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We (the other lady and I) had many discussions about how ANYONE that chooses to carry a firearm should continue their training as much as possible, and keep current on laws etc. It is not a decision to be taken lightly, or a "magic charm" that you are safe if you carry. The firearm is a tool to give you an option you didn't have before, but it is not always the tool of choice.

** disclaimer - this is not meant to be disrespectful to LEO's in any way shape or form, or imply that this is how I feel all LEO's feel about CHL's, firearms and women, as I am well aware it is not. This is just an example of the uninformed, biased opinions that are still out there LEO or not.**

Hubby and I spent the weekend becoming certified as 4-H pistol coaches - very excited to get to work with youth!! In our class was a "reserve LEO". Of course the subject of CHL came up and he said "my advice to any woman that asks me about carrying a gun is it is a better idea to get a two shot tazer. They are safer for everyone, more sure, cheaper and better for a woman". I said my "Dear Lord, please keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth" prayer, and waited. The only other woman in the pistol class said really, how do you figure that, and he went on to say he would much rather face a man with a gun than a woman, because a woman was just going to shoot you or herself or both or someone else too. He went on to add how a tazer would give you 5 minutes to call the police, (I even asked if it was so you could beat feet out of there, and he said no) and if you needed longer you had the second zap. Well, that was all I could take. I told him he needed to do a bit more research on tazers as they don't always stop the attacker.

He wondered why anyone would get their CHL when you could carry all the same places under MPA. He asked where would your carry that you can't carry under MPA - to which we answered MANY places. He listed that you couldn't carry in airports, courthouses or any place that sells alcohol. I told him he might want to research that topic as well, because as long as is is not >51% that was not true. The discussion went on to show his misunderstanding of CHL law in many areas.

He made sure we all knew about the "60 hours of firearms training" he got in the academy, and then both ladies went on to outshoot him - but I am not being catty.... the other lady and I also discussed how we each had more than 60 hours of training, just in the past year.

It was not just him, there were many misconceptions about CHL law flying around, both by those with and without CHL. That being said, my Colt snubby and I sat through more than 18 hours of class and shooting with no one the wiser me quite comfy, and learned a lot about teaching youth about firearms - specifically pistols.

Thanks for letting me vent - and the quest continues to encourage people to become educated.