I have a concealed carry permit. To get it, I had to take an approved class, apply for the permit, get fingerprinted, submit to a background check, and at the class, qualify by firing 20 rounds at 20 rounds at 9 feet, 20 rounds at 21 feet, and 10 rounds at 45 feet. You have to score a certain number of points (been a while so I actually forget how many it was - maybe 175 out of 250?) to qualify. It's not that hard, though, unless you are Stevie Wonder. LOL.
Classes are important, even if you have owned a gun all your life. The class I took involved not only firearm safety, marksmanship, cleaning my gun, etc, but involved dealing with conflict resolution without having to fire the weapon, how to deal with your gun around children, especially keeping it in a place where kids can't get hold of it, and knowing when you have the potential to enter a situation where the gun might be required, and how to avoid that situation. Guns are useful tools, but also have some potential danger, when not used responsibly or correctly. I agree with mandatory classes.
While I do have a concealed carry permit, I do not, at this time, have any firearms in my possession. Part of the terms of my probation for DWI is not being allowed to possess firearms, so a friend of mine is hanging onto mine for me. I do have a pretty hefty dagger at home, as a last resort, but, until my probation is over, if my humble abode is invaded, I will pretty much have to turn over my belongings. I don't like that part at all.
When you get busted for DWI in Texas, you not only lose your privilege to drive for a while, but you also lose your privilege to drink, as well as your right to carry a firearm. When you don't drink responsibly, you lose a whole hell of a lot. All I can say is don't drink and drive, folks. You heard it from me, who is experiencing the fallout from doing it first hand.