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Mine was recent - I've been living in NJ for the past 17 years, and for many various reasons (divorce being one of them), found myself *needing* to get my behind back to the Great State of Texas.... I won't say it's a conversion, because I've never been anti-gun, but didn't own my first one until 2005.

Anyhow, first week of December, 2009, I packed and secured all of my "personal" belongings (including my pistols) into a 6x10 foot trailer (leaving the soon-to-be-ex with everything), hitched it to my Jeep Wrangler and headed south for Collin County. The drive was going very well, and I was very comfortable making the trip...right up until... I passed through Memphis, TN, heading west, went across the river and it was around 5:00 p.m. Planned on staying in Little Rock that night. At 5:00 it was dark (in December, remember), and I pulled into a little convenience store (not well lit, and run down) and gas station to fill up.

I stepped out of the Jeep, put my CC in the pump and started to fill up. Thought I'd give the whole rig the once-around (tires, check the hitch, etc.) while pumping. Just as I step around behind the trailer, I noticed that some dude in a run-down car had pulled in RIGHT behind me - and was out of the car. He approached me (rather quickly), and asked if I had "a couple of dollars for the turnpike" - Now here I am, on the wrong side of the vehicle, no keys in hand, a trailer full of all of my personal belongings, and a pocketful of cash (and more stashed in the car), as VULNERABLE as one could possibly be, with some smarmy dude asking me for $$. My alarm bells FINALLY went off and I reached into my pocket for my cell, and told the guy "sorry man" - and tried not to look intimidated. I offered to call 911 (he saw me punch the number into my phone), and he just sauntered back to his car and drove away. I think I got lucky. It was THAT few moments that made me realize that there ARE BG's out there, and no one is immune, including me. I took a deep breath and was thankful I got out of there without incident, and I did so by doing EVERYTHING wrong.

I had a wake-up call that evening, and have modified many behaviors. When I got to TX, as soon as I received my TDL, I applied for my CHL. Received it this week.

Lessons learned.

1) Watch where you get gas. Get it BEFORE you need it so you have a CHOICE as to where to stop.

2) Situational Awareness - I had ZERO. That has changed. A read of The Gift of Fear has really opened my eyes (as well as all my other senses).

3) Take responsibility for your own protection, that of your family and loved ones, and your property. No one else will.