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This should probably go in the "Never Again" section but being a newbie with SO much great information to read, I didn’t get to that section for weeks.

I was really excited about getting my CHL. I was trying to get some friends from work together so we could all go take the class together.

Then, my wife gave me a GREAT Christmas present. She signed us BOTH up for the CHL class!! (great story there. Will share in another post)
I was so excited she did this that I told a bunch of people. Friends, but not necessarily close friends. I was just so excited to brag about what a great wife I have.

Here we are 3 weeks later. We took the CHL class and are waiting on our license. I have done a BUNCH more reading and learning.

I REALLY REALLY wish a I hadn’t told all those people!!!

To the other newbies out there, stop telling everyone until you have taken your CHL class and have done a bunch of reading. Go read the “Never Again” forum. You may be fine letting everyone know or you might regret it as I do.

Wish I had figured this out sooner and I hope this post helps someone else.

Ty

Welcome to the Forum. Good post. Less said is better off for everyone.

AustinBoy wrote:I REALLY REALLY wish a I hadn’t told all those people!!!

So what happened?

I agree that discretion is a good policy. Unfortunately, ringing a bell cannot be undone.

- Jim

Nothing.
I guess I just look at differently after reading/learning.

Before I thouhgt it was kind of fun. No big deal if everyone knew.

Now, after the class, and especially reading the "never again" forum, I think it is a lot more personal.

Noone I told ever said anything. but....

Ty

Does your employer have a no weapons policy?

To make matters worse, YES.

No guns in the building or the parking lot.

stupid, stupid, stupid.

AustinBoy wrote:Nothing.

If you're still welcome at your parents' and in-laws' homes, I guess you're OK.

There are some sobering stories in the Never Again section. Coworkers seem to be the worst. If someone goes to the human resources department in a big company and complains about you, you have a problem.

- Jim

Welcome to my world. Until the parking lot bill gets re-introduced in 2011 and passes we run the risk of losing our jobs if we leave it in the car at work.
I had only told one person at work about my CHL and he's no longer there. Unfortunately, you've told many and that could get further spread and end up on the ears of those in charge.

I would never carry at work or in my car until the Parking Lot bill passes.

The risk of losing my job is just not worth it. (I know, this comment could open up a whole can of worms. That is not my intention)

I think I understand what you're saying. We're fortunate in that we were already paranoid (dang, I forgot, what's that new word on this forum?) about telling anyone. There have been other recent personal events/topics that taught us that lesson, so we were already experienced in not keeping some things to ourselves, even though are normally very interesting and not inherently controversial topics.

So, we already knew the responses we'd get from many friends, not-so-friends, family and especially neighbors and workmates about our CHL's. We haven't even told them about having firearms (you might have seen that we don't talk about our armory even on this forum). Only our kids know so far, and our new friends on this forum, and intend to keep it that way. ("Concealed is concealed." )

It does tend to cut down on the celebrating we can do, though, so we have to do that on this forum....

AustinBoy wrote:I would never carry at work or in my car until the Parking Lot bill passes.

The risk of losing my job is just not worth it. (I know, this comment could open up a whole can of worms. That is not my intention)

Unfortunately, even the parking lot bill won't help many of us. Finding a firearm in the car anywhere at work would likely change the mailing address to somewhere in Kansas....

OldSchool wrote:I think I understand what you're saying. We're fortunate in that we were already paranoid (dang, I forgot, what's that new word on this forum?) ...

Prudent.

It does tend to cut down on the celebrating we can do, though, so we have to do that on this forum....

That is one reason that this forum exists.

- Jim

AustinBoy, The excitement of getting your CHL is understandably difficult to contain. It was for me also.

While waiting for mine to process , I told my next door neighbor with negative results.
I quickly found out that he is a bigtime anti-gun guy. This caught me off guard because he is a veteran.

Long story short ..our relationship hasn't been the same since.
Lesson learned...be careful who you let know .

USA1 wrote: I quickly found out that he is a bigtime anti-gun guy. This caught me off guard because he is a veteran.

My late father and most of my older male relatives were the same way.

There's no telling how combat experience will affect a person's attitudes. I suspect somewhat more than 99% of this forum's participants have never been in combat or anything nastier than a fistfight, including myself.

Asbestos underwear on.

- Jim

I could not agree more with all the comments above.
Hopefully my bringing this up will make other newbies think before they get excited and tell everyone they know!

SeamusTX - I am very lucky that my family is OK with this.
However, when we told them it was "Hey look what my wife got us for Christmas!"
I really dont think they stopped to think, does this mean you will be carrying a gun in my house?
The subject will NOT be brought up by me.

Thanks for everyone's input,
Ty