Conference Video & Pictures
Dedicated in memory of Joaquin Jackson, former Texas Ranger
For conference registration choices and prices, please click here.
The Texas Concealed Handgun Association (TCHA) Board of Directors is proud to announce plans for the 20th annual conference, March 31, April 1, and April 2, 2017 at the YO Ranch Hotel and Conference Center. This conference is dedicated to the memory of Joaquin Jackson, former Texas Ranger and TCHA’s 18th annual conference keynote speaker.
Our keynote speaker for the upcoming conference will be Dr. J. Pete Blair, Executive Director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training out of Texas State University. Dr. Blair is recognized as a leading expert in the field of active shooter events. Additionally, our special guest instructor is Ed Head, Gunsite Academy, who has taught thousands from beginners to special operations personnel in his 20-plus years as a firearms instructor. Click the “2017 Annual Conference” link above or here for detail information regarding the conference registration process, schedule, hotel accommodations, raffles, training programs, instructor bios, etc.
Safeguarding our right to keep and bear arms is dependent upon the interest of the members and gun owner community to support the association. Since this is the association’s 20th anniversary, the directors and officers have made big plans to make this the best conference yet. We look forward to seeing you there!
Conference Schedule
TCHA is continuing to offer excellent education opportunities to LTC licensees, LTC instructors, law enforcement personnel and concerned citizens during the Twentieth Annual Conference. These programs are designed to improve the knowledge and skills of all gun owners. The goal of this program is to set a standard of excellence that may become the normal requirement within the LTC community. Several courses will be offered.
- Gun Shot Wounds First Aid Course, by Dwayne McBryde, Medic and Diplomatic Security Service Contractor for the U.S. Department of State (sponsored by Texas Law Shield)
- Dealing with Law Enforcement in Gun Related Situations, by Author Brian Foster
- Laughing at Danger, by Austin Davis, Owner and CEO of DavisSeminars.com, Kangaroo Carry, LLC, and Virtual Tactics Academy
- Considerations for LTC Response to Violent Events, by Dr. J. Pete Blair, Executive Director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) out of Texas State University
- Mental Conditioning for Combat, by Ed Head, experienced firearms instructor for over 20 years with GunSite Academy
- Search and Seizure, by Attorney Larry Bloomquist, Texas Law Shield
For detail class descriptions and instructor bios, click here.
Each student who completes a course will receive a Certificate of Completion. Students, who hold their handgun license, and complete at least four courses, will receive an Intermediate, Advanced or Master LTC Certificate from TCHA. The certificates will be awarded by mail.
The 20th Annual Conference Schedule is available here.
Speakers & Special Guest Instructor
The luncheon speaker Saturday will be Reggie Andrews, Deputy Manager-Handgun Licensing in the Regulatory Services Division, Texas Department of Public Safety.
Our keynote speaker is Dr. J. Pete Blair. He will highlight the Saturday evening banquet.
Dr. J. Pete Blair is the Executive Director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center and a Professor of Criminal Justice at Texas State University. He earned his Ph.D. in criminal justice from Michigan State University. Dr. Blair is recognized as a leading expert in the field of active shooter events and has published numerous books, articles, and commentaries on the topic. He regularly presents on active shooter related topics to groups across the country and internationally. In addition to teaching a course on Considerations for LTC Response to Violent Events, Dr. Blair will be the conference’s keynote speaker.
Ed Head not only will be running the conference range day activities, but will be teaching a class on Mental Conditioning for Combat. He is a regular on Shooting Gallery, Gun Stories and Down Range TV. He has worked for almost 30 years in law enforcement, first in the United States Air Force and then with the United States Border Patrol, retiring as a Field Operations Supervisor. During his Border Patrol career, Ed worked in a variety of patrol, investigative and training capacities. Ed has an extensive background as a firearms instructor, having trained thousands, ranging from beginners to police, military and special operations personnel. Having taught at Gunsite Academy for 20 years, Ed first trained there under the world famous shooting school’s founder, Jeff Cooper, then later ran the school as the operations manager for more than five years. Ed lives in Chino Valley, Arizona, where he continues to teach and write.
Registration
The easiest way to register for the conference is online. You can also register by Mail-In Form. For those who preregistered, you will receive confirmation of your registration by email prior to the event. At the event, please make sure you check in at the registration table to pickup your conference packet and name tag.
- Total Package per person, includes classes, luncheon, and banquet, $129.00 [*See Note Below.]
- Life Members, including all of the above, $99.00 [*See Note Below.]
- Junior rate, including all of the above, $59.00 [*See Note Below.]
- Range Day-PM, Friday, March 31, not included in the above prices, $30.00
- Range Day-AM, Saturday, April 1, not included in the above prices, $30.00
- For those individuals who will not be attending both days of training:
- Friday classes only, $30.00 [*See Note Below.]
- Saturday classes only, $30.00 [*See Note Below.]
- Luncheon only, $30.00
- Banquet only, $59.00
- Luncheon and Banquet only, $89.00
[*Note: Range day activities are not included.]
Note: Photographs will be taken at all events and may be published.
Luncheon & Banquet
The Saturday luncheon, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, is a Mexican Fiesta Buffet, which includes Beef/Chicken Fajitas, Tamales, Enchiladas, Rice, Beans and the fixin’s. Dessert will be sopapillas & honey. Tea and coffee is also included. The speaker will be Reggie Andrews, Deputy Manager-Handgun Licensing in the Regulatory Services Division, Texas Department of Public Safety.
The keynote speaker for the Saturday evening banquet, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, is Dr. J. Pete Blair, Executive Director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) out of Texas State University. There are two banquet dinner choices:
- Surf & Turf, which is a 6 oz. peppercorn Filet with Madeira sauce and Three Tequila Jumbo Shrimp sautéed in lemon butter, garlic, cream & tequila.
- Chicken Wellington, which is a chicken breast baked in puff pastry Duxelle, with Madeira sauce.
[Each banquet meal comes with a dinner salad, roasted garlic potatoes, Normandy vegetables, and a hot roll. Dessert will be assorted cheesecakes or chocolate cake. Tea and coffee is also included.]
***IMPORTANT***It is vital when you submit your conference registration, either online or by mail, and you have chosen an option that includes the Saturday evening banquet, you must identify for each registrant the meal choice that has been selected: Surf & Turf or Chicken Wellington.
Lodging
The conference hotel is the YO Ranch Hotel & Conference Center, 2033 Sidney Baker, Kerrville, Texas 78028. The TCHA special rate is $94.00 per night plus taxes for two queen beds or one king bed. Contact the hotel at (877) 967-3767 or make reservations online at https://reservations.travelclick.com/12007?groupID=1680257. The special conference rate is valid through noon on March 8, 2017. It is up to the hotel staff if they want to extend the special conference hotel rate past the March 8th deadline. Please make sure you tell them you are with TCHA.
If the conference hotel is sold out, click here for an alternative list of hotels that are close to the YO Ranch Hotel & Conference Center.
Gun Raffle
We will raffle off a Glock certificate in which the winner will have several models to choose from. The winner can also opt to pay for an upgrade with a small fee. [Download tickets.] This raffle will be drawn at the member’s meeting. You need not be present to win.
During the conference, the conference attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in more gun raffles. These raffle drawings will take place at various times during the conference. More information to follow.
Range Activities
Come see Ed Head, Gunsite Academy Instructor, who is this year’s special guest range instructor. The three hour range class will concentrate on teaching and reinforcing safe and effective firearms handling skills combined with shooting techniques centered around the concept of quickly delivering fight stopping hits. Two sessions will be offered at the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center: Friday, March 31 (PM Shoot) and Saturday, April 1 (AM Shoot). Each session will start with a discussion of firearms safety and safe range conduct. Students may attend both sessions; however, each session will be $30.00.
IMPORTANT: All participants are required to attend a safety briefing 15 minutes prior to the range session class start time. If you fail to arrive to the scheduled safety briefing(s) on time, 1:45 pm on Friday / 7:45 am on Saturday, you will not be able to participate and will forfeit your range fee.
Equipment required for class:
- Reliable, modern semi-automatic pistol or revolver chambered in 9mm or larger (tiny pocket pistols, .22s, .380s are not suitable for this class, nor are antique or cheap surplus pistols such as Makarovs. If you have questions about a particular pistol, please contact me: Ed Head, gunsite@cableone.net).
- Minimum of 100 rounds of ammunition (per session). Depending upon the skill level of the class we may shoot more so be prepared with extra ammunition. Factory ammunition is preferred but high quality reloaded ammunition is acceptable if you loaded it. Do not bring reloaded ammunition loaded by someone else as there is no way to assure safety and quality. Revolver shooters will need at least two speed loaders and pistol shooters will need three magazines.
- A good quality, strong side belt holster on a sturdy belt is required. No Serpa holsters, no cross-draw, shoulder holsters or inside the waistband holsters will be allowed. Appendix carry holsters are not suitable.
- Speed loader or magazine pouches are preferred to hold spare ammunition.
- Suitable outdoor clothing and comfortable shoes as well as a brimmed cap (prefer ball cap) will be needed as well as eye and ear protection. Ear muffs or ear plugs are suitable – electronic, amplified hearing muffs or plugs are preferred.
- Water will be available, but bring your Gatorade or other drink if you like.
*** Recommend bringing a fold-up chair if you will have trouble standing for three hours. Additionally, parts of the road at the range are rough and could pose a problem for low clearance vehicles. Please plan accordingly.***
While all LTCs will benefit from this excellent hands-on training opportunity, instructors should be particularly interested in seeing techniques they can use in their own classes.
Additionally, on Saturday afternoon, Mr. Head will be presenting a class on Mental Conditioning for Combat, which is open to all participants. This presentation will include tools to develop an awareness of potential dangers and the ability to defeat them with the appropriate mindset.
President’s Reception
The President will be hosting a hospitality/welcome gathering Friday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This will be a great opportunity to meet other conference attendees and check out the vendors.
Membership Meeting
The Association’s Regular Annual Meeting and Board of Directors Elections will be held on Sunday, April 2, 2017 beginning at 9:00 AM at the YO Ranch Hotel & Conference Center, 2033 Sidney Baker, Kerrville, Texas 78028. The meeting is open to all Association members and guests at no charge.
All members are encouraged to attend. Note: A Glock firearm certificate will be raffled off at this meeting.
FAQ
- Is the YO Ranch Hotel Pet Friendly?
Yes. According to the hotel spokesperson, “It is a $10 charge for the stay if you’re staying up to 2 nights. 3 or more nights it is a $25 charge. If you leave your pet in the room by itself and still want housekeeping to come in the room to clean, the pet has to be in a crate. Otherwise, I would advise to put the Do Not Disturb sign on the door and maybe even tell Front Desk.” - Does the YO Ranch Hotel have RV spaces?
No, they do not have RV accommodations. Since the YO Ranch Hotel does not have sites on their hotel property, they did refer us to the Guadalupe River RV Park. To contact the Guadalupe River RV Park, you can call (800) 582-1916 or go to their website. This RV Park is about seven miles from the YO Ranch Hotel. - Will child care be made available?
The association is not set up at this time to offer child care; however, we do offer for older children a junior rate (16 or under) of $59.00 to attend all of the functions, except the Fun Shoot. For younger children, these sites may assist parents in finding child care services in the Kerrville area:
Event Sponsors & Donors
Event Vendors
Vendor Invitation
If you are interested in being a vendor at the upcoming conference, March 31 and April 1, 2017, please click here for detail information.