Why did you get your CHL?

[goose]

I realize my story and following comments don't refer to the question. I think I got on a soap-box. Apologizes.

[anygunanywhere]

It might come in handy if I have to shoot somebody.

This.

Anygunanywhere

[Nano]

goose, no apologies are necessary. I really do appreciate how you used restraint in dealing with the situation. The little girl's life was possibly in danger as was the woman's. I don't appreciate the dispatcher's attitude or the LEO's slow response to a possible life or death situation. Of course, I don't know what their situation was.

My wife and I are senior citizens and we take our dog walking each day and sometimes at night due to our busy schedule. A few months back while taking a night walk we simultaneously came to the conclusion that one of us needed a Texas CHL. I was elected to take the class and buy the handgun. We continue to avoid unsafe situations but our security factor has gone way up.

[steveincowtown]

An LEO told me to start carrying when I was 18.

We were chased by a group of thugs into a school parking lot, who then put a gun in my best friends gut. There was a group of maybe 15 of us and I managed to slip away to a neighboring house and call the cops. The showed up about 35 minutes later, and detained all of us until they could figure out what was going on. At this point the 4 thugs drove off, but since the LEO's didn't know the situation they let them drive away so that they could figure out what was going on with the bigger group.

I told the LEO that their response time stunk. He told me cops can't be everywhere, all the time, and that I needed to get a gun and figure out how and when to use it. I told him my age and he replied "a shotgun in your car in better than nothing." I lived in VA (very OC friendly, especially in the mostly rural area I was in) and began OC'ing shortly thereafter, and then obtained my CCW later. When I moved to Texas I already knew a CHL was the right thing to do.

His honesty and frankness have stuck with me to this day, and I wish I could go back and thank him.

[psijac]

i felt an obligation to protect the people around me

[steve817]

Anyone who has seen the Killeen shooting story involving Dr. Hupp should be carrying.

Thanks for bringing that up. I forgot to mention that in my original post. A member of my extended family had just dropped his wife off who worked at Luby's in Killeen just seconds before that went down. He had just pulled out of the parking lot and saw the truck crash into the building through his rear view mirror. He then turned around to go back and make sure everyone was alright, that was when the shots started. He ran into the business next door to see if anyone in there had a gun so he could go back and try and protect his wife. She who was pregnant at the time was not injured. There are also a few members of my church congregation who were present at Wedgwood when that all went down.

I know most of the events that I mentioned in my posts that there were a few degrees of separation between me and the event itself, still they hit close. Some folks need a slap in the face before they wake up. Others (me) need several.

[2012CHLholder]

After 22 years in LE in the Pacific NW, I moved out of LE into another Public Safety Related field that does not require a firearm. Moved to Texas 12 years ago and had intended to get a CHL when I arrived. One of those things that got put off. One of the biggest things that put it off was cost - $150 for the course (requiring training I agree with 100%), $140 for the CHL, $10 for fingerprints - it adds up. Where I came from, you went to the local Sheriff, filled out a form, got your prints taken, paid $25 or $30 and about a month later you got your Concealed Weapons Permit. That is not a good system, this system (Texas) is better just too many $$. Now that I am off that soapbox - wife and I travel often in our RV and I generally always have a firearm with me. We stay in Wal-Mart parking lots, Sam's Club parking lots and God Forbid a Rest Area or two. Since our travels take us over State Lines at times, I felt that I would have a better legal standing if I at least had a CHL from my home state that is honored in 30+ other states. Hope to never use my weapon, but if I do, so be it. In 22 years of LE it was out a number of times and several ocassions the hammer was on its way back (revolver).

Michael - Hub City

[RoyGBiv]

...to have excercising my God-given rights accepted by the gooberment...

Soon after NC passed their CC law in 1995 I signed up for the class and got a license.
I had no plans to carry 24/7 at the time, but,....

1. Why not be licensed in case I changed my mind?
2. I'd avoid any problems traveling to the range (frequently rode my motorcycle on range days).
3. I'd avoid any problems hiking with my gun (private land, before the parks laws changed)
etc.

Just made life easier for "gun people".

[straybrit]

Rather like some of the previous replies ...

35 years ago I was big and fit enough for there always to be an 'easier' target and fast enough to run away if needed. Also, as a middle class geek, I didn't really perceive any danger in my surroundings.

Fast forward to today, the world seems to have got bigger and faster somehow (no - I haven't got old and slow - honest ) and I've got a lot more to protect and worry about. Added to that the perils that surround us all finally impinged on my consciousness, no one incident just a general perception that the bad guys were real. Then I pitched up in Tx - where CHL is a realistic prospect for those without political connections and I thought - "about time to do something".

So now I have the plastic and the gun, which I'm wearing around the house and practicing with at the range. Once the CBST arrives and I get comfortable with it I'll venture out into the world with it. At least at that point if it all goes horribly wrong with my situational awareness then I've got another option.

[Shasta]

I worried for years when Mr. Shasta and I both worked different "on call" situations in not-so-savory neighborhoods around Houston, entering buildings in office parks at night and delivering packages that may contain narcotics. At that time, Mr. Shasta generally carried a handgun (illegally) and I had really mixed feelings about the whole situation.

Fast forward 15 or 20 years, we no longer work "on call" but with the increase in kick-in burglaries and the like, I decided that I needed to get proficient with a gun. Add a life-changing ankle injury and I probably move much more like an "old lady" (victim) than this 50 year old would like to admit.

So, to make a short story long, a combination of increasing crime in our times, personal circumstances, and a desire to stand for our constitutional rights.

[Madbull]

Good thread!. Why I got my CHL, (or rather am waiting ever so patiently for it to be approved)....

First incident that got me thinking about it was while driving to work one night a few years back. I typically work 8pm-6am, but was going in late this night. Driving to work, (less than a mile from it actually), I come to an intersection. As I'm approaching, a passenger car veers around the corner, quickly followed by another. Just before they passed, there was a burst of about 4 shots, I believe from second car. While there was nothing that I could do besides swerving my car off into a blocked-off construction area in an attempt to distance myself, it started the thought process for me. Would having a weapon on me/in my car have helped in that exact scenario? I don't think so, but it made me start thinking about what can happen to anyone, including myself, driving/walking down the road.

Second incident wasn't so much a single thing, but a culmination of several. I work as a LEO dispatcher, and have for the last 11 years. After all these years, thinking back to some of the calls I've either taken myself, or dispatched units to, I realized something. People suck. I realized that I didn't want to be forced to rely on someone else to protect myself or my family from harm.

A CHL gives me another 'weapon' in my toolbox of options should something happen.

[mamabearCali]

I had two close calls in college. Both of which I got away from by my feet (running like ad to a populated area). Scared me, and I took 2 karate classes and a women's self defense course. That was good, taught me the best areas to ht in a fight and taught me situational awareness. It taught me how to fall and land on my feet. So I stayed safer for about 9 years by situational awareness, luck, and avoiding situations where I might be at risk.

Then one day I was walking with my kids in a local park. I had a baby in a sling and two children in stroller. As I got to the middle of the walking trail a shady character passed by me and gave me a VERY unsettling look. Nothing happened, but in that moment I realized just how vulnerable my children and I were. If he attacks me I could not run, nor with three kids could I fight. That started the ball rolling. A few weeks later my DH was away for the night. As always I heard noises in the night and I wished for Chris. It then occurred to me if someone wanted to hurt me even if Chris was home, if the intruder was armed Chris would be willing to die to protect the kids and me, but then what? What topped it off was the killing of the family in Conneticut. She got word to the police, and they were outside her house as she and her daughters died at the hands of two madmen.

That was it, that was not going to happen to me and mine. Both my DH and I got our CHL (open carry is legal in VA, but I like options). We got a glock 36 , .45 caliber suitable for home defense and CC. We are now looking at getting a .9mn (thinking of a Karh CM 9, for me because I have had some trouble carrying the glock and both Chris and I want to be armed at the same time. Eventually (as soon as financially feasible) I want a shotty for home defense and a .22 rifle.

That is my story. I have learned so much along the way. Having a gun, carrying, and thinking about all the angles that go with it has made me a better person, a better mom, and a better citizen.

[RPB]

Well, I guess I haven't posted in this thread yet so here goes.

My driver's license was renewed online/by mail so the photo was like 8 years ago old photo that looks nothing like the handsome guy I am
My library card photo looked good and it was recent
The CHL instructor said he took photos ... and it would be on a State Issued Document just like a Driver's license I could use for Official ID when voting
So I figured I'd get that so I could be "officially" good looking because the election judge lady won't accept my library card.

Plus, back when I lived in the city and had the 2 holdups with guns at my head (2 guys and 5 guys) and being told to lay on the floor, I figured it might be ok to protect myself if the occasion arose, even tough I'm out in the country nowadays.
Also, I could carry better protection from rattlesnakes easier than toting around a garden hoe everywhere I go.

And ...

'Cause I'm creeping up in years and can neither fight nor run all that well anymore. That, and I watch the news...

[Dave2]

My driver's license was renewed online/by mail so the photo was like 8 years ago old photo that looks nothing like the handsome guy I am
My library card photo looked good and it was recent
The CHL instructor said he took photos ... and it would be on a State Issued Document just like a Driver's license I could use for Official ID when voting
So I figured I'd get that so I could be "officially" good looking because the election judge lady won't accept my library card.

I think that's the best answer yet

[TheMechanic]

A few years ago I was almost robbed (or possibly shot) by 3 guys after my car broke down, more break-ins in my neighborhood, police shooting at large aggressive dogs running on my street, increased shooting incidents at businesses near me...yeah, I figured it was time. Just the other day, a friend of the family had to escape from two armed guys trying to rob him at an intersection while he was going to work, sheesh. The friend us getting his CHL now.