TexasCHLforum.com

chasfm11 wrote:I hope that in the course of my daily life, I pass at least 10 other people who are carrying guns. I'll likely never know who they are, whether they are off duty LEOs, fellow CHL holders or simply those who choose not to be unarmed in public. I'll continue to rely on my own situational awareness. I watch those around me for any sign of a behavior out of the ordinary. I figure that I'm much better off observing those behaviors than I am worrying about who might be carrying and why.

Exactly.

Now let's add Open Carry...

We're always saying that a gun is merely a tool. And I agree.
The repairman has a bag full of hard objects, any of which can be employed to inflict bodily harm.
Should I let the repair person bring a hammer into my house? A torch?

If seeing a gun = automatic reason to fear the person possessing it.... to the people in this forum.... then we have no right to expect the general public to feel any differently about concealed carry. IMO.

I think everyone who isn't a felon (and some who are) should be allowed to carry. I treat every stranger with the same wariness, regardless of whether I am sure they have a gun or whether I just need to assume they do for my own safety. Have a plan (see rule #5 HERE).

When I allow a service person in my home I am polite and professional, but also watchful. I assume he (or she) has the same right to personal protection as me. They are entering a strangers house and have the right to protect themselves. Am I making any guarantees to them to keep them safe? Do they know whether I am murderously crazy, unsafe, irrational, violent, racist or some random moron that might unintentionally put them in harms way?

If I was able to confirm that a service person was in my home armed, I would be a bit more watchful, but I don't think my plan would change. I would probably stop them as they were leaving and point out their gap in concealment.