Does having an emotional support animal keep me from CHL?0

[NicoleWalls]

Best way I know how to explain it is guns help me feel like I can protect and defend myself but it doesn't take away the flashbacks, nightmares & anxiety. Honestly Thor doesn't take away the flashbacks, nightmares or anxiety but he makes it better and easier to cope with. He's a great way to take my mind off of it whenever it starts haunting me again and it's amazing how much loving on a giant German shepherd can lower your heart rate haha animals are one of the greatest blessings God gave us.

[CHLLady]

Best way I know how to explain it is guns help me feel like I can protect and defend myself but it doesn't take away the flashbacks, nightmares & anxiety. Honestly Thor doesn't take away the flashbacks, nightmares or anxiety but he makes it better and easier to cope with. He's a great way to take my mind off of it whenever it starts haunting me again and it's amazing how much loving on a giant German shepherd can lower your heart rate haha animals are one of the greatest blessings God gave us.

Welcome! You are so right about animals. Mine have really helped my stress levels for sure.

While I have no advice on your choice you presented here, I would like to suggest group therapy if you have not already tried it. I believe being with other survivors will help you transition through the stages you go through after such a traumatic experience. You are not alone. I wish you all the best and applaud you for looking at all of your options and taking steps forward and pushing the ugliness the heck out of your way. You are in control and are clearly looking for the best solution for you. Bravo!

[jmra]

Given the agenda behind Obamacare I would think long and hard before I initiated anything that resulted in documentation about an emotional disorder. In the near future it might well result in prohibiting you or your husband from possessing a firearm in your residence. Not there yet for the general public, but it is already happening to veterans.

[Jumping Frog]

Given the agenda behind Obamacare I would think long and hard before I initiated anything that resulted in documentation about an emotional disorder. In the near future it might well result in prohibiting you or your husband from possessing a firearm in your residence. Not there yet for the general public, but it is already happening to veterans.

There are already people in Texas who sought medical care for psychiatric issues long before the CHL law was written who are disqualified from a license. There are also people who were charged with bull domestic abuse as part of a nasty divorce who pled out to a minor misdemeanor long before the federal law was written that makes it illegal for them to possess firearms or ammunition.

[drjoker]

Okay, so I am looking into getting my German Shepherd registered as an emotional support animal because I have anxiety related to being home alone. My husband works in the oil field and is gone a lot. I have been known to have panic attacks when I am home alone. I am a victim of sexual assault and I was a total worry wart before that. I am not crazy or anything. I just get stressed out and afraid when I'm home alone. To have a dog registered as an ESA you have to have a letter of prescription from a mental health professional stating you have a mental disability that requires you to have such an animal. However I'm worried if I go through with getting my dog registered as an ESA for my anxiety I will not be able to get my CHL. I have never been arrested, never been declared mentally unstable by a judge (or even a mental health professional yet), and I have never been hospitalized for my anxiety. I am not on any kind of medication for it either. I'm just curious because I know a gun will protect me better than a dog would and it's a lot easier to carry a gun than tote a giant pony-sized dog around.

Tell them it's a seeing eye dog because you have trouble seeing. Blindness is a disability protected legally by the Americans with disabiity act. Then, you can have a dog with you everywhere without having to declare that you are "emotionally disturbed?" (mental disability?) Not all blindness is physical, some are psychological but very real in its manifestation of symptoms. In my CHL class, one guy was BLIND and was awarded a CHL. They cannot be denied due to blindness because of the Americans with disabilities act. It is illegal to discriminate against the disabled and carries a stiff penalty.

Before the shooting portion of the test began, the instructor told him to shoot and then provided feedback, "a little higher, a little lower, etc." Then, the shooting test began with the blind guy shooting from the same position as before the test.

Here's a little fun simulation you could do of a blind guy shooting. Close your eyes and have a series of big balloons in front of you. Put targets directly behind these balloons. Have a buddy of yours shoot at these ballons with a silenced pistol or a bb gun. Then, shoot a .22lr pistol wihtout ear protection at the sound of the popping ballons. From less than 10 ft away, you'd be surprised at how accurate you can shoot a gun blindfolded with just some practice. You can probably shoot at further distances blindfolded with more practice. This simulates you in a gunfight as a blind man/woman.

For self defense situations, be sure to practice under less than optimum conditions, just in case not everything goes to plan. Shoot with one hand, your weak hand. Shoot in weird positions on the ground to simulate your being knocked down from a punch. Shoot blindfolded to simulate your being blinded by a BG's muzzle blast at close range. What if a bullet grazed your skull and your eyes are bathed in blood so you cannot see? Take Krav Maga to practice unarmed defense against an assailant with a gun. You don't want to be too gun centric. What if you're travelling abroad? What if you're in a gun safe zone? I know there are crusty guys on this board who say, "Well, I just won't go to these places." That may be well and dandy for you, but for the majority of all other red blooded males, we enjoy the company of beautiful women and these creatures really enjoy being taken places. Often times, these places are 30.06 posted or in other countries where guns are banned.

[92f-fan]

I'm confused as to why you cant just own the fact that you are a dog owner and therefore when renting find properties that embrace you and your pet ...
I understand the dog brings you emotional support that you value. In my opinion all pets do.

It seems to me that you are only interested in getting the certification so that you can use it as a "weapon" against a prospective landlord, and live where you want, policies be damned. Do you really want to live somewhere where you had to force your will and your pet on the landlord ? Do you think it will work out well long term ?
Why not just find pet friendly options ?

Regarding the CHL, as was recommended, assuming this is a recent issue, it might make sense to let time do its work and see if you are better able to manage after more time passes.

[LDB415]

Having paid attention, it's been 2 years 4 months so time has passed already. Not that more time won't offer more benefit, but it isn't a "very recent" event. Having paid attention, a move is eminent to an area with minimal housing options. Pet restrictions would potentially diminish an already small puddle, given there isn't really a housing pool to start with.

It's a definite fence top. Getting the certification eliminates removal of any part of the puddle. Getting certification potentially creates a bullseye for Obuma and his ilk that are using every method possible to ban gun ownership whether through Odumbasscare or EO's or bogus laws or whatever.

You have a tough decision to make. Good luck with it.

[Vol Texan]

Having paid attention, it's been 2 years 4 months so time has passed already. Not that more time won't offer more benefit, but it isn't a "very recent" event. Having paid attention, a move is eminent to an area with minimal housing options. Pet restrictions would potentially diminish an already small puddle, given there isn't really a housing pool to start with.

It's a definite fence top. Getting the certification eliminates removal of any part of the puddle for this relatively short portion of your life. Getting certification potentially creates a permanent bullseye for Obuma and his ilk that are using every method possible to ban gun ownership whether through Odumbasscare or EO's or bogus laws or whatever.

You have a tough decision to make. Good luck with it.

Adding to the comment above, I hope the red text I added clarifies it better.

[jmra]

I'm confused as to why you cant just own the fact that you are a dog owner and therefore when renting find properties that embrace you and your pet ...
I understand the dog brings you emotional support that you value. In my opinion all pets do.

It seems to me that you are only interested in getting the certification so that you can use it as a "weapon" against a prospective landlord, and live where you want, policies be damned. Do you really want to live somewhere where you had to force your will and your pet on the landlord ? Do you think it will work out well long term ?

This is one of the reasons I got out of the rental property business.

[tbrown]

What if you're in a gun safe zone? I know there are crusty guys on this board who say, "Well, I just won't go to these places." That may be well and dandy for you, but for the majority of all other red blooded males, we enjoy the company of beautiful women and these creatures really enjoy being taken places.

Disarming and going to soft target locations violates two of the Stupid Rules. Probably all three.

[Abraham]

drjoker, (a bit of thread jacking)

"What if you're in a gun safe zone?"

Is that the same thing as a "gun ban zone" like a 30.06 location?

At times, the spirit of your posts, sound like you're unsure about being pro-gun.

Am I right?

[drjoker]

What if you're in a gun safe zone? I know there are crusty guys on this board who say, "Well, I just won't go to these places." That may be well and dandy for you, but for the majority of all other red blooded males, we enjoy the company of beautiful women and these creatures really enjoy being taken places.

Disarming and going to soft target locations violates two of the Stupid Rules. Probably all three.

I'm sure we've all (guys) done stupid things for beautiful women. LOL.

Abraham, when I said gun SAFE zone, I was being sarcastic. How can denying your human right to self defense be SAFE? NRA life member, here.