TexasCHLforum.com

LostInAustin wrote:I can't believe he filled out his info on the Buyer's sheet! What an idiot! He got off easy, he should have left in a bag!

Yeah, I'm almost thinking he wanted to be caught or something. Sick individual, obviously. Who knows his motivations. And who really cares. Lock him up and throw away the key. His deed will scar that poor woman for the rest of her life.

Yet another example of why all Realtors, real estate agents, new home counselors, or anyone else who walks into large vacant buildings alone with complete strangers on a daily basis should CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON to protect themselves.

Of course, I'd be interested to know if this home builder banned employees from carrying weapons as a condition of employement. I'm waiting for the first employee victim to sue an employer for taking away the employee's God-given right to self-defense.


Daily Real Estate News | September 8, 2009 |
Practitioner Assaulted While On Job
A Cary, N.C., real estate practitioner says she was sexually assaulted Sunday while she was staffing the sales office of a new housing subdivision.

The suspect walked into the office, which was located in a model home, and presented himself as a buyer, according to police reports. After looking around, he said the home was too large and asked to see something smaller. The associate took him to see an adjacent property, where the man threatened her with a knife and sexually assaulted her, according to police.

Police arrested a convicted sex offender, Michael Edward Sleeman of Raleigh, and charged him in connection with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree sexual offense. They identified Sleeman from information he provided on the prospective buyer card and comments he made to the woman about his sex-offender status.

Source: News & Observer, David Bracken (09/07/2009)

PappaGun wrote:I moved here from Albuquerque a little while ago. It happened twice there that real estate agents were shot and killed while showing homes. There are whackos everywhere. Showing houses to complete strangers, all alone, almost seems more dangerous than being a convenience store clerk. Almost.

You gotta be smart about it. I do everything I can NOT to meet a prospective for first time at a home. Try to meet them at my office or a public place (coffee shop) first, then go to the house.

skeetshooter wrote: I will be carrying a Colt Defender 45. If I find this to be to heavy for the summer, then I'll carry my Taurus Millenium PT111, 9MM.

Again thanks for all the responses and keep them coming. I would like to know what your clients have said if they found out you are carrying? Do you loose them as clients? Never hear from them again? Agree with you? Ask you to leave it the car? Etc.

Hey skeet, let me know how carrying that .45 works for you. I've downgraded to either a Ruger LCP or S&W .38 for most "on the job" CHL because I just can't find a comfortable way to carry anything larger while looking "professional" in my dress. I'm contemplating a Walther PPS and tuckable IWB holster under my standard Polo-style golf shirts, but for now just carry the LCP or .38 in a pocket holster in my khakis. Other than a business suit or sports coat (too hot in summer, and actually a bit "much" dress wise for my clientele) I can't find a decent cover garment that works right for a proper Realtor "look" (business casual?)

As for clients knowing about me carrying, again has never happened and don't plan to let it (one reason why I try to keep my anonymity on public boards like this). There are enough antis out there who buy/sell houses - especially in Austin area - that I'd be losing a huge group of potential clients by discussing guns or CHL openly.

If I do find someone in a professional setting who seems receptive to guns/CHL I will strike up a conversation (has happened with a few Realtors in training classes etc., but not yet with clients). Once even volunteered the information to a training room full of new Realtors who were discussing safety/security while on the job. A new, young, female Realtor asked "I feel vulnerable meeting new clients, what can I do?" and without thinking I blurted out "concealed handgun license" ... got a few dirty glares my way, a few shocked expressions, and later a few "at a boys" from gun-friendly Realtors. The instructor glossed over my "suggestion" and said something about being smart and not putting yourself into dangerous situations (good advice, but not exactly foolproof).

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:If you think your current carry gun is too big, switch to a smaller gun.
The first rule of a gunfight is.... to bring a gun.
A small gun you can conceal in your dressy realtor clothing
beats a hand cannon that's in your vehicle.

I am a Realtor, and while I generally don't discuss the how and when of specific CHL situations in public (as far as the bad guys know, I carry everywhere every day), I do carry around clients. But I keep my gun CONCEALED and don't discuss guns at all - so my clients have no idea I'm doing so, nor do they need to know, nor am I under any obligation (legal, ethical, or otherwise) to inform them or anyone short of a LEO that I am carrying. It's never been an issue.

For those who "don't get it" regarding CHL in the Realtor community (I've had a few question why I feel the need to carry a gun when I brought up the subject in a conversation with other Realtors) I simply point to the number of Realtors who are attacked while on the job (face it, we're an easy target - we meet strangers at strange locations every day) and tell them they can use their mace and pray, I will BE PREPARED to defend myself. But I'm also not stupid or careless about meeting strangers. I often error on the side of extreme caution and bring a buddy along if meeting new clients for the first time at a property.

Realtors, like so many other professions, have very legitimate on-the-job self-defense needs. Thankfully we don't often answer to a large company that dictates that we not to arm ourselves while on the job like many corporations now do. If a broker ever told me not to carry while showing houses, I'd find a new broker to hold my license by that afternoon.