The dilemma is short, but let me provide context up front:
I recently received my CHL in July, until a week ago I have not (sorry, it has not sunk in as habit yet) been consistently carrying my weapon (check sig for my available carries) and I received a call from a close friend concerning an issue with identity theft that had gone further than fraud, but to physical impersonation as well. The bank management issued a dire warning to this individual that due to the reaching nature of the ID theft, that they were in fear for the personal safety of this individual at their home. The recommendation was made to gather important documents, etc... and spend a few nights away from home or hire armed security.
Bear in mind, I'm not the theft victim. My friend called because they know that I can carry (they too are prepping for their CHL course) and because my friend did not want the two individuals going back to the residence without armed protection, again considering the perceived threat.
Here's my mental checklist:
A. I do not want to serve as protector. This is not why I have a CHL.
B. The police refused to come out and at least take a statement from the ID theft victim. This is not a negative review of Dallas PD as the circumstances are understandably low priority and purely speculation.
C. The area of town that this house is located is in the nicer part of the not-so-safe anymore part of town. For you Dallas area members, I'm referring to Oak Cliff.
D. Considering what was at stake, the ID theft victim could not be reasoned with to save this for another day... and even then all it would do is delay the inevitable, potentially risky trip back to their home. The depth of this ID theft did not make either day or night any safer than the other.
Given the circumstances, I did carry my firearm and I did accompany these friends to the ID theft victim's residence and we were able to pack up and secure important details. We were also able to eventually get the police involved and whatever uneasiness I had was put to rest once the officer arrived. For this, I'm glad to have been insistent.
My dilemma is this, and it is obvious that I chose to accompany my friends (their age does make them vulnerable should the worst had occurred):
Option A: I do not look for danger. I do not willingly put myself in a situation just because I have a CHL and so that means I can go anywhere. That's not my heart in this matter, nor is it the reasoning behind why I got one. I like my own house, my own family, and my own personal safety because that is what I'm responsible for. I also want to support the 2nd Amendment and joining the cause for this particular freedom is a meaningful thing to me.
Option B: I do love my friends, and given the circumstances, and the initial refusal by police to be involved it did not seem right to me that my knowledge of the situation regardless of the speculation involved would allow me in good conscience to say "No."
I shouldn't have to ask, "What if?" but nonetheless the question presents itself and while I do not regret the successful outcome of the trip (nothing happened, the police created a file for the friend), I do regret what appeared to me as putting myself into a risky situation instead of successfully formulating a plan to avoid it altogether.
As fellow CHL'ers, I ask for your input and also to what extent you feel our rights to protection allow for this kind of proactivity?
P.S. I do not broadcast my license, the only reason these people knew is because I encourage them to get their own CHLs and that line of discussion led to their knowledge of me.
