Does your CHL make you nicer?

[shootthesheet]

Yes it does. For one thing it does help deescalate the situation by giving more confidence that I can deal with problems that I couldn't before. And that I want to be known as a nice guy especially now that I may have to rely on that to defend myself against a hostile court. I am nicer because I am willing to help but more because I am willing to take more knowing I am saving a life by doing so. I don't want to shoot anyone and if I can avoid that by letting some punk think he/she is getting something over on me then I will. Was a time I would have never considered that as even an option and I know a lot of people are the same way still.

[PUCKER]

I'm one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet (matter of fact one of my nicknames includes "happy" in front of my name)...I have no need for antogonism, intimidation, fighting, etc. I'm a pretty sizable go and that right there keeps the majority of folks from tangling with me, that and I try to pick where I go...If I bump into someone I say "pardon me, excuse me." I pretty much smile and laugh everything off unless backed into a corner but usually my silver tongue avoids that.

If that doesn't work then there's a really good buddy that I carry with me, name's Kimber...

[The Annoyed Man]

Debate...? Well, I actually enjoy political and religious debate, but more in a conversational way. I know those are supposed to be verboten topics, but I've enjoyed some truly great conversations with people over them, including people whose opinions differ 180º from my own. Doing that successfully requires having a good attitude, and I think that, generally speaking, I have a good attitude. I think those who know me think of me as a pretty nice, relaxed, and easy going guy, despite my handle.

But arguing? I reserve that for my wife and son. You would have to push me pretty hard to get me into a shouting match with you. Life is too short for that kind of nonsense. If I think I'm being hosed in a commercial transaction, I will stand my ground and insist on defending my self-interests, but not to the point of fussing and cussing, or to the point of engaging in physical stuff.

Besides, due to my physical condition these days, I am probably unable to adequately defend myself physically - which is one of the reasons I sought a CHL in the first place. And even when I was younger and in good shape, I was average sized. I stood 5' 10" and weighed about 170-180 lbs, so I was never what you would call a big guy. Solid, but not BIG.

The main thing that having a CHL has done to my behavior is to simply be more aware of my surroundings, and to behave with a tad more caution. I do drive more slowly these days, but I do everything more slowly these days. So I don't know if it is the CHL, getting older, or southern living that is causing it. Probably all three.

[PUCKER]

Annoyed - it's a sad state that many, many folks don't understand the difference between debate and argue...there is nothing like a nice, lively debate to stimulate the mind and maybe learn something new or "learn someone else something new."

[karder]

I don't know that my CHL has made me nicer, but probably smarter. I don't go to 51% establishments anymore. I don't have a beer when I am at dinner out, if I have a drink I do it at home. I keep my speedometer right at the speed limit as I don't want to deal with tickets. I would say my CHL motivates me to "keep it clean", but then again, maybe it is being married and getting older. At any rate, it is change for the better.

[maximus2161]

I always considered myself a polite person. I dont start trouble. Having a CHL didnt really change anything with one exception. Now I am aware I have a legally concealed handgun on my person. I feel I am expected to be more mature, calm, and patient than the average person. If I see a problem I try and remove myself from the situation. I know I have a gun and also have to be more safety minded. Im not Superman. Just because I have a gun doesnt make me invincible. I just have the means to protect myself and my family God forbid I should have to. I want to go the rest of my life and never have to draw my handgun for self defense. But its nice to know its there.

When I got my CHL I didnt do anything different. I visited the places Id normally go. I didnt go to the bad part of towns because I had a gun. Now my objective when im out is to look for 30.06 signs. But I always try to be polite to people. And in my exposure to people I know with CHL's everyone I met seems to be a genuinely nice and polite person. On a side note, I was having a discussion with my young son the other day and he was asking me something about helping a younger child at Sunday school. I told him one kind act or word is something that a child will be more apt to remember. We see people acting awful everyday and its common place. But true kindness tends to not be forgotten and in some cases can be a life changing event.

[drjoker]

They drove up on me with a shotgun hanging out the window and I unloaded on them. two guys were trying to kill a guy and his son in a truck on the Dallas Tollway.

Yeah, I used to get into these road rage incidents sometimes when I take a long road trip where a guy would tailgate me, so I'd slow to a snail's pace to tick him off. Or, I also used to cut people off who've cut me off first after tailgating me. It would inevitably escalate because they'd then try to run me off the road. One time, it escalated into a running game of "chicken" at 100+ mph. That was before CHL. I HATE tailgaters!

I usually don't carry, but I do whenever I'm on a long road trip. Now that I'm armed, I just let it slide. If they tailgate me, I just wave at them and smile to let them know to pass me. I work very hard to keep my cool so that I won't escalate things and end up taking a life. I used to drive like a maniac at 90 mph as my minimum highway speed. Now, to avoid getting a ticket and possibly an unfortunate cop encounter a la Costco, I no longer speed. I drive at the speed limit 100% of the time.

So, yeah, having a CHL has made me more mellow, pleasant, and constantly smiling at people.

[03Lightningrocks]

They drove up on me with a shotgun hanging out the window and I unloaded on them. two guys were trying to kill a guy and his son in a truck on the Dallas Tollway.

Yeah, I used to get into these road rage incidents sometimes when I take a long road trip where a guy would tailgate me, so I'd slow to a snail's pace to tick him off. Or, I also used to cut people off who've cut me off first after tailgating me. It would inevitably escalate because they'd then try to run me off the road. One time, it escalated into a running game of "chicken" at 100+ mph. That was before CHL. I HATE tailgaters!

I usually don't carry, but I do whenever I'm on a long road trip. Now that I'm armed, I just let it slide. If they tailgate me, I just wave at them and smile to let them know to pass me. I work very hard to keep my cool so that I won't escalate things and end up taking a life. I used to drive like a maniac at 90 mph as my minimum highway speed. Now, to avoid getting a ticket and possibly an unfortunate cop encounter a la Costco, I no longer speed. I drive at the speed limit 100% of the time.

So, yeah, having a CHL has made me more mellow, pleasant, and constantly smiling at people.

LOL...my situation was just a bit more than tailgating but your correct when you speak of situations escalating. I have begun to realize that most of the folks tailgating don't even realize they are doing it, especially the really smart ones who are text messaging while ridng my bumper. I have caught myself riding to close to others bumpers and did not realize what I was doing for a few minutes and then I back off again. I try real hard not to get worked up. Part of my thinking may have more to do with getting older than having a CHL.

[jtran987]

i completely agree with this post, when i carry i still get angry and annoyed but the same things, but i always realize that i am carrying and from what i was told the law considers us CHLers a bit above the average citizen and i try to take the high road, not only for the reason but i dont want to be caught up in a fist fight that will send me to jail, fined, and have my CHL revoked

[03Lightningrocks]

........not only for the reason but i dont want to be caught up in a fist fight that will send me to jail, fined, and have my CHL revoked

I am glad to read that I am not the only one who has this concern. i can't tell you how many times I have thought about this when I feel myself getting upset.

I do feel like having a CHL requires me to behave just a notch more civilized than others. It is very similar to what one is taught at the beginning of any martial arts training. You don't use your advantage over others to bully folks around. Full disclosure, I am no martial arts expert, I know just enough BJJ to get myself beat up...LOL I only used that as an example to make a point.

My worst nightmare would be having to draw and fire my weapon because I started a situation that got out of hand and a turned into a "me or them" situation.

I was in Austin a few months back drinking and partying on 6th street and surrounding. My Hotel was that Hilton right beside it. I was not driving and as anyone who has been down there knows, the police typically won't arrest you for PI unless you start trouble. Just the same... the concern about doing something stupid to lose my CHL was always in the back of my mind. I still drank a lot... ... I just stopped one or two Long islands sooner than I might have a few years back.

[Oldgringo]

03Lightningrocks wrote:

My worst nightmare would be having to draw and fire my weapon because I started a situation that got out of hand and a turned into a "me or them" situation.

Do you still carry that lavender Glock .380 and order drinkys with umbrellas in 'em?

[03Lightningrocks]

03Lightningrocks wrote:

My worst nightmare would be having to draw and fire my weapon because I started a situation that got out of hand and a turned into a "me or them" situation.

Do you still carry that lavender Glock .380 and order drinkys with umbrellas in 'em?

... Not me OG.

[Embalmo]

03Lightningrocks wrote:

My worst nightmare would be having to draw and fire my weapon because I started a situation that got out of hand and a turned into a "me or them" situation.

Do you still carry that lavender Glock .380 and order drinkys with umbrellas in 'em?

Don't tease my wife. If she saw this post, she would insist on getting a lavender Glock .380! Wait-What color is lavender? I guess my wife knows, I'll ask her.

[MadMonkey]

I've definitely changed a couple of things since I started carrying, but not really anything anyone else would notice. The responsibility of carrying every day keeps me from getting angry like I used to... I know that getting upset will only mess up my judgment and escalate a situation. I wasn't on a "hair trigger" before, but I do have a pretty quick temper (quick to forgive and forget afterward though, haha).

I drive even more defensively, which I already did. Road rage is one of my primary concerns... I drive a tiny car.

I tend to immediately let things go now, keep cool and and keep a clear head. All in all it's been a help to me in more than one way.

[HankB]

It's been a long time since I've been a somewhat hot-tempered teenager.

These days, on those rare occasions when some would-be road rager tries to start something with me, while I mentally may be flipping him the bird or cussing him out, externally I smile, shrug, wave, and let the idiot think I'm apologizing for whatever the heck he thinks I did - I do nothing to escalate the situation, I try to back off and avoid him.

He gets to drive off convinced that he's Alpha Male King of the Road . . . and I don't have to shoot anybody.

Good outcome, in my book.