ADVICE: 3 Things a New CHL Owner Should Know?

[stroguy]

Most of this has been said in forms above. My take, just 3... okay...

1. No one needs to know you have a license, or when you have chosen to carry or not.
2. If the weapon comes out (huge decision, and a serious line must have been crossed), it goes in to its intended use immediately. No chatting, no 'stop or I will shoot.' Stop the threat.
3. 99% of the time, property crime is not worth it unless life are limb are at risk also. Exceptions might include your home (preventing arson), and protecting family heirlooms, high value uninsured items (could include weapons), irreplaceable photos and such, computers with intellectual property or sensitive information, etc. Review Joe Horn case periodically and decide if you want to have your life turned upside down. Sorry if I ruffled the feathers of any Joe Horn fans. IMHO he could have made much better decisions (including his choice to be chatty).

seconds

If #2 means to shoot when it is pulled I would disagree to some extent. We had a renewal in our class that a week prior to class he pulled his weapon. At Walmart he and his family was targeted in the parking lot by a 4 person team. Two guys walking, one girl as a distraction and one guy as a getaway driver. This CHL holder spotted it happening, new he was being flanked by the 2 walking guys and pulled his pistol and kept it by his waist while he hurried his family into their vehicle. The younger of the BG's which was going to make first contact approached this gentlemen and began fumbling with his waistband. The CHLr immediately stuck his pistol in the guys face and saw he did have a pistol in his waistband. He said at that moment the BG "got weak kneed and fled". The getaway driver took off solo as the other 3 took off running. He spotted the situation and defused it with no shots fired. I could live with having the upper hand and not having to kill another.

[gigag04]

No comments about chambering a round?

Disappointed.

[C-dub]

No comments about chambering a round?

Disappointed.

Thought by now it was a given. Fully loaded.

[gigag04]

No comments about chambering a round?

Disappointed.

Thought by now it was a given. Fully loaded.

Ha, yeah me too. We still seem to have a steady stream of people asking, and even advocating something else.

[ex_dsmr]

1. Carry the @*&# thing! Im tired of hearing "Oh well, I only carry it when I think ill need it/when im going into a bad place".
Sorry, if im expecting a situation where ill have to use my pistol that day ill park my butt at home or change plans. Id also like to ask those people for that night's winning lottery as they seem to think they can peer into the future and know when they or someone in their party may be raped, mugged, stabbed, shot, or kidnapped. While im on this rant- just stay out of places or situations where trouble is prone alltogether. As many have said, that gun in your hip isnt a shield. In all seriousness, you have an unwritten duty to avoid bad situations far more than the average non CC'ing John Q Public.

2. Nobody is looking at your hip. Now dont take this for an excuse to be sloppy. Remember, you are a silent ambassador for the entire CC community. This also applies to what I said in #1. But seriously, everyone is so dialed into their cell phones and personal lives that nobody will notice a little bulge. DO take steps to minimize your printing but dont obsess. Yes, in certain instances like the job place where people are more observant and likley to see you for several hours a week you might try a little harder. I know I sure do. Get your pants 1-2" larger and a loose fitting shirt. You dont need a man tent, a vest, an unbuttoned shirt, or any of that. Just stop buying fitted shirts if you do. Also get yourself some H type (wife beater) shirts. Your skin will thank you later. Your body type can help or hurt you conceal.

3. Keep a round chambered. Why people hamstring themselves like that ill never know. They make the ASSumption that theyll have plenty of time to draw, rack, and fire.

Everyone has pretty much said it all. Be prepared to take action, de-escalate, train, SHUT UP, etc.

Oh, and as for holsters- get a Kholster and be done with it. Half the price and half the cost of a Crossbreed.

[johnson0317]

There are several threads on the XDTalk Forum where someone advocates the Israeli method of quick racking after drawing. I don't care how often you practice chambering a round, why risk your life on being able to perform a complex move like that?

RJ

[Seabear]

Well, it could go without saying, however I WILL say as usual I agree with TAM.

My other nod goes to A-R. Both of you undertand the seriousness and the responsibility that goes with doin what we do.

A-R there were a couple points of yours that I really enjoyed.

1. PRACTICE
"We don’t rise to the occasion. We fall back to our level of training."
I preach this all the time, and I always mention an old Band Director's words from Junior High. "Practice doesn't make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect." If someone always uses poor skills in their practice/range sessions, that will come out in a stressful situation. ie, single action firing of a double action revolver or SA/DA pistol. Never practicing draw, or safety manipulation. That's why I love shooting Steel Challenge and other drills. Speed and pressure are hard to learn shooting paper off the bench.

2. PRACTICE
"Shooting a person is an unnatural act. You must train yourself to perform an unnatural act."

I have to make a seperate post about this one. I keep forgetting to write it. But very true.


Be mentally and emotionally prepared. Be situationally aware and always scanning for threats (and 30.06/51% signs). Know the law, know when you can and when you can't, know what to do if IT happens, know where is your nearest escape, cover, concealment at all times. Awareness is your first defense, avoidance your first tactic. Roleplay "what if" games with yourself - what would I do if that guy over there pulled out a gun, pointed it at the clerk, and demanded money? What would I do if that guy who just passed me turned around and started following me?

This part reminds me of flying private planes for many years with my Father, He always said, "always be looking for a place to land", and "every accident is a series of events, it doesn't just happen". Be observant, be aware, and be ready.

..................................

We can never think of every scenario, but we should work at it.

We can't know all the aspects of the law, but we should work at it .

We may not be the fastest or most accurate shooter in the world, but we should work at it.

I almost typed the words...we should TRY ...then I remembered the great words of Yoda " Do or Don't, there is no TRY"

These are my three.

[mrvmax]

As I anticipate receiving my license at the end of this week, I would really like to hear some advice from the experienced CHL folks. What would you tell your child/spouse if they received their license and asked for advice? If you had to tell them 3 things, what would they be? Thanks!

I have not read all the answers on this post so I'm sure mine have been mentioned, but here they are anyway:

1. Know the law, read as much as you can and make sure you know what you can and cannot do. By far I think this is the most important thing and using your firearm in self defense could easily change your life in many ways.
2. Plan your actions ahead of time. Go through scenarios and decide ahead of time what you will do. You will never prepare totally for every situation, but you can have a good idea of what you plan on doing. Use news stories to ask your self what you would do, learn from the mistakes of others. Once you are in the middle of a situation it is no time to start thinking about what you can do. An example, I have decided that I will almost never use my firearm for loss of property. To me it is not worth the legal trouble and possible financial cost. May would disagree but that is why you need to decide what YOU will do.
3. Practice with your carry gun. Use your self defense ammo and practice drawing, shooting, reloading, malfunction drills etc. When you get into a stressful environment you will go back to what you trained on and ingrained into your head while training.

[RPB]

1) carry during the times/safe places you don't expect to be robbed or assaulted (in case they forget to make an appointment)
2) All the preceding stuff said by others
3) I don't have a 3, but not squatting with spurs on sounds good, thanks TAM.

[speedsix]

There are several threads on the XDTalk Forum where someone advocates the Israeli method of quick racking after drawing. I don't care how often you practice chambering a round, why risk your life on being able to perform a complex move like that?

RJ

...everyone should know the method...and be able to rack one in quickly or even the down-the-pants method...in case their other hand/arm are damaged/in use...but the chances of using the method successfully about match the chances that you'll need to use it...

...to carry a weapon for defense that's unsafe to carry fully loaded isn't wise in the first place...no offense intended to an old cowboy who carries Daddy's Single Action Army...or those who carry a 70s Model Colt 1911...which I carried for years down on a live round when I was a youngster...there are safer alternatives these days...and why cheat yourself out of one more round when the saggydrawers gang comes 'round to call???

[boba]

1. Stay Alert, Stay Alive
2. Kill Em All, Let God Sort Em Out
3. Murphy Was An Optimist

[couzin]

1 - take your weapon
2 - make sure its loaded
3 - did I say to take your weapon

[strider67]

1. Read, read, and read some more. Laws, forums, others' experiences (good and bad), etc...I do, and still have much to learn...

2. Concealed is concealed. Example: Don't let your "friends" get you into a situation because they know you are carrying and they are not...

3. Always know your surroundings. I am a head-on-a-swivel, back to the wall, eyes always on the entry/exit doors kind of guy...

Just my 2 cents

[glbedd53]

Practice, Practice, Practice. Wish I could practice what I preach.

[rp_photo]

3. Practice self control.

Since I started carrying in most situations, I find this to be a natural consequence.

A certain kind of calm and quiet conidence comes from knowing you have the defensive tools.

1) carry during the times/safe places you don't expect to be robbed or assaulted

This is also a rule I live by. Deciding whether a place is "carry-worthy" is stressful, and can even make you feel judgemental.