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seamusTX wrote: I'm envious that they let you draw from a holster, though.

I would be envious as well however they don't. "Standard" range rules at this range, no drawing from holster, no 'rapid fire'. Even though I enter with a concealed carry my procedure is to empty the clip and the chamber once at the assigned range, putting my hollow points in aside, loading range rounds, shooting by the their rules, and reversing the process when I'm done.

I very seriously would love to find a place where I could practice drawing & shooting as that's how it would work out IRL but I understand their concerns for not allowing it.

My family, and wife's family all know. My closest friends know too. Why? Because of our conversations, I've convinced several of them to get their own CHL. They know me, and that I'm not weird or crazy, and through that the idea of self-protection, and carrying a gun is less odd or scary.

With casual acquaintances and clients, I generally don't bring it up. If shooting, guns, or self-defense comes up, I can usually lead into the conversation by getting them to admit they have a CHL first. If they do, then I figure the door is open. If they don't, then I'll steer clear. For example, a client might be discussing having their car broken into. I'll ask what they would have done if they had happened upon the thief in the middle of the crime, and they might respond with either call the police, OR whip out their gun. If they say they would pull out their gun, I plainly ask if they have a carry license. It's all good from there.

Great story!

I tell no one when I carry or if I'm carrying......only family and VERY close friends know I have the license. Looking back, I shouldn't have told the friends, just proud to have the CHL. I can't think of any good reason for friends knowing.

RiverRat wrote:I can't think of any good reason for friends knowing.

To encourage them to get their CHL's.

You can lead people toward the value of having a CHL, but I think it's a good idea to proceed one step at a time. Most people reject the concept of armed self-defense, because they instinctively feel that if they don't think about bad things, bad things won't happen.

Going too fast can alienate them.

Alienating your friends and relatives is bad enough. They can talk about you and start gossip. Depending upon the community, it could be a problem down the road. There's nothing wrong with having a CHL, but gossip tends to become distorted and exaggerated.

Alienating someone that you work with can cost you your job, as has been stated.

- Jim

atxgun wrote:

seamusTX wrote: I'm envious that they let you draw from a holster, though.

I would be envious as well however they don't. "Standard" range rules at this range, no drawing from holster, no 'rapid fire'. Even though I enter with a concealed carry my procedure is to empty the clip and the chamber once at the assigned range, putting my hollow points in aside, loading range rounds, shooting by the their rules, and reversing the process when I'm done.

I very seriously would love to find a place where I could practice drawing & shooting as that's how it would work out IRL but I understand their concerns for not allowing it.

Lone Star Gun Range. It's my regular range. Just a bit south of Austin in Lockhart.

They allow drawing from the holster and moving/shooting. Rapid fire is fine as long as you are controlling your shots.

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flb_78 wrote:

RiverRat wrote:I can't think of any good reason for friends knowing.

To encourage them to get their CHL's.

"All the cool kids are doing it..."

I'm an instructor, so I discuss it much more frequently than I'd advise the average license holder.

DoubleActionCHL wrote:I'm an instructor, so I discuss it much more frequently than I'd advise the average license holder.

Same here.

Only my close family, my sister and two daughters.

When I first received my CHL I was so proud of it I was tempted to tell everyone I seen...however, I joined this forum before I had my CHL, so... I learned that is was not a good idea to do that and I am thankful that I did not have to learn that the hard way.

-geo

bryang wrote:Only my close family, my sister and two daughters.

When I first received my CHL I was so proud of it I was tempted to tell everyone I seen...however, I joined this forum before I had my CHL, so... I learned that is was not a good idea to do that and I am thankful that I did not have to learn that the hard way.

-geo

Those of us who did have to learn the hard way are glad we were able to help others here avoid making the same mistakes.

So wearing the card like you're playing Indian Poker is "bad' huh?

Morgan wrote:So wearing the card like you're playing Indian Poker is "bad' huh?

I don't know what Indian Poker is but I guess your asking if telling others is a bad thing.

If that's the case, I think is is prudent to be very selective who knows as they now have the ability to inform others.

I imagine many of us here have friends or coworkers that are staunch liberal antis. When they learn you have a CHL they may be of the type that think that means you're some gun toating loon that thinks he's some kind of mercenary and looking to shoot people whenever you get the chance.

What ever their delusions are the fact remains they don't want to be around you. This is especially problematic when discussing with coworkers as Texas is a right to work state and aside from some protected areas such as race, religion, etc, you can get fired just b/c the boss feels like being a jerk and you have little recourse.

Frankly I'm more willing to be open with others I don't know if I'm at a venue like a gun store since if they're strangers, they don't know who they aren't going to start spreading rumors around people I do know. Now, I'm certainly not going to tell people I don't know when it's outside of a pre established gun friendly environment.

I don't make friends with ultra left wing antis. I have lots of liberal friends who are consistent with the precepts of liberalism and fully support the constitution and bill of rights. I'm very fortunate to work for a company that has fire arms instructors, owns our own ranges, and issues firearms to many employees.

The Indian Poker thing was a joke. This is indian poker: