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Thank you all for your thoughts and advice. I will look into the reading material and work on mental focus/stress training. .45mac.40, I agree that since I started carrying this past week, I pay much more attention to my surroundings. Brewster, I agree that mental preparation does not get enough emphasis. I hope this does not fill my mail box with hate mail but I wonder if a ten hour course on the CHL laws is enough to qualify someone to carry a firearm. The untrained unprepared could be as much a danger as the BG in a public area scenerio. I know we have the right to keep and bear arms and I intend to do so, but if like Brewster mention, a person is rattled enough to fumble when it counts target marksman won't be enough.

Right now I am just getting used to actually wearing and carrying the pistol, which is a change in behavior, dress, walk, etc. I found myself in a retail store the other day almost in sensory overload from everything going on around me, wondering if my pistol handle was printing through my shirt, the guy in front of me arguing with the clerk, the group of tattooed thugs approaching from my nine o'clock, the man arguing with his wife at my five o'clock, and my inability to decide if I wanted the 24 or 36 pack of AAA batteries for all the toys my kids got for Christmas (maybe this part should go in the Wally Walk thread.) But I'm sure you all know what I mean, this is going to take some getting used too. The responsibility entrusted in us as CHL holders and regular carriers is one not to be taken lightly. Being the new guy on campus I appreciate that there is a forum where some of the seasoned veterans can help us newbies learn the ropes. How did we every get along without the online community.

Well it finally came, submitted on Sept 30, sent back late October for not signing back of photos and only sending in one copy of fingerprints, site showed approved on Dec 11, license arrived on Dec 16. To celebrate, I purchased a Taurus 24/7 OSS .40 that I have had my eye on for some time. There are many things I like about the 24/7 series (I have a 24/7 Pro 9 that I qualified with a 96 on the range portion of the exam.) After researching holsters on this and many other sites, I have purchased a Super Tuck that will probably not arrive until after the holidays. All that is left is to prepare for the first outing. Can you say bundle of nerves?

I plan to carry on a regular basis unless restricted by the law, as a husband and Father I feel it is my responsibility to be able to protect and serve THEM above all. I am sure this is no news to anyone but the world is not getting any safer and you know the old syaing"when seconds count, help is only minutes away."

So here is my question, I go to the range at least once a month, sometimes more, I feel confident in my ability to stand at a firing line and shoot a target. So how do I transition mentally to be prepared for the worst situation? I know the use of force is the last resort, but when the time comes how do I strengthen myself mentally to perform then, when it matters most? I would do anything to protect my family from any danger, that is why I feel it is better to be prepared for anything.

Any feedback from the longtime CHLers would be appreciated.