TexasCHLforum.com

Thankfully, I never really had an experience that led me to my CHL. I grew up hunting from as young as I can remember (my family owned 200 acres in Columbus until I was about 18). I got my first shotgun before I was 10. Thankfully, I was blessed with fairly decent genetics and am a large guy, and have trained in grappling, submissions, kickboxing, and weapons disarming techniques, so while I know I'm not invincible, I'm certainly confident (possibly to a fault) with my ability to physically handle myself in an altercation. I fully understand that I may get severely injured, or even killed by an armed assailant if I am unarmed, but that would not stop me from doing everything I can to end it swiftly with minimal damage to myself.

I was born and raised in, and unfortunately still live in, Baytown. Not sure how many of you know anything about Baytown, but it can be rather ghetto at times. I've been talking about getting my CHL for several years, with all the reports of people getting robbed at, kidnapped from (and often murdered later) the grocery stores and walmart (which incidentally, is less than a mile from my house). it's to the point that I dont like my wife going to the store by herself in the middle of the day, and she can forget it at night. I finally just decided to go and take the class, and am glad I do. Now, from the time I get dressed in the morning, to the time I go to bed at night, my pistol is on my hip (even right now as I sit in my recliner). The only time I dont wear it is when I am at work (anti gun policy, it stays in the safe in my truck), or when I have to run into the post office. I feel naked without it now.