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Pawpaw wrote:Oh man! I'm so sorry you and your family had to go through that.

I'm more than a little embarrassed now about throwing out that meme when you posted yesterday. The only good thing is that you learned without it costing anything more than a scare.

I'm glad everything worked out OK for your family. I hope the lady recovers fully.

Hi Pawpaw - Man, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. That was good advice. I just didn't expect the proof point to come so quickly. Like you said, I really learned a valuable lesson. And maybe just as importantly, last night provided a realistic and sobering context for me to talk to my wife and kids about my intent to be an everyday carrier now that I have my license. While my wife has been very accommodating about my desire to own a handgun and get my CHL, I don't think she was really prepared for me to carry it on my person, day-in and day-out.

While we were hunkered down last night, I explained to them all that this is a perfect example of why I intend to carry all the time from now on. Just like you wear a seat belt even though you have no intention of "needing" it. She understood. I fully expect to have to have this discussion again from time to time when I get the old "why do you have to wear it to go to Chick-Fil-A" or something like that. Becoming an everyday carrier is going to be a process for my whole family, not just me.

But I am committed.

FloMoAggie

Murphy's law was in full effect for me yesterday.

I received my CHL in the mail yesterday afternoon. I posted that info to the "Waiting Room" and then posted in the "New to CHL" lamenting about the fact that my weapon is at the gunsmith getting new sights installed. I just didn't expect to receive my license so quickly. Poor timing on my part. I was a little bummed out that my Wally Walk would have to wait.

Then, last night, a domestic violence incident turned deadly on my street. At about 7:15, a woman running for help to a neighbor's house two doors down from me was shot in the back with a shotgun by her husband. We heard the shot. He fled on foot. Police were on the scene PDQ, but it turned into an extended SWAT situation. We were told to stay away from windows and lock all doors. SWAT team members were mobilized directly in front of my house and remained stationed there until shortly after 1am when they entered the home of the shooter and found him dead of a self-inflicted wound. Thank God, the wife is in good condition and will survive.

Never again will I be without a weapon in my home or on my person when out of the house. I live in a nice neighborhood, and things like this are not "supposed" to happen here. I got my CHL for when I would be in "bad" areas or traveling far from home. Lesson learned. You never know when bad things are going to happen.

I learned last night that bad things happen all the time, anywhere, and when you least expect it. I really learned what is meant by "two is one, and one is none". I know that once the police arrived on scene that I was probably in the safest house in my town, but I have to tell you that I never want to feel the feeling again of knowing that I had no real way of defending myself, and more importantly - my family, against an armed bad guy.

Prayers for the awful situation and the woman and family involved would be very welcome.

FloMoAggie