could increase this to 2 hrs.  

No minimum age has been set for attendance because we are relying upon parents to determine whether their kids are mature enough to handle this topic.  That said, it may be necessary to set a minimum age at some point prior to the seminar.

We all pray our teenagers will never be faced with such a horrific threat, but if they are, they need to know Texas law just as do adults.

WHEN:  Friday, Feb. 10th; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
WHERE:  PSC "Blue Building"

The PSC rules say that each member may bring family members and up to 2 guests to the range to shoot.  The rule says that the PSC member must be in the family member's or guest's presence at all times the family member or guest is using or handling any firearms.  The only exception is for a family member who has an Associate Card.  For the rest of this article when "family member" is mentioned it means a family member who does not have an Associate Card.  Also remember that PSC rules define "family member" as your spouse and children who live in your home who are not older than 21 or 23 if a full time student.

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