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1. Practice
2. Practice
3. Practice

(Not just static shooting...something where you are put under pressure to shoot, reload, take cover, run, and shoot (like IDPA)

One thats always stuck with me besides the other great ones listed is also know what's beyond your target and know the capabilitys of your ammo.

As a former Ohio Police Officer, I was taught a few things long ago:

1) If you reach for your gun, you may have to point it at someone.
2) If you point it at someone, you may have to squeeze the trigger.
3) If you squeeze the trigger, make sure they do NOT live to sue you!

I chose to list these 3 concerns, simply because I assume you already know the laws and your weapon. What many people aren't prepared for is the act of actually having to use a firearm on another human being. I once came within 1 second of shooting another person ( I was literally starting the squeeze on my trigger when back-up came barreling around the corner), afterwards, I was overwhelmed with grief just thinking about "it". So, prepare yourself now. Now is the time to decide that you, your family and your belongings are worth defending, or not. Once you convince yourself that they are worth saving, do NOT hesitate. It was either you or him, or worse, your loved one or him.
Just today, I read a slogan at a website on Cor-bon ammo. it read: "Somebody's gonna win, might as well be you".. that pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?

polisci wrote:...afterwards, I was overwhelmed with grief just thinking about "it". So, prepare yourself now. Now is the time to decide that you, your family and your belongings are worth defending, or not. Once you convince yourself that they are worth saving, do NOT hesitate. It was either you or him, or worse, your loved one or him.

Thanks for that. I don't think many of us, including myself, understand the grief we would go through in taking the life of another human being.

RJ

johnson0317 wrote:

polisci wrote:...afterwards, I was overwhelmed with grief just thinking about "it". So, prepare yourself now. Now is the time to decide that you, your family and your belongings are worth defending, or not. Once you convince yourself that they are worth saving, do NOT hesitate. It was either you or him, or worse, your loved one or him.

Thanks for that. I don't think many of us, including myself, understand the grief we would go through in taking the life of another human being.

RJ

Agreed, that is a direct tie into what is always my first thought when gun defense comes up. So many good thoughts already posted. Mine are all rehashings of previously expressed ideas.

1)Decide if you are willing to end a life to defend your own or your loved ones’. Because I am a “gun person” folks ask me about CHL and/or which home defense gun to buy. My very first question is “Are you willing to end a life to defend your own or your loved ones?” If the answer is “no,” and many folks that are honest will say no, buy a 12 gauge shotgun and NO shells for it. If you’re lucky the sound of the action will scare them off. If not all you gave them was a club. If the answer is “yes” there are a hundred other threads on the topic.

2)Know the laws and know the difference between legal and prudent. Someone else said it, I will rarely be using my firearms to protect my property. The civil liabilities for being right may outweigh the value I put on much of my stuff. This is a huge grey area with no right answer but the answer you create for yourself.

3)You can be a sheepdog without shooting everything in sight. All of the strategies of de-escalation, moving to cover, etc can be applied to helping those around you. Just because the stereotypical little old lady got her purse stolen doesn’t mean you need to chase down the bad guy and cap ‘em. Protecting her and rendering aid to her is infinitely harder to do if you’ve removed yourself from her side to go play cop.

1. It will become a life style issue for the rest of your life so find a comfortable effective method of concealment.

I would modify this to say don't ever be comfortable carrying. By that I mean that little dig in the side gives you a reminder that you have decided:

1) not to be a victim; and
2) to take a life (You cannot shoot to wound. You shoot to stop. But that means center mass, fire until they stop. If they don't, next it's a head shot.)

Like the cross I wear around my neck, that dig in your side should be a reminder of the choices you've made.

Just wanted to say that this thread is probably one of the best I've ever read. Sound, thoughtful advice. Should be required reading for any CHL holder.

rp_photo wrote:This is also a rule I live by. Deciding whether a place is "carry-worthy" is stressful, and can even make you feel judgemental.

I'm not sure where I read/saw it first (it might even have been this forum, or, possibly, more embarrassingly, this thread, even), but "If you wouldn't go there without a gun, don't go there with one" seems to me to generally be applicable. Possibly with some very situational exceptions (thinking cops as a for-instance here)

Then again, I've not actually carried in public yet, so what the heck do I know?

A Texas CHL license is not a Batman License. MYOB!

Carry as much ammo as you comfortably can. You can never have too much when needed for multiple targets.

Carry
Carry an extra mag
Carry an extra gun (when possible)