KFP wrote:Prior to becoming an instructor, the number of people who knew I had my CHL could be counted on one hand, including my wife and me. I was mainly concerned about the unnecessary attention that it might draw from friends, family, coworkers, bosses, etc. My transition came after a group from work expressed interest in doing a CHL course, so I discreetly offered to host the course at our house to those that I knew were serious about obtaining their CHLs. I quickly learned that the vast majority of people in my workplace were interested or already had their CHL. I also got tired of feeling like my hobby/interest/training was taboo, so I made the decision to become an "ambassador" for firearms, rather than hide it.
Since becoming an instructor, I have kept my CHL a secret from both of my sisters and their husbands, but have no issues with others knowing. I have no interest in getting into a debate with my sisters about the safety of being around their children with a firearm, so I choose to go about my normal routine when they are around, without having to deal with the negative comments/reactions. My wife is not interested in her friends or coworkers knowing, unless they directly ask.
Needless to say, I can understand various aspects involved in the decision. The decision is ultimately an individual one - no person should be faulted for the decision that they choose to make. Although it is intuitive, once you've told someone, it can't be taken back. They also have the ability to tell others that you may not have wanted to know.
I would say that covers the way I feel about it pretty much, and "Ambassador" is a pretty good choice of words. I have three relatives back in California - my mother and my two brothers. My brothers know. My mother doesn't, and I've deliberately kept it that way. Of my two brothers, one would get a permit if he could (LA County Sheriff doesn't issue permits unless you're on the right social list), and the other doesn't really care about guns one way or the other (even though he happens to be a superb shot with a rifle). My mother is so "anti" that she flat out forbids conversation about firearms in her home. So for the sake of family harmony, I have kept the knowledge from her.
As to others around here in Texas, I move in a circle of mostly conservative people, and guns are sometimes a topic of conservation. On occasion, I've offered to take newbies to the range and teach them how to shoot. Invariably, during those range sessions, the conversation about CHL will come up, and I encourage people to get theirs. I've had acquaintances at church, during conversations about hunting and shooting volunteer to me that they are considering getting a CHL. I always encourage them to do so. When the conversation takes that turn, the question will come up, "do you have one?" When asked directly, by someone I know, I always answer truthfully. That always leads to the question, "are you carrying one right now?" Depending on how long I've known the person, I'll either answer, "never leave home without it," or "that's the beauty of
concealed carry; you'll never actually
know" followed by a wink and smile.
I am considering taking the instructor's course, but I'm pretty sure that I don't want to start a CHL instruction business - at least not at this juncture. I'm too busy trying to build my website design business right now, and I don't need the added distraction of the record keeping, etc. But, I would be open to working with other established instructors in helping to teach classes or stuff like that. But if I do that, then necessarily it will follow that an increasing number of people will know that I hold a CHL, but they will be mostly CHL friendly and it is not such a big issue. And then there's that "ambassador" thing.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”
― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"
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