TexasCHLforum.com

Never do anything armed that you wouldnt do unarmed. If you carry so that you can put yourself in more dangerous situations then someday someone will put that to the test for you. I dont know about you, but thats a test I hope I never have to take. Someone is going to fail and there is a 50% chance it will be me.


Something about your post just feels wrong though, it strikes me as made up, at least in some areas of the story - if not the whole thing.

Whatever. I can assure you its not made up. I dont come to this forum to tell stories. Maybe you feel its made up because I told the police I had my S&W 9mm 5906 tactical in my briefcase, but in reality I just said, "there is another pistol in my briefcase". Just wanted the readers to know what I was carrying instead of explaining it. Oh well, I have nothing to prove. Just thought I'd share a personal experience so people would know how things happen sometimes. Thanks to everyone who DIDNT criticize me or call me a liar. Maybe I'll think twice about posting in this forum next time. Furthermore, I dont place myself in situations that put me in dangerous positions whether armed or unarmed. I was agreeing with the poster who said that sitting in my car with the doors unlocked in a bad neighborhood was not the brightest of ideas, however in case something did happen as a result, I am glad I would be armed.

Under the circumstances described, it may have been worthwhile to consider apologizing for the unintentional flash and identifying oneself as a CHL holder to alleviate the clerk's justifiable concern.

Excaliber, I am smart enough to have considered doing this at the time. However, I thought there was a small chance he didnt actually see it. I did not want to take the risk of making him aware of my pistol if he didnt really make eye contact with it. He was looking kinda at my face at the same time. I felt it best not to discuss it by drawing attention to it.

From a situational awareness perspective, if one's first clue that there are multiple police vehicles and officers present and focused on you is a bright light and a pistol next to one's head, it might be a good time to review how one maintains awareness of his surroundings, particularly in known insecure locations.

I do take a little offense to this statement as you dont know how I was sitting, where my vehicle was or how silent the officers were when they arrived. For the record, I was pulled into a parking space with 2 cars on each side of me. The police officers left their cruiser headlights off, no sirens of course. They crept up on me quietly from behind. One second they were not there, the next second I see their flashlights and pistols. I am always very aware of my surroundings. Its easy for people to judge another individuals situation when they were not even there. Its easy to say what you "would have done" or what you "normally do".

From a strategic standpoint, if a neighborhood is known to be dicey, eating fast food in one's car in a convenience store parking lot with doors unlocked is an invitation to robbery or carjacking.

I do agree with that, but thats why I am strapped.

I also agree with The Annoyed Man - 12 o'clock is a common stickup artist's carry position and an uncommon choice for lawfully armed folks, except in some special circumstances. Four o'clock carry would have prevented the entire situation in this case, and would give the OP a far better chance of being able to continue to enjoy his "wedding tackle" in its original and fully functional condition for years to come.

I carry in that particular positon with that pistol only. I carry in other positions depending on what I am wearing and what pistol I have. I feel like I can carry in whatever position I choose. I dont care if gangbangers or stickup artists carry that way. I could care less what people do in the movies. I do what makes me feel comfortable and safe. Looking back on it I wouldnt change anything about the whole situation. Being curteous to the officers is important to me because I know a few FWPD. They are friends. I know some said they would not have been so nice about it. The officers were being very cordial after they found out I was a CHL, so why not return the favor?

Hello all. I am new to this forum, but not new to guns and shooting. I wanted to share my exciting/troubling experience with you all tonight. I live in Fort Worth. I just drove my SUV down to Hemphill to grab some yummy Mexican tacos in the not so nice neighborhood. This is a place I go all the time. I am carrying my 38 special in an Uncle Mikes IWB holster at 12 oclock. Well, I walked into the convienence store that the taco truck is next to so I could grab a coke. As I am walking to the counter I notice my shirt has rode up slightly and hooked over my pistol. I ran out of the house and grabbed a shirt that was lying on the floor. Its cotton and has shrunk a little. I normally would not try and conceal my weapon with this shirt, but was in a hurry. Well, I look up and the clerk sees my pistol right as I notice it and reach up and grab my shirt to cover it back up. He looks at me with a weird look on his face, I buy my coke and thank him and nothing else is said. I go out to my truck and proceed to eat my yummy tacos. Well about 5 minutes later I notice that he is closing his doors and locking up. I thought it was weird because it was only 6pm and he left his "open" sign on. I don't think much of it and continue eating. 5 minutes later I here something outside my truck. I see bright lights and see pistols in my face. I hear "put your hands up and don't move a muscle, Fort Worth Police". I look over and see like 5 officers surrounding my truck throwing down on me. Luckily my doors were unlocked so they didn't have to break my windows. Next thing you know I have this very nervous/edgy cop in my face with his Beretta inches from my face. He says "were is your gun"? First thing out of my mouth was "CHl, CHL, I'm a CHL". Thought that would lighten the mood up a little but I can assure you it didn't. I said, "I am carrying a .38 special in my waist band at 12 oclock". He reaches down and disarms me. He asked if I had anything else in the truck. I said, "yes there is a S&W 9mm 5906 tactical in my briefcase and my Mossberg home defender is riding next to me stuffed in between the passenger seat and console. All the officers were like what we got here? Keep in mind this all happened in about 30 seconds. The first officer proceeds to pull me out, grabs my arm and pushes me to the ground felony stop style. Of course he cuffs me up, pulls my pockets out and slings my assisted opening knife across the concrete. I get stuffed into the back of the cop car after they secure my weapons. They go inside and talk to the clerk who proceeds to tell them that he was robbed a few days ago at gunpoint. Little did he know I was one of the good guys. If I really wanted to rob him he would already be broke. He called the cops because he thought I was going to rob him. Now I am sitting here thinking am I going downtown for failing to conceal my weapon? Well the officers still have not gotten my CHL license out of my wallet. Apparently they were looking me up on their system. Well they finally came back to the car and opened the back door. They asked if I was really a CHL because I wasn't coming up and where was my license. I told them it was in my wallet. Finally they found it and ran my name for warrants. One officer came up to me and said, "dont worry, if your clean we will cut you loose", the clerk is just a little freaked out." I'm kinda freaked out too cause there are 8 cop cars there and everyone kinda seemed confused. They finally settled everything down and let me out and took off the cuffs. They were like, "son whats the deal with all the firepower. Why do you have that shotgun with the surefire light and 6 shell side saddle"? I said, "same reason you do sir, protection. He was like ,"are you some kind of gun nut"? Now of course I was at the gun show yesterday and today and have been surfing the forum all day, but I was like "no not really". They told me the clerk freaked out and thought I was gonna come bustin in there. I was thinking to myself if I wanted to rob the store I sure wouldnt be in the parking lot eating tacos after he saw my weapon. Well, we all joked around a bit and the mood lightened up. One officer told me he had the same shotgun at home and proceeded to tell me his 38 is in an ankle holster. They handed me back all my guns unloaded and told me my briefcase was full of my ammo (thirteen 9mm rounds five 38 rounds and 6 double OO 12 gauge shells. They apologized for having to ruin my meal and I said ,"no problem officers, you guys are doing a fine job I am glad to be going home." They told me to be more careful and I shook a few hands and went back to load my weapons. All in all it was an o.k. experience. Cant say things could have been any better. Again, I know I made an error. I don't need anyone telling me that. Save it. One day when your shirt blows up from the wind and someone makes you, you will know it CAN happen. I just thought I would share this interesting experience with you all. Be safe and have fun.