I was talking with some people the other day and the conversation turned to gun control. We live in Texas and these people told me that they were pleased that many of their fellow citizens had Concealed Carry Permits (in Texas they are Concealed Handgun Licenses or CHLs) and would be able to help protect them in case of an active shooter situation.
This line of thought raised all kinds of red flags for me.
I am a CHL holder and I do carry daily. As a retired military combat veteran, I’m probably better qualified than most civilians to go into an active shooter situation. The truth is that I don’t carry to protect the public. I’m not a police officer, sheriff, or a constable. I’m a private citizen and I carry to protect myself and my family. I have taken responsibility for my own security.
If there’s an active shooter situation and I can escape, I’m out of there.
A gun fight is always the last course of action for many reasons. I don’t want to be sued by the shooter or his family and I don’t want the liability if I were to miss and hit an innocent bystander. I’m sorry, but escape is always the preferred course of action. If I’m cornered and have no choice, I will fight but it’s always going to be the last option.
While there may be a few want-to-be police officers and a few Rambo types out there, I suspect the vast majority of CHL holders carry for the same reasons. We carry for our personal protection--not to protect the public.
Photo: Licensed from iStockPhoto
Tom Branch and Gina Branch, The Branch Team with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs, service the greater North Dallas suburbs including Dallas, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Lewisville, and Carrollton. While Gina concentrates on traditional listings and buyer/tenant representation, Tom specializes in assisting distressed homeowners to avoid foreclosure. Tom and Gina have published two books (Achieving Rock Star Status and The Field Guide to Short Sales) and are available for speaking engagements in the greater Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex. Subscribe to The Branch Team Blog.
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