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This might sound like a dumb question, but I have to plead ignorance. If I'm talking to one of my friends in general conversation, is there a law that says I can't let him know I have a CHL? Thanks for your replies.

Welcome to the forum.

No, there's no law against disclosing your carry status, nationality, race, age, sex, marital status, or anything else, unless maybe you are in some kind of secret service.

- -Jim

Thanks for the quick response.

Only thing I've always been taught to be careful of is saying "Yes I have a gun on me right now. It's right here on my hip" ... not that this would necessarily constitute "failure to conceal", but someone who's a bit anti-RKBA - either the person you're telling, or the person eavesdropping on your conversation at the coffee shop - could overreact and tell police "there's a man inside claiming to have a gun - I don't know if he's going to rob the place or what".

I've even had a relative - after revealing very discreetly to him that I was carrying - shout out on a public street "You have a gun on your right now!?!?!" loudly enough that people turned their heads.

Best to let the fact you have a gun on you at that moment go unsaid.

Well, you do have to be careful about what you tell to whom, when, and where.

If you're talking to someone who is clueless, saying that you have a CHL or Texas Concealed Handgun License will make them sit back and try to think for a minute. Then you can say that you are exercising your rights.

I haven't had anyone go nuts; but then I don't get out much.

- Jim

Personally, I would be very careful about who I disclose the fact that I have a CHL to. The only people that know I carry are my wife and immediate family. Two or three friends know that I have a CHL, but they have their CHL's as well, so from time to time we will "talk shop", but that is it. The only people who I talk to about carrying are the guys on this forum! This is a safe place to share stories and ideas, but I think discussing it around people who may not share your views can only lead to problems. Best to lay low, and save the discussions for this forum in my humble opinion.

I agree. I certainly would not bring up the subject unsolicited, or to people that I knew to be anti-RKBA.

The only people that need to know are your spouse, children old enough to understand, or significant others who may be with you when you are attacked, and acquaintances who fully understand the gravity of armed self defense.

There was a thread a couple of years ago where someone told his coworkers that he had a CHL, and one of them subsequently almost "volunteered" him for a gunfight:

We're going out to lunch last Friday. There's 4 of us in one car (not mine, i'm not driving btw). Someone cuts us off in the middle of the parking lot. The driver opens his window and begins yelling some creative obscenities at the driver in front of us. The driver in front of us sticks his middle finger out the window, and it ends there.

The following conversation ensued afterward:
Passenger: "Chill out! Just let that guy be! you never know what he'll do! He might have a gun and shoot us!"
Driver: "Yeah, but we've got [Nitrogen] with us, i'm sure he's got a gun stashed away somewhere!"

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... =26&t=1819" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A lot of trouble can come from gossip.

OTOH, I wrote an op-ed article about CHL confidentiality when it was being debated in 2007, which was published with my real name, town, and photo (none of which are secret, anyway).

- Jim

Houston wrote:This might sound like a dumb question, but I have to plead ignorance. If I'm talking to one of my friends in general conversation, is there a law that says I can't let him know I have a CHL? Thanks for your replies.

No, no law against divulging your CHL status. However, if you show him the "secret CHL handshake" then you will be shot for treason.

JJVP wrote:

Houston wrote:This might sound like a dumb question, but I have to plead ignorance. If I'm talking to one of my friends in general conversation, is there a law that says I can't let him know I have a CHL? Thanks for your replies.

No, no law against divulging your CHL status. However, if you show him the "secret CHL handshake" then you will be shot for treason.

whoa whoa whoa! I was NEVER taught that handshake! I demand a full refund!

As has been stated, there is no law regarding this type of disclosure. However, I am personally very selective regarding who gets to know that I am a CHL.

I read something years ago advising not to show off what you carry. I imagine others knowing you carry is similar.

If someone wants to cause you grief easily all they need to do is say something like, "I know he carries and he threatened me with a such-and-such looking gun." Based on just that it sounds reasonable enough for an inquirying police to see you indeed do carry and, sure enough, that is a such-and-such looking gun. Its uphill from there, pardner.

As far as I'm concerned, the fewer people who knows I carry the better. No one knows except my wife, my 2 daughters, my BIL, and one daughters husband. I've asked them not to tell anyone I have a CHL. To them, it's no big deal. But they DO know I can defend them well, if the need ever arises. And THAT is a very big deal indeed.

I'd never reveal to a complete stranger. I'd have to know someone pretty well to tell them.

seamusTX wrote: The only people that need to know are your spouse, children old enough to understand, or significant others who may be with you when you are attacked, and acquaintances who fully understand the gravity of armed self defense.

Which is any child old enough to walk. They may not understand the ramifications, but they need to know what to do when Mommy and Daddy go into emergency mode and that we never talk about the weapon in front of anyone.

By the time a child is two years old, they will know what a gun is and likely have seen it going onto a parent.

As to revealing, I have twin brother best friends that I have known since eighth grade. They both have been shooting with me and know I carry. I was visiting one who had been recently married to a really sweet girl and he had a step daughter and a young son.

I was sitting on their couch; she blew me away when out of the blue she was asking what I thought was a good home defense weapon (tactical pump IMHO). My friend then asked about getting a CHL and told his wife I carried nearly 24/7. He asked if I was carrying now and I said yes. He thought it was hilarious because they had no idea. She wanted to see it, the kids were out and the door was locked so I produced my 23, cleared it and handed it my friend and his wife. I knew my friend was familiar with handguns but had no idea she was so comfortable. They were shocked that I had so effectively concealed such a "large" weapon. That went into what kind of equipment, where to go, tactics, etc. To make a short story long, they are both CHL now. But, I knew them well and knew what to expect when given that information. Most of my family knows and assumes I have it at gatherings, you just need to really know who your dealing with.

Man, I need to look them up.

And keep in mind that relationships change over time. I especially avoid being specific regarding carrying firearms or having a CHL to co-workers. You never know who you might be competiing with over a promotion.

Purplehood wrote:And keep in mind that relationships change over time. I especially avoid being specific regarding carrying firearms or having a CHL to co-workers.

I learned the hard way that you don't have friends at work. You have acquaintances that you like, and people who aren't your enemy yet.

- Jim