Nick’s First Time Hunter series was so goshdarned popular, I thought I’d do a little series of my own. But this time, instead of focusing on our favorite city slicker spending some time in the great outdoors, we’ll turn things around. I’ve been thinking about getting my CHL for quite some time, but Nick made a pretty interesting point in his recap article about Gun Culture 1.0 vs. Gun Culture 2.0 that really struck a chord. Here’s Leghorn’s full quote because I think it is so important…
A quick note about the “1.0″ and “2.0″ stuff. There’s a rift in the gun culture, and depending on whether your parents or friends introduced you to hunting at an early age is generally the defining feature. Gun Culture 1.0 is the traditional hunting, plinking and benchrest shooting crowd whose traditions are passed down from generation to generation. Gun Culture 2.0 is generally the more “tactical” crowd, who started shooting in their college days (18+) or after and are interested in 3-gun and self defense more than anything else. The progression from 1.0 to 2.0 is easy and there are converts every day, but going the other way tends to be much more difficult.
I am firmly in the 1.0 crowd. I grew up hunting, plinking, and generally being raised with the “guns are tools” mindset. At some point, I had to leave the country to go to school, get a high paying job, etc. As I’ve spent more time in a city and writing for TTAG, I’ve become much more interested in the 2.0 side of things. I’ve started to work on my situational awareness and the more I do, the more pants shittingly frightened I am for my safety. And, if I’m being honest, the idea of having to defend my life with a pistol scares the crap out of me just as much. If it has come to that, the threat’s already too close. But as many have pointed out, I’d rather have some gun, than no gun at all.
Like most interests in my life, I have obsessively researched multiple aspects of the concealed carry process in the state of Texas. What paperwork needs to be filled out, which instructor to use, other methods of self-defense, how often to practice, what to practice. The whole thing’s a bit overwhelming. As things can happen when I start to research something, I get a little paralyzed and overwhelmed with everything that need to be done.
Luckily, I have a partner who not only supports me in my quest for armed self defense, but is also a take-charge kind of gal. I guess I’ve been a good boy because Santa brought me a gift certificate for a CHL class at Amerishield Academy in Round Rock, TX. I’m signed up for their January 14, 2012 class. In the interim, I am going to start on the application and keep poking Springfield to send me a 1911 for T&E.
They say that eating an elephant starts one bite at a time. Over the next few months, I’ll be checking in periodically to give you a first hand view of my progression from unarmed neophyte to legally armed citizen. Wish me luck, loyal readers. We’re about to start a hell of a ride!
