Talking to my neighbor...

[MotherBear]

My neighbor and I were talking this evening about how we keep an eye on things around the neighborhood and some of the stuff that's gone on in and around town lately. Over the course of the conversation, she mentioned that she tried to get a CHL once but was told she couldn't because she had been raped as a teenager. Obviously that's not true, but is there any reason she would have been told that aside from gross incompetence? She said they told her that because she had been a victim she'd be likely to overreact and just shoot someone. I told her that's not what the law says and if that was why she didn't get her license, she should go ahead and take the class from a reputable instructor and apply, but I just wondered if there's some reasonable explanation for what she was told. I didn't think to ask her if it was just an instructor who said that or if she ever actually sent in an application to DPS -- I'll do that next time I see her.

[jbarn]

My neighbor and I were talking this evening about how we keep an eye on things around the neighborhood and some of the stuff that's gone on in and around town lately. Over the course of the conversation, she mentioned that she tried to get a CHL once but was told she couldn't because she had been raped as a teenager. Obviously that's not true, but is there any reason she would have been told that aside from gross incompetence? She said they told her that because she had been a victim she'd be likely to overreact and just shoot someone. I told her that's not what the law says and if that was why she didn't get her license, she should go ahead and take the class from a reputable instructor and apply, but I just wondered if there's some reasonable explanation for what she was told. I didn't think to ask her if it was just an instructor who said that or if she ever actually sent in an application to DPS -- I'll do that next time I see her.

You would have the person who told her that to learn why they told her that.

The information she was given is wrong.

[baldeagle]

Whoever told her that is an idiot.

[Unicorn Rancher]

Grasping at straws, the only thing I could come up with is perhaps she was diagnosed with a disqualifying psychiatric disorder. Otherwise it makes no sense to me.

[OldCannon]

Nobody that can speak about it officially would say that, ever. She seems to be letting the ignorant empower her fears.

[MotherBear]

Thanks for verifying. When she told me that, I couldn't believe anyone would say that and I wondered if maybe there was some simple misunderstanding. I'll invite her to the next ladies' night at the range and introduce her to some actually competent instructors.

[jmra]

Just guessing here, but it sounds to me that there is more to your neighbors story/reason for not getting a CHL than she is saying.

[Jim Beaux]

Just guessing here, but it sounds to me that there is more to your neighbors story/reason for not getting a CHL than she is saying.

Yup. First impression that came to my mind.

[MotherBear]

I've considered that as a possibility because it seems so outlandish. I haven't known her all that long (they've lived here less than two years) and all I know about her is what she tells me. But I figure if there is more to the story either she knows it and she won't bother to actually try again regardless of what she may tell me, or she will try again and she'll get rejected again and the real reason will be explained to her... so no harm done in either case. But if what she told me is the whole story, then it would be a shame if she went on believing that.

My other best guess is that she tried to go to some two-bit "instructor" who heard her background and just told her she couldn't because he thought it was a bad idea... up there with the ones who think women shouldn't shoot semiautomatics because we can't rack the slide.

[jmra]

I've considered that as a possibility because it seems so outlandish. I haven't known her all that long (they've lived here less than two years) and all I know about her is what she tells me. But I figure if there is more to the story either she knows it and she won't bother to actually try again regardless of what she may tell me, or she will try again and she'll get rejected again and the real reason will be explained to her... so no harm done in either case. But if what she told me is the whole story, then it would be a shame if she went on believing that.

My other best guess is that she tried to go to some two-bit "instructor" who heard her background and just told her she couldn't because he thought it was a bad idea... up there with the ones who think women shouldn't shoot semiautomatics because we can't rack the slide.

How would an instructor know she was raped to begin with unless she has DOTM (can't keep her mouth shut)? This just doesn't pass the smell test to me.

[Texsquatch]

I don't recall that question on the app. My guess, aside from some amazingly inept instructor, is that she just heard some story through the grapevine and it just ran from there. If she actually applied and was denied, then there's obviously more to the back story. If not, then hopefully you did enough to encourage her to go for it.

[Abraham]

Assuming truth being told all around, victimizing this woman, again...is unconscionable....

Being criminally victimized and it's concomitant, monstrous emotional scarring isn't to be underestimated.

If, assuming she's qualified, she might benefit greatly for the peace of mind being armed may bring...

[SewTexas]

I wonder.....

I wonder if she tried really soon after she was raped? maybe she was still in counselling for it? just thinking "out loud" here....
that or just talking about it to the instructor about it and he decided it wasn't a good idea, who knows at this point...

I'd say she should try again.

[C-dub]

If we're thinking out loud ... one group of people that are in favor of gun control are the criminals. They don't obey gun control laws, but know many potential victims do and will. Apply that logic to this scenario. I'm just sayin. Either the person is ignorant or if this person is a man is there some other reason why he wouldn't want her to have a gun? Or is that just a little bit too far out there?

[gigag04]

In for the real story