For whatever reason you have already made your mind up. With all the crazy we see on the news, in the paper, and especially online through social media services its not exactly a crazy thought. It's time to seriously consider carrying a firearm legally. As a law abiding citizen, you should! In this entry I will touch on a few things I wish I had known before going the distance and pulling the trigger on what personal defense encompasses.
Are you ready to accept the responsibility as a carrier?
Before anything else this is something you have to come to terms with. Are you willing to possibly take another persons life and use lethal force if the need arises? Are you willing to risk your own life in this altercation? Are you accepting that in the scenario when you would need to utilize your right you may go to jail or prison for it? Even if you are the victim and victor in the scenario you should conjure up all of these are very real and very likely scenarios. The real world with self defense is gritty and nasty. We do not live in the movies the reality is much different. All too often this is a parallel needing to be dispelled. Pistol defense and self defense is gross. If you have children or a spouse can you see yourself being confident defending them? Are you capable of being their protector? If there are any doubts with these questions homework and research is needed. Situational awareness and your actions at all times are important. All times! Head on a swivel. Your duty never stops once this journey begins. You have more to risk as a legal carrier than someone else who does not. If you are not prepared to lose it all, go back to the drawing board. It may not be the time for you to dive in head first.
What are your state laws?
Depending on where you live your laws and even in your respective counties it may be different than someone else. Is encouraged to learn and find out these state laws first. States all vary and even reciprocity varies for people with permits to carry. Know those laws especially for neighboring states you may visit frequently. You may say, "Hey wait a second, I live in _________ and we have constitutional carry here, I don't need to have a permit to carry a firearm..." And you know what that's great. But I would suggest getting a license anyways in nearly every case. State laws and permits allow more legal carry options to the carrier. It also helps to have a permit along with your state issued license for carry if you are ever stopped. Having a CCW permit or license has actually aided in getting me out of petty warnings and tickets. It's something to think about. Know your state laws and know your neighboring states laws as well, and look into why having a state issued license is better than utilizing constitutional carry on its own. I know some people may not be able to legally get a ccw as well but their state may allow for open carry. This may be an option but be advised not every county within your state may allow it. Constitutional carry has limitations. And open carry is not usually suggested if the option to conceal carry is available.
Are you planning to train on a regular basis?
A CCW course is just the beginning. After you do that, your training does not end. You have to dedicate time and money to staying trained long after you have your permit. If you have an instructor for your classes that is worth their weight in salt, they should drive home that you will want to look into advanced classes to become a competent carrier. Almost always in the CCW classes I have sat in on probably 70-80% of the class thinks they can just go take a course for their state license carry permit and that is it. They are done. This is totally wrong. If you are planning on doing this you should plan for the long haul and this is the truth. Competent individuals should be going to the range on a regular basis training with their tools they plan to carry. If you are one of the people in the camps that think this isn't necessary then you should probably not plan to get a carry license. We train to get an upper hand, to be a victor and to be a winner. Self defense is never supposed to be a fair fight. You have to be better prepared than the bad guys you may encounter.
What is the monetary cost for carrying a gun legally?
Lets start from the top. You obviously need to pay for your CCW course or class(es). There also may be fees your state requires to process your application. Things like fingerprinting, background checks, and processing fees and the actual license. For my state a general rule of thumb here is you need more money than you think. Just for the first class and the application fees in Missouri its around $300. This will vary from state to state but this is the minimum just to get your permitting for us here in the Midwest. There are an assortment of other purchases people are not aware of. A pistol is essential but you will also probably need other accessories to go with it. Like spare magazines which can get expensive. A proper holster will be needed to for your carry set up. And lets not forget proper ammunition. Defensive ammo and break in ammo. You will need to practice with what you plan to carry. Don't forget general break in ammo! This is overlooked all the time. 200-500 rounds needs to be shot through your pistol just to get the firearm in carry order. Look to the manufacturers site or instruction book to see what they suggest. Defensive rounds get expensive, they get up into a $1 or more per round in with some brands. It is also highly suggested to get a safe that is attached to your vehicle in case you find yourself in a scenario where you can't carry in public. You should also have funds for a safe that can secure your sidearm at home that is easily accessible when needed. On top of all this, hearing protection, shooting glasses and some range gear will also be important as well to a competent carrier. See, were way past the $300 mark we originally set for just the essentials. More like the $500-700 range to get going on the road to competent CCW carrier. This is just the start and it can realistically be a lot more than even that. Saving up is a great place to start if you seriously consider becoming part of the armed citizen population.
Do you have a legal advisory contact or specific insurance for self defense?
I wont promote any specific company or any legal team but I can say that having a lawyer on hand or even purchasing policies through specific CCW carrier insurance groups may be worth your while. Its always good to look into it. It doesn't seem to be very expensive and it may be your biggest ally. Its easy to find a lawyer locally now with google right at our fingertips and same goes for self defense legal representation. For Concealed Carry Insurance you pay into it and if you ever needed to use it your prepaid amount starts exactly when you would need it most. If you ever had to use your handgun in self defense one of the first calls you should be making is to your lawyer or team to represent you. Some services specifically for CCW carriers can cost as low as $10 a month. Check out your options and see if you think this is fitting for what you may need. Your typical lawyer may be great for a lot of things, this may not be one of them. Get a lawyer who knows the laws, supports citizen carry, and loves the 2nd Amendment. They are your greatest ally in this scenario.
There is a lot of things to consider when you decide to get your CCW permit and become part of the ever growing base of competent gun owners. Its not just going to the shop and buying the cheapest handgun and a $9 holster and deciding to open carry with your states constitutional carry law. There are many long term life long considerations to make. Responsible CCW carriers are people who make many changes in their lives to accommodate the privilege. Most of these things are not usually on the minds of people getting ready to get their permits or enroll in a class but find it out after they get going.
Hope this helps some of you out there. If you have any tips you have for budding gunnies shoot them my way. I love to open discussions on these topics.
Don't buy pink guns! Don't skimp on defense ammo! And praise the 2nd Amendment!
Hail the Old Gods!
Hail the Folk!
Hail the Ancestors!
