TexasCHLforum.com

I grew up in southeast Arkansas and thought of guns as tools, not terribly different from fishing poles, frog gigs, or pocket knifes. They brought meat from the woods to the freezer. For the first 4 decades of my life I was taught that you don't point a gun at a human being for ANY reason. I just grew up in a world where you left you house unlocked and the keys in your car. The idea of needing to kill a human was just not something we ever experienced. The whole concept of having, and carrying, a gun for the purpose of pointing it at and possibly killing another person is a little tougher than I expected.
Please don't waste your time or mine with the logical reasons. I know them, which is why I'm getting my CHL and will carry. Making a logical, mental decision is easy. Overcoming 40 years of conditioning is a little harder.
I first carried almost 30 years ago. There was a three year period where I deemed it necessary. There was no CHL in those days. I just bought a little .25 ACP and made sure I could pull it and knock over a coke can at 25 yards. The mind set was different from what I gather from most on this and similar boards. It was absolutely a last ditch option. De-escalation, or more likely escape was the first goal. By the time the gun came out, there would already be the strong probability of death or serious injury. It was my hope that the little .25 might make it them rather than me or mine. I was not a lawman. I did not get the gun with the idea of going into a situation, gun blazing dispensing justice.
So, where am I now? Why did I decide to get my CHL?
My wife and I ride motorcycles. I prefer small backroads, puttering along at or even slower than, the speed limit. We used to ride with friends, but for one reason or another, they have all stopped riding. That leaves just me and the missus out on the back roads by ourselves. A quick check of the calendar shows me it's no longer 1970. With all of my former compatriots gone, I decided it might not hurt to have along a friend of a different caliber.
My mindset when I set out on the endeavor was the same as the one I practiced 30 some years ago. just mind my own business, run if possible, shoot only if I absolutely have to. Other people can take care of themselves.
I'm not saying I've changed my philosophy, but lurking around this and a couple of other boards get's me to a least thinking about it.
I'd like to hear from lawyers and police officers. How to you guys see the role of citizen CHL holders?