TexasCHLforum.com

Even though my wife is anti-gun and I own zero guns, we both have CHL's. Why? Because if you ever need one, it will take months to get one as the wait is atrocious. Mine took 9 months! Most take at least a month. For example, if you're being stalked, do you really want to wait 9 months before you can protect you and your kids? We both think of a CHL as an insurance policy. We hope that we'll never have to use it, but if necessary, it's comforting to know that it's there.

I would highly recommend you acquire, familiarize, and become proficient with your chosen firearm now, rather than wait until you "need it".

9mm's are not that expensive, and there are plenty of IDPA clubs around. While competition is not "tactical" training, regular competition is one of the most efficient ways to develop and maintain proficiency, and the folks are very nice and welcome husband and wife "teams".

Bottom line: Firearms proficiency takes time to develop, so start now. It is better to be proficient and not need to be, than NEED to be proficient and not.

As a former service member, my time in country has been sporadic, at best...

I had a GA state permit in the late-90's, however, between an over seas assignment barring personal arms, and service in Afghanistan and Iraq, I have spent at least some part of every year over seas since the whole shin-dig kicked off in 01', minus a year and a half stint as an instructor. So between deployments, and moves around the country, I figured why bother...

Now that I am semi-settled, I finally applied for a TX permit, which will take forever due to the multi-county background checks needed due to moves, and despite a spotless record.