What got you interested in Guns / CHL ??

[Eddie2612]

Hello Guys / Gals,

For years I was the type of person that didn't feel "guns were necessary" - I did not grow up in a home with guns, never felt I needed them (was not anti gun, just didn't feel I needed one) Actually - I didnt shoot a handgun until last year (age 32 - my dad bought a Smith and Wesson 38 one day at Academy on a whim) - I grew up with a BB gun, but never had handguns in our house - and honestly I had never held one until age 32.

I went shooting with Pops and had a "decent" time. Not overwhelmingly awesome - but fun.. Couple months later dad bought a sig P232 (.380) - We went to the range shot about 100 rounds and I was hooked - What a fantastic stress reliever (what had I been missing?).. I went to the Denton gun show the next day and got a Sig Mosquito (first time to a gun show as well) ... Pumped 200 rounds, cleaned it - the entire experience was very therapeutic. I thought to myself how an amazing new door had opened..

How does casual shooting lead to a CHL? Everyone's brain has a "reticular activator" - it's the part of your brain that starts to notice things.. Example.. You are shoping for a red Honda Civic - next thing you know you are noticing all of the red Honda Civics driving around town -- they were always there, but now your brain is "tuned in".. Needless to say, once I picked up interest in handguns/shooting I quickly started noticing all of the violence that was taking place around me - homes were being broken into, home invasions, assaults - you name it.. I started to think that perhaps I had been oblivious to all of this - and that CHL was a legit way for me to protect myself and more importantly my family. I soon picked up a Glock 19 for daily carry -- Im currently waiting for my CHL as I sent the paperwork in at the end of April (I know I've got some waiting to do) -

My wife has begun to open her mind to the idea of CHL - After 1 trip to the range she affectionately was referring to my Sig Mosquito as "her gun" - I'm happy because my mostly "anti gun" wife (as of a couple weeks ago) is now not only open to the idea of having a gun, she is proactively asking to go to the range - and her friends want to come as well (now she has someone to go thru CHL Class with).. Here is her youtube clip.. First shots ever of a 9mm on film forever.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXaYTvtJbNI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anywho's.. That's my quick story -- as a new member to the board I would like to let everyone know that I'm very impressed with the content of this site, the opinions of the members and the sheer volume of information (without the bull factor). I normally do not "participate" in web forums, but feel that this site contains an enormous amount of value and I truly feel I can pick up some important knowledge..

Thank You !!!!

[mr surveyor]

I grew up sround and with guns. I can't relate to any other lifestyle.

surv

[jimlongley]

I, like surveyor, grew up in a gun oriented environment, I couldn't imagine NOT having guns.

[atxgun]

I did not grow up around guns. I had shot my uncle's pistol when I was a boy but that was about it. My immediate family was neither particularly pro or anti. I did however grow up w/ a BB gun that I enjoyed which is probably what I got my first handgun for; to try out sportsmanship target shooting. Like the OP said shortly after that I began to notice crime, and more importantly prevented crime by way of law abiding citizens protecting themselves. When I bought my first 9mm handgun the guy at the gun store gave me a card to a CHL course. I didn't think much of it at the time but eventually dug the card up and signed up for the class.

Before I became armed I was the victim of an apartment robbery while I was out of town for Christmas one year. Being that I was away and having had a gun couldn't have prevented that scenario, it didn't directly make me think I need a gun for protection. It did however open my eyes to the fact that the things you think can never happen to you do happen and reaffirmed my decision to get a CHL.

In actuality, getting my CHL has probably put me in a position to where I'm less likely to ever need it. I've since become much more conscious of locking doors, being aware of surroundings, making efforts to avoid dark-alley type scenarios, etc.

[Skiprr]

In actuality, getting my CHL has probably put me in a position to where I'm less likely to ever need it. I've since become much more conscious of locking doors, being aware of surroundings, making efforts to avoid dark-alley type scenarios, etc.

Excellent and often overlooked point.


As for the how/when issue, I'm with Jim and mr surveyor. Firearms were always in the home, and I don't remember there being a safe; rifles had a place in the back of the closet in my parents' bedroom. I was just brought up never to mess with them unless supervised, and I never did. And I remember my friends being brought up the same way; I can't remember a single instance growing up when we were tempted to go "look at the guns."

I was seven or eight when I was deemed old enough to go to the deer lease we had in Llano County, and that meant my mother could start accompanying my father again. There was a little .22 rifle that was dubbed "mine," but it really wasn't; it was just the one I got to shoot from time to time. That first year or two I couldn't go on the hunts, just stay with my mom around the old rickety house that was on the lease. The best part of those trips was when, near the end of the afternoon, my father would set up some targets for me and I got to plink with that .22 until it started to get dark.

At nine or 10, I was given my first, real rifle, a .243 Winchester with a stock shortened to match my size, and was allowed to take my own deer. I had a little hand-me-down .22 revolver, too, that I carried when I was hunting. At 11 I was allowed to select my first real handgun (well, sorta select: even then, I wanted a semi-auto, but my father clarified the options by telling me I could select the revolver I wanted).

[barres]

I did not grow up around guns. I have an uncle that has always been an avid hunter, but my parents were not gun people. Not anti's, but not gun people. I had a boy's natural affinity for guns and weapons, I guess. My uncle taught me how to shoot and gave me my first firearms, two .22 rifles and a .410 over the course of several years. I can remember a couple of times going shooting with my father with a revolver borrowed from a friend of his, but my Dad was no sportsman.

When I was about 11, I started studying martial arts. Even at that tender age, it opened my eyes to what was going on in the world around me and how dangerous people could be. Growing through my college years, I was observant and cautious of my surroundings; some people even commented that I was paranoid or "a worrier." I bought my first handgun on my 21st birthday.

I had always been cognizant of crime and the need for personal defense, but, with my martial arts training, I never really considered a CHL until about 5 years ago or so. We were preparing to send our first son to school for the first time, when we heard a report of a flasher across the street from the school he would soon be attending. That's when it dawned on me that my martial arts skills might be enough to protect me (maybe), but they would be less than effective against multiple threats to my family. That day, I determined to get my CHL as soon as it was financially feasible. I've had my CHL now for about 3 years.

[MBGuy]

September 11 was an awakening for me on how vulnerable and hated we are by a certain group of suicidal people, and I take the bus into downtown Houston for work. Suddenly I felt like a sitting duck in the bus.

[timdsmith72]

I, like surveyor, grew up in a gun oriented environment, I couldn't imagine NOT having guns.

Yep, me either. My Dad took me shooting for the first time when I was just shy of 4 I think. Then when I was 5 he bought me my first shotgun (a little .410 single shot with the stock shortened to fit me) and I was allowed to go dove hunting. The first year I sat right beside Dad but the next I got my own little spot in the field. Gun safety has been drilled into me from a very, very young age and I've owned at least one since the time I was 5. I can't imagine NOT having guns in the house.

As far as CHL...Where I grew up, we hardly ever even locked our doors at night much less worried about any kind of violence. However, I've since moved to the Dallas area to be close to where I work and notice things like that now. I've been interested in CHL for several years now and promised myself I would get one when I was financially able. I'm scheduled for class on May 30th!

[USA1]

for me it was about 6 or 7 years ago. one night at about 3am my kids came running into my bedroom saying someones banging on the door! well i jumped up and went to the front door and looked out. there was a guy pounding on the door yelling for someone named (cant remember the name but it wasnt me) at that time we rented a house that was built in 1950 with a flimsy wooden door with alot of glass panels that were rattling .i thought he was going to knock the door down. thats the day when i realized i had no way of protecting my family .i yelled to him "that guy dosent live here" he looked at me through the glass,saw i wasnt who he was looking for and left. the next day i decided to buy a gun. after telling the story to my brother in law, he suggjested the best home defense weapon would be a shotgun, he said most of the time just the sound of the action of chambering a round is enough to settle a situation. since then i have really become aware of potential threats.i dont live in fear or anything, but i realize the world is not full of unicorns and rainbows !

BTW...when i first mentioned getting a chl back then to my mother she said "why in the world would you want to carry a gun?"
about a month ago she called me and said "i think im going to buy a gun, would you go with me to look at them?:
she is in her 60s and lives alone.
im proud of her.

[USA1]

. First shots ever of a 9mm on film forever.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXaYTvtJbNI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;!

she definitely was doing better at the end than at the beginning.

[TDDude]

My father was rather high up in Texas law enforcement and had made a few enemies along the way. As such, there were always loaded guns here and there. He always kept a very mean looking double barrelled sawed off shotgun loaded and in the corner behind my mom's china cabinet.

Plus, growing up in the Texas Hill Country, everybody had a gun. A wise BG wanting to cause trouble would not ask himself, "I wonder if that guy has a gun in the house?", he would ask, "I wonder how much ammo that guy has on hand and would I be able to survive multiple holes in me?".

I collect now because I simply love the history and the heritage of America's guns and the fact that we are the only people left on the planet (besides the Swiss) that I know of that are "allowed" to own firearms.

[USA1]

My father was rather high up in Texas law enforcement and had made a few enemies along the way. As such, there were always loaded guns here and there. He always kept a very mean looking double barrelled sawed off shotgun loaded and in the corner behind my mom's china cabinet.

Plus, growing up in the Texas Hill Country, everybody had a gun. A wise BG wanting to cause trouble would not ask himself, "I wonder if that guy has a gun in the house?", he would ask, "I wonder how much ammo that guy has on hand and would I be able to survive multiple holes in me?".

I collect now because I simply love the history and the heritage of America's guns and the fact that we are the only people left on the planet (besides the Swiss) that I know of that are "allowed" to own firearms.

you sir, are a great american!

[RiveraRa]

I didnt grow up with guns in our house but my 2 uncles and grandfather always had them. Whenever they would visit we would all go shooting. My grandfather even owned a small gun store for a few years. So needless to say, I was never in any way and anti...I just never had one in my house.

I recently got married and had kids (5 years ago) and started taking the role of protector very seriously. I started to get back into shape and start up martial arts again. I was getting interested in purchasing a firearm again but money was tight and I lived in the communist state of NJ at the time. A neighbor then lent me the book "Enemies Foreign and Domestic". After I read that I realized that not only was it necessary for me to purchase a firearm for protection but it was also my right.

I have since moved to TX, purchased my first firearm (more to come as $$ allows), and completed my CHL course.

[USA1]

I didnt grow up with guns in our house but my 2 uncles and grandfather always had them. Whenever they would visit we would all go shooting. My grandfather even owned a small gun store for a few years. So needless to say, I was never in any way and anti...I just never had one in my house.

I recently got married and had kids (5 years ago) and started taking the role of protector very seriously. I started to get back into shape and start up martial arts again. I was getting interested in purchasing a firearm again but money was tight and I lived in the communist state of NJ at the time. A neighbor then lent me the book "Enemies Foreign and Domestic". After I read that I realized that not only was it necessary for me to purchase a firearm for protection but it was also my right.

I have since moved to TX, purchased my first firearm (more to come as $$ allows), and completed my CHL course.

welcome to texas...we love our guns here !

[RECIT]

I was a city boy dumped in the country when I was 5 or 6. I got real acquainted with the country real quick though. In the first year or so my Dad bought a small .22 pump rifle and taught my brother and I gun safety and shooting proficiency. I also had a neat little pump BB gun with a scope on it and I used to give my matchbox cars hell off of our front porch. By the time I was 10 or so I had a Marlin bolt action .22 with a scope on it and was able to shoot whenever my Dad would buy me ammo. Since then I have purchased many firearms rifles and pistols. My Dad was a hunter in his younger days, but I never did take to hunting. I always liked target and marksman type shooting over killing an animal. I have no problem with hunters at all, its just not for me. I have eradicated my fair share of hogs and varmints, but that is part of living in the country. My parents still live in the same spot and I love to go out there and bring my toys so my Dad can shoot without making a huge investment. He still has that same .22 pump rifle and my old .22 Marlin. I have since bought him a Sig Mosquito and he is looking to purchase his first handgun an HK P30 and my Mom and him both are going to be taking their CHL classes in the near future. I was raised to respect guns but also shown how much fun they can be. I'm proud to be a pro gun American in this day and age.