6 month after recieving my license ...

[mitchntx]

... I've actually carried a dozen times. And that was mostly on a friends squanderosa near Stephenville to thwart critters who thought I might be trespassing.

I'm glad I went through all the trouble. It's nice to have a CHL. But for all practical purposes and with how lenient the gun laws are in Texas, I have a hard time convincing myself it was worth it based upon "a nice to have".

Any one else feel that way?

[RPB]

... I've actually carried a dozen times. And that was mostly on a friends squanderosa near Stephenville to thwart critters who thought I might be trespassing.

I'm glad I went through all the trouble. It's nice to have a CHL. But for all practical purposes and with how lenient the gun laws are in Texas, I have a hard time convincing myself it was worth it based upon "a nice to have".

Any one else feel that way?

ummm no, not "exactly"

I see it this way
It's kinda like it's nice to have a life vest you hope you never need .... and I read about a fellow kayaker drowning who decided he didn't need to wear it.... I don't want to make the news "that way" and have my relatives read it.... so the life vest I got is a nice comfortable one I'll actually wear ... though it cost more.

CHL wasn't in existance when I was in the hardware store and 5 guys robbed it, nor a couple years before that when I was in an electrobics store and 2 guys robbed it ... I'm alive, I didn't neeed a gun then, but that's because the nice armed men decided to put us on the floor but decided they didn't want to execute us that day.... unlike the ones who dd the same in the Austin yogurt shop, but wanted to take 4 headshots or so into the defenseless ladies after putting them in the back room.

Sometimes the "nice to have" becomes a "I need" but you never know when that instance will occur... like in the middle of a 4 mile wide lake on a windy day while watching your little lightweight plastic boat go away with the wind faster than you can swim; or laying on the floor in a storage room after the first hostage gets shot ...

[mitchntx]

Good points ...

Let me add that I have a weapon concealed in each of my three vehicles and are within arms reach at any point in time.

I doubt the water attacked the kayaker, rather the kayaker put himself at risk.
Likewise, I rarely travel the mean streets, although I acknowledge the mean streets sometimes pop up outa nowhere.

[RPB]

Good points ...

Let me add that I have a weapon concealed in each of my three vehicles and are within arms reach at any point in time.

I doubt the water attacked the kayaker, rather the kayaker put himself at risk.
Likewise, I rarely travel the mean streets, although I acknowledge the mean streets sometimes pop up outa nowhere.

yeah, kinda like Radio shack and a hardware store and yogurt shop in "safe" parts of town

I never got robbed in the ghetto ... they probably figured no one there had anything worth stealing ...

Can't argue that I probably do not need to carry everywhere I go ... if I did, I'd never go anywhere... it's those unpredictable times is why I have a spare tire in the car ... it's nice to have a spare tire, I rarely think about it

when I "neeeed it" it's a real problem if I have none.

I won't take it out of my trunk because of reasoning that it would be really really rare that I'd need it and never travel on streets with known construction roofing nails on them Guess I'll leave it the trunk and forget about it till needed.

[Zylo_X]

... I've actually carried a dozen times. And that was mostly on a friends squanderosa near Stephenville to thwart critters who thought I might be trespassing.

I'm glad I went through all the trouble. It's nice to have a CHL. But for all practical purposes and with how lenient the gun laws are in Texas, I have a hard time convincing myself it was worth it based upon "a nice to have".

Any one else feel that way?

ummm no, not "exactly"

I see it this way
It's kinda like it's nice to have a life vest you hope you never need .... and I read about a fellow kayaker drowning who decided he didn't need to wear it.... I don't want to make the news "that way" and have my relatives read it.... so the life vest I got is a nice comfortable one I'll actually wear ... though it cost more.

CHL wasn't in existance when I was in the hardware store and 5 guys robbed it, nor a couple years before that when I was in an electrobics store and 2 guys robbed it ... I'm alive, I didn't neeed a gun then, but that's because the nice armed men decided to put us on the floor but decided they didn't want to execute us that day.... unlike the ones who dd the same in the Austin yogurt shop, but wanted to take 4 headshots or so into the defenseless ladies after putting them in the back room.

Sometimes the "nice to have" becomes a " I need" but you never know when that instance will occur.

As RPB illustrates so well, when you wake up each morning you don't know what the BGs intend to do. Like car insurance, or health insurance (b4 its mandated ), I go by the old saying, "Better to have and not need, than need and not have". While I wish it didn't cost so much to exercise my Right, I can appreciate the need for education and training the masses, especially those that have not served in the military. Frankly, I'm a little concerned that you made such an 'investment' just because its 'nice to have'. You don't seem to realize its a commitment and a huge responsibility. Many of the problems in this country today are based in the assumption of a Right, without the weight of Responsibility. Where might that lead us?? I'm just sayin' ...

Perhaps you'd be better off NOT carrying, until you need it.

[mitchntx]

You don't seem to realize its a commitment and a huge responsibility. Many of the problems in this country today are based in the assumption of a Right, without the weight of Responsibility. Where might that lead us?? I'm just sayin' ...

Perhaps you'd be better off NOT carrying, until you need it.

Or maybe I DO realize the commitment. Possible?

I added that a weapon is in all vehicles. So while travelling, I do have adequate protection.
I also have loaded Mossbergs (plural) stashed about the house for adequate protection.

With so many 30.06 signs hanging around here, I'm walking parking lots without the gun any way.
So, I'm wondering why carry if I have to leave it (legally) in the car any way.

Walking Wal-Mart isn't the pinnacle of my week.

[A-R]

The simple answer to the OP's inquiry is this spot-on quote:

"Carry 24/7 ... or guess right"

Simple as that. To each their own ... YMMV ... etc.

[mitchntx]

The simple answer to the OP's inquiry is this spot-on quote:

"Carry 24/7 ... or guess right"

Simple as that. To each their own ... YMMV ... etc.

Maybe I should go to Vegas.
Been an accurate guesser for over 50 years ...

Look, I'm not trying to change any one's mind.
I respect the fact that many of you carry regularly.

And just because I chose not to carry daily, shouldn't immediately
discount my commintment to the 2nd ammendment or even basic gun safety.

YMMV

MVDV

[apostate]

With so many 30.06 signs hanging around here, I'm walking parking lots without the gun any way.

In that case, you're out if luck. I saw a hoary V.C.S. sign on the way to lunch today but I can't recall the last time I saw a 30.06 sign.

[RPB]

It was a year before I saw a 30.06 sign .. I had to drive about 6 or 7 cities away to find one over in Round Rock

[jocat54]

I don't think anyone is trying to convince you to carry or not carry, you asked if anyone felt the same way as you do--I have a hard time convincing myself it was worth it based upon "a nice to have"..

Each of us has the choice to carry or not. I do because you just never know.

[Zylo_X]

You don't seem to realize its a commitment and a huge responsibility. Many of the problems in this country today are based in the assumption of a Right, without the weight of Responsibility. Where might that lead us?? I'm just sayin' ...

Perhaps you'd be better off NOT carrying, until you need it.

Or maybe I DO realize the commitment. Possible?

I added that a weapon is in all vehicles. So while travelling, I do have adequate protection.
I also have loaded Mossbergs (plural) stashed about the house for adequate protection.

With so many 30.06 signs hanging around here, I'm walking parking lots without the gun any way.
So, I'm wondering why carry if I have to leave it (legally) in the car any way.

Walking Wal-Mart isn't the pinnacle of my week.

Yes, you added as I posted, but the original premise of 'nice to have' doesn't seem to line up in my feeble mind. To me, it seems like someone going out of their way to get a Ferrari, Lambo, Corvette, etc., only then noticing the posted speed limit signs. I'm not trying to give you a hard time, but did you have a specific reason for getting the CHL??

[mitchntx]

I'm not trying to give you a hard time, but did you have a specific reason for getting the CHL??

I have to work at swing shift a few time s a year. At work by two in the morning.
My place of employment is rural ... in the sticks!

Driving in a few months back, came upon an idling P/U truck, stopped straddling a double yellow line.
I saw no head in the cab, so I called 911. I turned on my flashers and bright lights and waited for LEO to show.

In that 10 minutes was when I decided I should have a weapon for personal protection.
I had no idea what was going on, but lots of possibilities raced throuogh my head.

Turns out the driver was passed out drunk, slumped over in the seat and knocked trans in neutral.

And while I've given away my wallet a couple times, I've never felt as though I needed to kill some one to protect me or mine.
Even on the road that night, I could conjour up all kinds of "worst case scenarios".

To me, arming myself for a WCS means I should also be digging a bunker, stocking it with beans and an arsenal of AKs
in order to be ready for the zombies ... just in case.

But how do you draw the line between the two WCSs?

[A-R]

Maybe I should go to Vegas.
Been an accurate guesser for over 50 years ...

Everyone is an accurate guesser until the first time they're not. I know the odds are (thankfully) stacked well against any of us EVER having to use our weapons for self defense. But I'm not playing basic card odds that anyone can figure. I'm playing pot odds, making sure I have SOMETHING for the off chance I might have to go "all in" when I don't really want to (really, when do any of us on the right side of the law "want to" go "all in" in a lethal situation?).

[wharvey]

To each his own. My wife doesn't often carry either and has a CHL. Aggravates me but it is her choice. Never been in a robbery but I still I carry all the time because there are no signs saying this is a mean street and this isn't. Good judgement can and usually keeps one out of trouble but as has been said by many, there is always a first time. I've carried since 97 and never needed my gun. If I carry another 14 years and never need my gun I'll be a happy camper.

BTW, moved back to Texas in early May and have yet to see a 30.06 sign. Don't know where you live but it must be very liberal to have so many signs posted. (In fact the last no guns allowed sign that I had to obey was at a bank in Louisville KY earlier this year. Actually with the exception of air ports and various federal building it has been so long since seeing one I can't remember specifics sightings.)

The only question I'd have is with the MPA allowing you to have a handgun in you car I see no reason to waste the time or money to get a CHL. I do agree that Wally walks are not the highlight of my day. Rarely go there myself.