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TX Rancher wrote: I certainly hope I never run into that Cpl again

Probably chief now.

#1 Before CHL's

I was on my way to check my dad's house late at night. A crosswind caught the car and I wavered a bit. Well DPS was looking for drunks and came after me. I pulled over and got my license out. The insurance thing was new then so I didn't retrieve it automatically.

He looked at my license and asked for the insurance card. I started to lean over and then remembered the .357 I used to weight down the papers in the glove box. "I, uh...have a pistol in the glove box with the insurance card." He took one step back and said, "Well, if you come out with just the card, we'll be fine." I did.

He ran the creds and came back up to the car. He explained that he was looking for drunks and saw me waiver. He wrote a warning, told me to keep a better grip on it and wished me a "good night". Not a word was said about the pistol.

#2 A Soda After the Fair

I was a fairly new CHL, the State Fair had not yet started scanning folks. We had stayed late for a show and afterwards I said I wanted to get a Coke. There was a brand new Tiger Mart, well lit, accross MLK from the parking lot.

We stopped in. I went in and there was a well behaved line at the register and an off duty DPS in the corner. As I go to the fountain an argument develops in the line and begins to escalate...severely.

Now I am clean shaven, wear short hair and look pretty mean. I step back and take a position near the inside wall. I set to draw and look over at the DPS who has done the same. He meets my eyes and gives a nod. The crowd, I guess, senses the situation and simmers down. I relax my stance, get my coke and leave.

My wife was hotter than a firecracker for endangering her and the kids over a coke. She had locked the door, considered leaving my stupid self but retrieved the pistol under the seat anyway.

Two things:

1)The DPS officer communicated well without a word and I believe he appreciated the assistance.

2)Always be fueled to clear Fair Park if you go and if you are thirsty, deal with it. It's not worth the stop.

#3 A Debate

I delivered a patient to Methodist Central in dallas. As was the norm we get a cup and chat with th ER folks. There was a DPS officer there this particular day. I was discussing a pistol purchase with one of the doctors and the whole CHL issue came into play. He was against it.

I explored his objections a bit and then presented what I thought was a rational argument. Too bad I don't have the brain now, I did then.

We started with the 2A and he admitted it was an individual right. We also discussed the rigorous requirements of CHL candidates.

Then I presented the fact that LEOs are reactionary and except for extraordinary coincidence are never in a position to protect the citizens. He conceded the point.

The conversation then went to the very personal nature of self defense choices and the personal responsibility required to invoke those choices. He felt that LEOs were the only ones capable of that judgement.

I asked him if he was previously an irresponsible and immature person incapable of making those choices and if he was now, by virtue of his employment mature and responsible. He admitted that he was the same person now as we was before. I then asked him why he felt then, that I (or any law abiding citizen) by virtue of our non-LEO status would be incapable of making sound judgements in life threatening emergencies.

To my utter amazement he said he had never looked at it that way and that he had changed his mind...on the spot I guess. I was dumbfounded.

Well, enough anecdotes for one day.

Kyle

Added in editand OT: I have noticed in all my experiences with DPS, there wasn't a fat body among them.