New here and wanted to share my experience

[Rotgirl]

Hello all!

I got my CHL after walking into a vacant, foreclosed house I was managing (I'm a licensed real estate broker) 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 2 cops that were taking a report on a burned-out car someone had left on the front lawn of little church next door. Cops couldn't catch them but it 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) in November, had to resubmit/redo my fingerprint card and FINALLY got my license in hand in March.

I carry everywhere we go now.....not just to our properties. .45 on my hip and a 380 at my back.

Have not had any problems yet and have not had to draw but I do want to share my "close call" experience with ya'll.

I was driving alone from Fort Worth down to meet my husband at our house on the coast. Had 2 of my Rottweilers with me. Stopped at a the turn out on the other side of LaGrange for a short break.

There are 2 "driveways" at this turn out. The one in back is shaded and there's a lot of grass for the dogs to run around on. Pretty isolated area.

No one was there.....which is normal and why we usually stop there. So I let the dogs out and let them run around for a few minutes.

While I'm standing beside the truck watching them, I see, out of the corner of my eye, a Mustang pulling in. Don't think anything of it and assume it's going to pull into the 1st driveway closer to the highway since I'm back here on the 2nd drive. But I go ahead and call the dogs to get them in the loaded in case it's someone with dogs.

The "good" dog comes right away and jumps in. The "bad" dog had wandered into the grassy area between the 2 driveways. I call her again and am surprised when the Mustang drivies on around into the 2nd driveway, goes past me and my truck and pulls in and stops just ahead and to the left of where I'm parked. I can see there's just a single male in the car.

The "bad" dog is now ambling toward the Mustang so I take a few steps toward her and the car and call her again. As I'm doing this, the driver gets out of his car and starts walking toward the back of his car and toward me.

Just then, the wind catches my vest and blows it open so he sees my .45. He immediately turns around and gets back in his car and drives off.

I don't know what his intentions had been but I believe they weren't good.

Up to that point, I had not been carrying when I was driving. That monring, something told me to go ahead and wear the gun and not put it in the center console like I normally did. I think that decision saved my life that day.

I now carry even when I'm driving.

Thanks for letting me share my story. Be safe out there!

Ciao......rg

[USA1]

hi Rotgirl ,
its very nice to meet you .
thanks for sharing . i like your caliber choice .

honsetly , the Rottweilers would be enough to keep me away

[mikeintexas]

Welcome to the forum, Rotgirl! Thanks for sharing your story. I also like your caliber choices, .45 and .380 is what my wife and I carry. There is a lot of good information and a lot of good people here.

[ELB]

Welcome aboard! I expect finding the copper burglars was very motivating.

Best wishes!

[joe817]

Welcome Rotgirl! Thanks for sharing that story. Your situational awareness is serving you well.

This is a great forum, and a wealth of information to be had. Glad to have you with us!

[Kevinf2349]

Welcome, Rotgirl.

Never underestimated the deterant power of a large dog....Our dog is 90lbs and she has a loud bark and a strong sense of protection. She is a sweetheart but when she thinks you are getting too close to my wife, without my wifes consent she is all bark and bravardo.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Welcome aboard rotgirl!

We're glad you are packing and you're off to a great start with a .45
and a choice of 2 BUG's.

The official state of Texas CHL stats for 2008 show us that 18% of that
year's new CHL's were female.

There are some females on the board but usually CompVest is the only 1
I notice who chimes in with comments. You can access the "Women only"
threads from the "Board Index."

Don't be shy.

SIA

[USA1]

You can access the "Women only"
threads from the "Board Index."



SIA

oh really
surely you haven't been snooping around over there

[Rotgirl]

Welcome, Rotgirl.

Never underestimated the deterant power of a large dog....Our dog is 90lbs and she has a loud bark and a strong sense of protection. She is a sweetheart but when she thinks you are getting too close to my wife, without my wifes consent she is all bark and bravardo.

That's why I have Rotties. One of them was already in the truck and the other was off to his side, I'm sure he didn't see her. But he sure saw my .45!

Thanks for the welcome!

Ciao....rg

[pdubyoo]

Welcome to the family Rotgirl!

Reading stories like yours just reinforces the discussions that take place here. We all have something to learn, and real-life circumstances are the best teacher IMO. We're just glad that you came away from those situations with nothing more than overworked nerves.

-PW

[Rotgirl]

Welcome to the family Rotgirl!

Reading stories like yours just reinforces the discussions that take place here. We all have something to learn, and real-life circumstances are the best teacher IMO. We're just glad that you came away from those situations with nothing more than overworked nerves.

-PW

You know, I was more angry than anything........that someone would DARE to even THINK about doing something to me!!!!!

I don't think I look vulnerable or like a "target"......so I was pretty irritated that someone even made the attempt.

Ciao....rg

[thankGod]

Welcome to the forum!

I don't think I look vulnerable or like a "target"...

When it comes to druggies, thieves or just bad guys in general, we can all look vulnerable.

[ladromar]

Nice choice in regards to dogs and firwpower as well

I used to have a German Rottie too; BEAUTIFUL and very loyal and you could say he was a "BAD" dog if he didn't know you.


I'm glad everything turned out ok in your little road trip.


Ladromar

[TxDrifter]

Welcome and glad your first experience ended with you safe. I'm just glad I've never had one. I will agree with your caliber choice and the dogs as well. I have an 85 lb chocolate lab and he will bark if you come in my yard. It escalates to attack dog if someone puts hand on me in an aggressive manner. He becomes a completely different dog and I never trained him to be that way. He also makes a fantastic alarm in the middle of the night as well as a best friend as only a dog can.