TexasCHLforum.com

I'm a licensed real estate broker. I got my CHL after walking into a vacant, foreclosed house I was managing in a not-so-great part of Dallas to find two guys already in the house in the process of stealing the copper wiring and pipes.

Luckily, they high-tailed it out the back door while I high-tailed it out the front door and over to the cops that were taking a report on a burned-out car someone had left on the front lawn of the little church next door. Cops couldn't catch them but it sure gave me a wake-up call!

100% of my business is managing and selling foreclosures for the banks. A large number of them are in very bad neighborhoods. My 6'4" 300 lbs husband always goes with me but I was always nervous the whole time we were at the houses.

So, I took the CHL class with On Target Firearms outside Benbrook (highly recommend them).

I carry everywhere I go now.....not just to our properties. .45 on my hip and a 380 at my back. If it's a REALLY bad neighborhood then I take my 9mm instead of the 380.

I rarely show my own properties but when I do, I do NOT tell the buyer(s) that I'm carrying. Why give away that element of surprise if they turn out to be the bad guy?

I don't have to dress up, so I usually wear jeans or kahki's. For this time of year, I found these great nylon, sleeveless vests on sale at Wal-Mart and bought several in different colors. They have pockets to put my license holder in and are long enough to cover both guns very well. Have gotten several compliments on how cute the vests are from other women. They had no idea I was carrying.

Going armed is not for everyone but I think it's something that all REALTORS should consider. It's a crazy world out there and bad things can happen anytime, anywhere to anyone.

Be safe.

Ciao....rg