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Ever since I got my plastic, I have been carrying anytime I leave my house. A few interesting things have happened and that I've observed.

I played bass guitar on my church's music team this past Sunday morning, carrying and wearing a relatively slim fitting polo shirt, and my pastor (also a fellow CHLer) had no idea, nor did anyone else on the music team or did anyone in the congregation. The bass probably helped cover it up too, but still, I tend to move around a bit on stage.

Somehow getting into a conversation this weekend with a friend about guns, she mentioned that she would not feel safe around guns. I asked her if she felt safe at that particular moment, to which she replied yes. Now, I normally don't announce that I am carrying, but I took it as an opportunity to "enlighten" her. When she realized that I had been carrying the whole time, and nothing bad had happened or was going to happen, I could almost see the light bulb going on above her head. She wants me to take her to the gun range with a couple of her girlfriends now.

I have become more perceptive and have developed a better eye for identifying potential situations. Like many people before me have mentioned, you tend to choose your seat at the restaurant a bit more carefully, and you tend to do a quick scan of the areas you are walking in and out of. I find myself a lot more focused on my environment than before.

Finally, I feel naked when I'm not carrying outside my house, even just to check my mail.

Dukesean -
Congratulations on your CHL. It sounds like you're already getting comfortable carrying. It hasn't been discussed too much lately, but I would like to bring up a topic that might be interesting to you.

I realize that it is very tempting, but many people on the forum, including myself, believe the best policy is to tell no one that you carry. In the beginning, I did the same as you and told a few people, but later regretted doing so. Nothing bad happened to me, but in retrospect, it was just showing off. Your first time worked out well, but I would proceed with caution.
Regards,
Bill

Good to hear that you have had a good first week. I am going to add quick post of my first two weeks.

I was lucky that a friend at work is allowing me use several of his holsters. I have been wearing a Milt's Summer Special and Versa Max 2 and both have worked great. For the first week I was carry my 1991-A1 switching off between SS & VM2 on my drive to and from work. I am not allowed to carry at work so remove before going into the office and lock in Center of Mass I have mounted behind rear seat. It is kind of hard for me to put on the holster after work in the parking lot w/o drawing attention. During this time I stopped for gas and entered stations severeal time and no one notices or atleast doesn't say anything.

After my first week I pick up a Kimber Ultra Carry that I have been wanting to get and finally did once my plastic came in the mail. So since then I have been carry the Kimer using the same holsters and they have been working fine even thou they are a little long for the short handgun. For comfort and the way the gun sits the Versa Max 2 seems to be more to my liking.

I have been around a good number of people that I am around on daily bases and none seem to know I have been carrying.

Last Friday I had some business down town Houston and had a little free time so I walked around a good bit and even wearing shorts and t-shirt the handgun was concealed comfortable. I about scared myself in the restroom I was at the urinal and when I unbuckled my belt I about dropped everything. So I learned a little lesson to not totally unbuckle my belt. And I also have a habit of placing my hand on my hip or in pocket when I am waiting in line. And when I am carrying I have caught myself hooking my thumb on the handle of pistol.

Sorry I kind of hi-jacked this thread.

WildBill wrote: I realize that it is very tempting, but many people on the forum, including myself, believe the best policy is to tell no one that you carry. In the beginning, I did the same as you and told a few people, but later regretted doing so. Nothing bad happened to me, but in retrospect, it was just showing off. Your first time worked out good, but I would proceed with caution.
Regards,
Bill

Bill, I completely share your sentiment. I think in general it is best not to tell anyone as well, and I don't. This just happened to be a scenario that unfolded which I thought might get me a convert along the way.

To clarify about carrying at church, I didn't tell anyone there, I just didn't get asked or get funny looks, so I assumed no one knew.

dukesean wrote:I could almost see the light bulb going on above her head. She wants me to take her to the gun range with a couple of her girlfriends now.

Please note that this is not the norm. This girl must really like and respect you. 9 out of 10 times it will blow up in your face; at least it has with me.

And even if they do see the light, they may tell someone else down the line that will freak out and cause you grief.

It's best to keep it to yourself.

dukesean wrote:Now, I normally don't announce that I am carrying, but I took it as an opportunity to "enlighten" her. When she realized that I had been carrying the whole time, and nothing bad had happened or was going to happen, I could almost see the light bulb going on above her head. She wants me to take her to the gun range with a couple of her girlfriends now.

It sounds like you should look at that as all sort of opportunities...unless you're one of us married guys and take that whole fidelity thing seriously...in which case, never mind

WildBill wrote:I realize that it is very tempting, but many people on the forum, including myself, believe the best policy is to tell no one that you carry. In the beginning, I did the same as you and told a few people, but later regretted doing so. Nothing bad happened to me, but in retrospect, it was just showing off. Your first time worked out good, but I would proceed with caution.
Regards,
Bill

I just want to thank you for sharing these important lessons with us. I don't have my CHL yet..."Processing Application"...and I am so thankful that I found this forum and able to learn from those of you that have been there and done that.
Thanks, to everyone!

Sean,

It's been my understanding that one of the places that you are NOT allowed to carry, even with a CHL, is a church or place of worship so it seems to me that you were in violation by bringing your handgun to church. Now keep in mind that I use my Connecticut CHL and did not take the Texas course so I'm "self-schooled" in Texas carry laws and may be wrong here, especially since nobody else mentioned it.

Bob

texman45 wrote:Sean,

It's been my understanding that one of the places that you are NOT allowed to carry, even with a CHL, is a church or place of worship so it seems to me that you were in violation by bringing your handgun to church. Now keep in mind that I use my Connecticut CHL and did not take the Texas course so I'm "self-schooled" in Texas carry laws and may be wrong here, especially since nobody else mentioned it.

Bob

You can now carry at church unless they are 30.06 posted. The law was changed a few years ago.

chewy555 wrote:

texman45 wrote:Sean,

It's been my understanding that one of the places that you are NOT allowed to carry, even with a CHL, is a church or place of worship so it seems to me that you were in violation by bringing your handgun to church. Now keep in mind that I use my Connecticut CHL and did not take the Texas course so I'm "self-schooled" in Texas carry laws and may be wrong here, especially since nobody else mentioned it.

Bob

You can now carry at church unless they are 30.06 posted. The law was changed a few years ago.

Church is the one place that I ALWAYS carry. What better for a BG to find a large number of distracted folks in a small confined place.

I've always heard that in the old west, all men were required to bring their weapon to church. The churches had hat racks (no hats inside, rermember) and gun racks. The Indians (excuse me, Native Americans) and outlaws certainly knew the tactical advantage of attacking a church.

chewy - Thanks for the clarification. - Bob

texman45 wrote:chewy - Thanks for the clarification. - Bob

You are welcome.