Texas is pretty much a done deal when it comes to constitutional carry. Further, just about everyone knew it was going to happen. No more requirements for a permit like concealed carry classes.

And, as I said, we pretty much all figured it was going to happen.

Yet despite that, Texans are still flocking to concealed carry classes.

A tech worker worried after a string of mass shootings and anti-Asian violence. New parents who want to protect themselves in a neighborhood with rising crime. Three young women curious to learn more about firearms before making a purchase.

All were gathered into an Austin classroom on a recent Saturday trying to get their licenses to carry a handgun, a process that may soon become optional if the Republican-led Legislature has its way.

A tech worker worried after a string of mass shootings and anti-Asian violence. New parents who want to protect themselves in a neighborhood with rising crime. Three young women curious to learn more about firearms before making a purchase.

All were gathered into an Austin classroom on a recent Saturday trying to get their licenses to carry a handgun, a process that may soon become optional if the Republican-led Legislature has its way.

The training class is only one piece of the licensing process; people must also pay a fee, show they can shoot and clear a background check before they can start carrying a handgun in public. But the loss of the training requirement is among the most concerning to critics, who warn that people who’ve never touched a handgun before could start carrying one on the streets and at businesses.

Now, it’s interesting, because even anti-gunners can see that there’s a high likelihood of Texas becoming a permitless carry state.

So why are people still piling into concealed carry classes? The answer is simple. It’s just a good idea.

See, while many states mandate these classes, a lot of other states don’t. Yet almost universally, most gun people advocate for good training classes. While critics claim that people who never handled a gun before could start carrying one, those who do that are going to find a lot of people telling them to get trained.

The truth is that people don’t want to shoot their own cajones off. They want to learn what they can and can’t do with a gun. They want to learn how to handle one. They wanted to be educated enough because most people know guns aren’t props or toys or status symbols. Further, someone who has never bought a gun before is going to be advised to get training before carrying.

We’re closing in on half of the nation having permitless carry. Still more states have no training requirement. Guess what? It’s not an issue.

Instead, the fearmongering by the media is about the worst that may happen, not what will actually take place. People who carry a gun will learn. They’ll be taught. They’ll educate themselves.

Even in Texas when everyone knows permitless carry will happen, they’re still seeking out training despite knowing it won’t be required soon. That’s because no matter how people try to paint the pro-gun crowd, we’re not stupid and we’re not against training. We’re against being required to get it in order to exercise a constitutionally protected right.