Defensive Handguns

Handguns and things related

HarryJamesGuns

How Does The National Instant Criminal Background Check Work

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Just what is it and how does it work? Does it work at all?

In my view, the way it’s written, it works just fine. It’s not perfect or the best that can be achieved, but for what it is, it works. The big problem I see is the lack of use and confidence in the system.

If a criminal (or most commonly referred to as the ‘bad guy’) tries to buy a gun through the conventional method of going through a licensed retailer, he will be identified as a bad guy and won’t be able to purchase the gun legally. So he goes about it illegally and still gets the gun.

It also works in the case of the mentally challenged individual, providing this individual has been vetted and registered as ‘mentally challenged’. However, there have been a lot of people registered this way mistakenly. It seems as though anyone who has ever been seen my a mental practitioner can be on this list whether or not he/she has been deemed mentally challenged. Therein lies a huge problem.

There has been a number of  ‘mass shooters’ with no background of mental deficiency listed anywhere in the public records. or even in private records as far as the NICS (National Instant Criminal Background System) has known. They can ‘slip through the cracks, so to speak, simply because they are not ‘documented’ as mentally unsound. If a mental practitioner doesn’t put this person on a list denoting a lack of proper mental awareness, the NICS has no way of knowing about it. Therefore, neither does the legally licensed gun retailer.

It is my humble opinion that any mass shooter is mentally unsound just by virtue of them being a mass shooter. If they had any real sense about them, they would not be going around wanting to shoot people. it is also my humble opinion that a ‘criminal’ is a criminal because he/she is mentally “deficient, challenged, unsound”, or any other words you may choose to describe them.

According to Wikipedia;

“Today, new expressions like developmentally disabled,[39] special, or challenged are replacing the term mentally retarded. The term developmental delay is popular among caretakers and parents of individuals with intellectual disability because delay suggests that a person is slowly reaching his or her full potential rather than being disabled”.

“Usage has changed over the years and differed from country to country. For example, mental retardation in some contexts covers the whole field but previously applied to what is now the mild MR group. Feeble-minded used to mean mild MR in the UK, and once applied in the US to the whole field. “Borderline intellectual functioning” is not currently defined, but the term may be used to apply to people with IQs in the 70s. People with IQs of 70 to 85 used to be eligible for special consideration in the US public education system on grounds of intellectual disability”.

What is a Criminal History Check?

There are a large number of companies doing criminal history checks all over the country world (I would guess). A few of them advertise free background checks, but most of them will charge a fee for anyone to purchase a criminal history on just about anyone. Background checks have become quite common and routine in much of the world of business. They are also required by many rental agencies.

A criminal history search can be performed anywhere in the USA.  However, some states do not offer a statewide criminal background check, and instead only make them available at the county level.  Each state in the United States of America is comprised of counties, cities, towns, parishes and communities.  Criminal records are determined usually at the county level, as that is where the US court system typically begins.

[http://www.criminalhistorychecks.com/criminal-history-report-national-criminal-history-search-free/]

What Does The FBI Say About This?

NICS Section

“The mission of the NICS Section is to enhance national security and public safety by providing the timely and accurate determination of a person’s eligibility to possess firearms and/or explosives in accordance with federal law”.

Executive Summary

“The FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section has processed firearm background checks since November 30, 1998. Since that time, the experience gained enhances national security and public safety by identifying, developing, and implementing improvements in support of the NICS Section’s mission”.

Welcome to the NICS Section

“As a result of the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, certain individuals, such as convicted felons, were prohibited from possessing firearms. To strengthen federal firearms regulations, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 (Brady Act) required the U.S. Attorney General to establish the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) to contact by telephone, or other electronic means, for information to be supplied immediately as to whether the transfer of a firearm would violate Section 922 (g) or (n) of Title 18, United States Code (U.S.C.), or state law”.

“The FBI developed the NICS through a cooperative effort with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Department of Justice; and local and state law enforcement agencies. On November 30, 1998, the NICS, designed to immediately respond to background check inquiries for prospective firearm transferees, was activated. For an FFL to initiate an NICS check, the prospective firearms transferee must complete and sign an ATF Form 4473, Firearms Transaction Record. The ATF Form 4473, which collects the subject’s name and descriptive data (e.g., date of birth, sex, race, state of residence, country of citizenship), also elicits information that may immediately indicate to an FFL the subject is a prohibited person, thereby negating the need to continue the processing of the background check. When an FFL initiates an NICS background check, a name and descriptor search is conducted to identify any matching records in three nationally held databases managed by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division”.

[https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/about-us/cjis/nics/reports/2013-operations-report]

So How Does The National Instant Criminal Background Check Work?

I think it works the way it was intended. The criminals are not allowed, by law, to purchase firearms legally. And they are prevented from doing just that. So, as I said before, they get them illegally. This is where things get a bit ‘sticky’.

The anti-gun crowd says we need more effective laws, like ‘Federal Background Checks’. We ALREADY HAVE THEM, folks!! And they work! Law Enforcement is where the problem comes from. It’s not the police being deficient, it’s the Justice System. The courts and the Obama

administration are being very lacking in the true design and purpose of the Justice System. They are supposed to lock up the criminals and not permit them to infiltrate the honest law-abiding society again unless they are TRULY rehabilitated.

Responsible law-abiding citizens are not the problem, but they are the ones receiving the short end of the stick when the ignorant anti-gunners try to pass more unnecessary laws. These additional “stupid” laws just penalize the good folks and do absolutely nothing to prevent the bad guys’ criminal behavior.

“On January 4, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) moved forward on the Administration’s commitment to modify the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule to expressly permit certain covered entities to disclose to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) the identities of those individuals who, for mental health reasons, already are prohibited by Federal law from having a firearm.

This modification better enables the reporting of the identities of prohibited individuals to the background check system and is an important step toward improving the public’s safety while continuing to strongly protect individuals’ privacy interests.

The final rule gives States improved flexibility to ensure accurate but limited information is reported to the NICS.  This rulemaking makes clear that, under the Privacy Rule, certain covered entities are permitted to disclose limited information to the NICS.  The information that can be disclosed is the minimum necessary identifying information about individuals who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution or otherwise have been determined by a lawful authority to be a danger to themselves or others or to lack the mental capacity to manage their own affairs.

It is important to note that the vast majority of Americans with mental health conditions are not violent and that those with mental illness are in fact more likely to be victims than perpetrators.  An individual who seeks help for mental health problems or receives mental health treatment is not automatically legally prohibited from having a firearm; nothing in this final rule changes that.  HHS continues to support efforts by the Administration to dispel negative attitudes and misconceptions relating to mental illness and to encourage individuals to seek voluntary mental health treatment.  Learn more about mental health resources and recovery at http://www.mentalhealth.gov.”

[http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/NICS/index.html]

What’s It Really All About?

I’m not sure the majority of the citizenry have any clue of what’s really going on with all this. It kind of looks like the government and the so-called elite (anti-gun activists) just want us completely disarmed. That’s just not gonna happen, folks!! The Constitution and Bill Of Rights have provided for this and the responsible citizens will not stand for it. Responsibly armed citizens make up an extremely large part of this country’s population. We (and, yes, I am one of them) will not give up our arms for the bureaucratic nonsense coming from government executive orders.

This disagreement has been going on for many years, decades even, and I really don’t see an end to it in the near future. When you look at the statistics, President Obama has been the nation’s best gun salesman we have ever had. Since the anti-gun movement increase during his terms in office, the gun owner population has risen dramatically. Gun sales have hit all-time highs for the last several years.

What Do You Think?

I would really, (I know, as a writer, I shouldn’t use this word, but it just fits so well) really like to know what you think about this subject. This is a controversial topic of discussion, I know, and we all have our opinions. I’d like to know your opinion. Please leave your comments below. It could be important to a lot of us in the future.

Best Gun Belts For Concealed Carry

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Almost everybody who wears pants has at least one belt. If not for holding their pants up, then just for fashion. But did you ever put much thought into what the belt has to do? We don’t just wear them for trouser support anymore. Now they’re used for support of all sorts of paraphernalia. Things like cell phones, cameras, flashlights, knives, tool pouches,and a lot more.  And do you know what? These pouches are very commonly referred to as “holsters”. At least they used to be.

Belts have been a very critical part of everyday use for a long time. They need to be pretty substantial for a lot of us (like me) with a little larger girth.

Video: What to Look for in a concealed carry gun belt

Those of us who carry a handgun as part of our everyday dress know much more how important a good belt can be. Most of the carry weapons are held in place hanging from a belt. This belt has to be strong enough and wide enough to support the weapon completely free of any other device. Some of us, probably most of us, also carry at least one extra magazine of ammo on the belt in another ‘holster’ along with a flashlight. Many belts appear to be satisfactory for this purpose at first glance, but will they stand the test of time and use? Maybe not.

Leather Belts

Leather has been used to make belts for centuries. They’re made with cow hide, horse hide, elephant hide, snakeskin, and lots of other animal materials. For the support needed, they are made quite thick and stiff. Some are double-layered and some have metal or plastic inserted between two layers of leather. Whatever it takes to make them strong enough to do the job. And they must ‘look good’.

Below, let’s look at a selection of leather belts. Some are specifically referred to as “gunbelts”.

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Leather belts come in a great many sizes and styles. Some are suitable to support a gun but most of them aren’t. A good gunbelt should be at least an inch and a half wide and two, or even three, layers thick. Some gunbelts are an inch and three-quarters wide.

Ballistic nylon was first developed by the Dupont Corporation way back during WWII. It was used in making protective clothing for the military and was referred to as Flak Jackets. The fabric was quite thick and heavy and guarded soldiers from shrapnel and other fragmented material. However, it didn’t stop bullets. For this purpose, it was replaced in later years by Kevlar and a few other bullet-resistant materials.

In the late 1970’s, leather gave way to ballistic nylon and later other synthetic materials like Porvair and even plastics.  Outfits like Michaels of Oregon… “Uncle Mike’s” made entire rigs out of nylon including the holster, gun belt, ammo pouches and all the rest.  Very soon other manufacturers began to follow suit and many departments dropped their heavy  leather belts and accessories in favor of lighter weight (and cheaper) nylon outfits.

For the past two years, I have been wearing a nylon holster made by Uncle Mike’s. I also have one from 5.11 Tactical and they both do a great job. I do prefer the Uncle Mike’s because it’s a little thicker and the velcro is wider and holds better.  Both Uncle Mike’s and 5.11 Tactical make several belts of ballistic nylon and leather for differing duty requirements and personal preference.

Uncle Mike’s Deluxe Duty Belt

Uncle Mike’s Reinforced Instructor’s Belt

Uncle Mike’s Tactical Rigger’s Belt

Uncle Mike’s 3-Gun Competition Belt

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5.11 Tactical 1.5″ Trainer Belt

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5.11 Tactical 1.5″ TDU Belt

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5.11 Womens’ 1.25″ Athena Belt

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5.11 Sierra Bravo Duty Belt Kit

There are many other brands making both leather and ballistic nylon belts, as well as holsters in both materials. These are the two I am experienced with and I like them both. I also have a couple of Uncle Mike’s nylon holsters which do a great job. The main drawback to a nylon holster is that they don’t hold their shape after you draw the weapon. Therefore, it may take both hands to reholster.

If you’re looking for a sturdy belt that will support your gun and holster, here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Blackhawk Instructor’s Belt – Inexpensive option for a nylon gun belt.

Ares Gear Ranger Belt – Crazy durable nylon belt with a Cobra QR buckle.

The Wilderness Frequent Flyer Belt – Nylon gun belt with a polymer loops instead of a traditional buckle. Won’t set off metal detectors.

Crossbreed Belts – A line of leather gun belts from the makers of the popular Crossbreed holsters.

Galco – One of the oldest holster makers in the country offers leather belts in several different widths.

Safariland –  a rich heritage in the law enforcement and sporting markets for 50 years

Uncle Mike’s – We pioneered the use of nylon in holsters more than 20 years ago and truly revolutionized the industry.

5.11 Tactical – Makers of gun accessories as well as a clothing line and many other products.

What to Expect When Shopping for a Gun Belt

You can expect to pay no less than $30-40 for a quality gun belt used for concealed carry. On the other end of the spectrum, you can spend a couple hundred dollars or more if you prefer a leather belt made from some exotic animal hide. Whatever your price range, just remember, the heavier the gun the more rigid your belt needs to be. You’ll definitely want to take comfort into consideration as well, and if the belt is too rigid, you may not want to wear it. After all, the more comfortable the gun belt, the less likely it is to become a hurdle that keeps you from carrying every day.

As always, if you have any recommendations on a good gun belt, I’d love to hear them and I’m sure other shooters would as well. Be sure to let me know in the comments below.

CrossBreed Holsters

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“Touching other people’s lives in a positive way and making a difference, because that, no matter where you are at in life, is really more important than business success, finances, any of it! I don’t care what your financial level is. When you learn to bless other people, you truly get blessed yourself.”

This is a quote from an interview with Mark Craighead, the founder of CrossBreed Holsters LLC. when he was asked what he would most like to be remembered for. He passed  in August of 2012 at the age of 43.

Mark was like so many other avid shooters in that he collected a box full of holsters Then he decided to design his own. He took what he thought to be the best attributes of many holsters and incorporate them into his design features, leaving out the elements he didn’t like. Very soon after, his company became nationally known for high quality and some of the best holsters in the industry. They are all handmade by people personally trained by Mark himself.

The name of his organization was taken from his belief of Jesus Christ sacrificing himself on the cross for all of mankind. This was something he was always willing to share with whoever may ask.

The Hybrid Design

The “Hybrid” design came from the combination of using two differing materials to develop what he believed to be the best, most comfortable holster in the market. He used Kydex as the shell of the holster, then put a leather backing on it for strength and comfort. Then he added a two-week “try-it-free” guarantee and a lifetime warranty that is still being offered today.

IWB Holsters

The Super Tuck Deluxe

supertuck_hh_sig229_wg-7726903The CrossBreed Super Tuck is a IWB (inside-the-waistband ) design thought to be one of the most comfortable and concealable holsters you will ever wear. It’s hand molded to fit the specific firearm it is ordered for. The Kydex shell is molded and mounted to a premium leather backing.

It is made so your shirt can be tucked in between the holster and your pants, but can be worn with your shirt out as well. The powder coated metal belt clips can be adjusted for either ride height or cant angle. The leather backing is also made with a “sweat guard” to protect the gun from any body moisture.

In my own personal experience with this unit, I was able to move the belt clips to the rear of the backing and use this holster for OWB (outside-the-waistband) carry as well, although this was not the original intent.

The Mini Tuck

The CrossBreed Mini Tuck is the same design but made for the smaller compact and sub-compact guns used for deeper concealment or for smaller-framed people. It has all the features as it’s big brother, just made a bit smaller.

Appendix Carry

Appendix Carry is one of the popular positions, as the gun is worn in front of the body and is made without cant. This holster can be worn on either side of the body to accommodate a cross draw as well. The Appendix Carry holster is also available in a women’s’ model with softer leather and smoother corners.

The Freedom Carry

The Freedom Carry is said to be the most versatile holster the company has. It has a much slimmer design and can be carried in almost any position; cross-draw, appendix carry, and strong side carry. It is smaller, has only one belt clip that is adjustable for cant. It can also accept firearms equipped with lights, lasers, and Micro Red Dot Sights.

OWB Holsters

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CrossBreed’s OWB (outside-the-waistband) holsters are designed pretty much the same as the IWB. They have a Kydex shell mounted to a premium leather backing. The difference is the way they are held to the body.The backing has belt loops cut into the leather for mounting to the belt on the outside of the pants. Two of the designs have three loops in the leather to accommodate the cant adjustment. These holsters are; The SnapSlide, SuperSlide, MiniSlide, and MaxSlide.superslide_ch_xdm_wg-main-6798094

Ankle Holsters

CrossBreed also offers the ankle holster. They are made from ballistic nylon and are available for right- or left-handed use, and are made for small and medium framed auto-loaders. They are equipped with calf straps with height adjustment and have padded ankle sections for added comfort and all-day support, and thumb breaks for security.

Pocket Holsters

Pocket holsters are also available from CrossBreed in two models. They both have the leather backing of all the companies designs and Kydex shells to hold the weapon. Pocket holsters can be worn in the pockets of almost any garment; jackets, larger coats, vests, some shirts and, of course, the pants.

Magazine Carriers

tuckable-iwb-mag-carrier-main-4559846Magazine carriers can also be worn either IWB or OWB.

CrossBreed makes both and they are made to hold one or two extra magazines.

Just specify the type and size when you order.

 Conclusion

I have been using my CrossBreed MiniTuck for the Ruger LC9. I found it to be truly one of the best, most comfortable holsters I have used. I can wear it all day, many days in a row, and have not had a problem, except one. I found the sweat guard to be a bit too large and was digging into my side. Two things have remedied this; I lost a lot of weight and inches in my waistline, and I modified the sweat guard by removing a little of the leather, only leaving enough to cover the slide of the weapon. Both of these remedies together have alleviated this problem completely.

I would highly recommend the CrossBreed Holsters to anyone wishing to carry a concealed handgun and magazine carrier. They truly are premium equipment. If you are interested in looking at a CrossBreed Holster, or possibly ordering one please visit their website at: http://www.crossbreedholsters.com

If you have any comments or questions for me about my experience with CrossBreed products please let me know in the box below. Thanks for listening.

Concealed Carry Insurance Reviews

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Self-defense insurance (or a similar policy) is one way to avoid financial ruin after you need to use lethal force to save your life or the lives of others. By some accounts, George Zimmerman’s legal bills have totaled more than $2 million for his high-profile defensive shooting court case. While that is an extreme example of the possible financial burden, there is always the risk of arrest, trial and conviction after any defensive gun use.

Insurance is the one area that most gun owners never think about…and if they do not have the proper protection in place PRIOR to them being involved in a Self-Defense Shooting they can’t go out and buy protection for the event that just happened.

Think of it like a car crash…you have to have the insurance in place before you crashed to have the policy pay for a new car…if you don’t have insurance you’ll be paying for a new car out of your pocket!

The same holds true for an incident of Self-Defense…if you don’t have the proper coverage in place you’ll have to pay for your Legal Fees and any Civil Suits out of your own pocket.

With an increasing amount of people legally choosing to carry a self-defense firearm, there has been a number of high-profile court cases recently that have shown us what might happen if a person needs to defend their life with a legally carried gun.

Insurance works on the premise that a specified incident must occur before insurance will pay off. The insured must not have intentional control over that occurrence. This means that someone else must do something or an act of God must occur and that the act is specified in the insurance policy. In a self-defense insurance policy, the condition subsequent is the acquittal or dismissal of criminal charges. In other words, if the jury found you not guilty by reason of an act of self-defense, then your legal fees are reimbursed up to the limits of the policy. Most of the insurance policies reimburse between $50,000 and $100,000 for criminal defense legal fees, based on a sliding scale of premium dues.

IF YOU EVER NEED TO USE YOUR GUN FOR SELF-DEFENSE, MAKE SURE YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR ASSETS ARE PROTECTED.

NRA Endorsed Insurance Company

The legal follow-up from an act of self-defense can cost you up to $100,000*―and that’s an expense that no homeowners insurance policy will cover. NRA-endorsed Self-defense Insurance protects you if you ever need to use your legally owned firearm for self-defense, whether or not you have a concealed carry permit.

This policy is a combined Self-defense and Personal Firearms Liability Insurance package, which makes it one of the most affordable and comprehensive sources of protection a gun owner can purchase.

WHAT’S COVERED

  • Your defense costs and damages in a civil suit
  • Reimbursement for criminal defense costs when you are acquitted of charges
  • Bodily injury and damage caused by the use of a firearm
  • Your spouse is automatically included on your policy

ANNUAL LIABILITY LIMIT OPTIONS AND COSTS

$100,000 combined single limit $50,000 criminal defense reimbursement sub-limit $165 per year
$250,000 combined single limit $50,000 criminal defense reimbursement sub-limit $254 per year
$500,000 combined single limit $100,000 criminal defense reimbursement sub-limit $400 per year
$1 million combined single limit $100,000 criminal defense reimbursement sub-limit $600 per year

NRA Endorsed Property & Casualty Insurance Program administered by Lockton Affinity, LLC. All coverage descriptions are a summary and not complete descriptions of all terms, exclusions, and conditions in the master policy on file at NRA Headquarters.

Pre-Paid Legal Services

Traditionally, customers concerned about legal expenses after self-defense have chosen between insurance or pre-paid legal programs. There are a large number of pre-paid legal services plans marketed to the self-defense crowd. The prominent programs include Texas Law Shield, and U.S. Law Shield, Patriot Legal Protection, LLC, Virginia Self-Defense Law, Gun Owners Legal Defense Network and Gun Owners Legal Defense, to name but a few.

Participants in pre-paid legal service plans are provided legal services to defend against prosecution following self-defense. Most of these plans only cover attorney’s fees and not expert or investigation fees, which can run into several thousand dollars alone. You will have to come up with the money to pay out of pocket for investigators, expert witnesses and similar components of your court fight, with no reimbursement even after an acquittal.

CCW SAFE

CCW Safe is a legal service membership plan that was designed for CCW permit/license holders and law enforcement officers, both active and retired.  They are not an insurance plan but, rather, a legal defense service plan.  The member pays a flat yearly fee and enters into a legal agreement with the company who is obligated to provide the service listed in the agreement.  CCW Safe then takes on the burden of the out-of-pocket expenses associated with defending a self-defense/use of force critical incident (attorney fees, investigator costs, trial expenses, and expert witness costs).   CCW Safe has been capitalized by investors and has committed assets and reserves. CCW Safe is a privately owned company in a competitive market. CCW Safe has a strong membership base in 50 states.

CCW Safe does not have the conflicts of an insurance product because the company is designed to indemnify the cost of the incident and not the outcome of the trials.  It is not a reimbursement package and no money is required to be paid back to the company regardless of the outcome.  You are covered in All 50 states, any place you can legally possess a firearm in a life-threatening self-defense incident if you are not carrying concealed.  If you are carrying concealed you are covered where your permit/license is valid and honored.  CCW Safe are industry leaders and they decided to cover ANY use of force our members choose to defend their lives or the life of another in self-defense.  CCW Safe coverage is the same for appeals and mistrials at no additional cost to its members.
https://ccwsafe.com/membership/414/530

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The CCW Safe Defender Plan Covers a Concealed Carry Permit holder for any criminal, civil or administrative legal action stemming from a self-defense incident. This plan is non-transferrable. The Primary member must either have a resident or non-resident concealed carry permit (Does not include FOID cards). All permits must remain valid. The Primary member will be covered (up to 500k bond) for all legal use of force responses to life-threatening attacks at your home, your vehicle and any place it is legal to carry in public or on premises in which possession of a firearm is not illegal (all legal weapons covered). All family members that reside at the home of the Primary member, who are not prohibited from possessing a firearm, shall be covered at no additional cost inside the residence ONLY (all covered up to a 250k bond).

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The CCW Safe Home Defense Plan was designed to cover you and your family against criminal acts such as Home Invasion, Robbery, Burglary, and other criminal acts in the residence that require a self-defense response. This plan is non-transferrable. The Primary member will be covered (up to 250k bond) for use of force responses to life-threatening attacks inside your home. All family members that reside at the home of the Primary member, who are not prohibited from possessing a firearm, shall be covered at no additional cost inside the residence only (all covered up to a 250k bond).

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The CCW Safe Ultimate Plan Covers a Concealed Carry Permit holder and a Spouse as a Permit holder, or a spouse covered by Provisional terms (at no additional cost) for any criminal, civil or administrative legal action stemming from a self-defense incident. Civil Damage coverage up to 1 million dollars is included with this plan for the Primary member ONLY (additional civil damage coverage must be added per member). Both Primary and Spouse are covered for a bond of up to 1 million dollars. This plan is non-transferrable.  Only available in annual payment.

The Primary member and Spouse must either have a resident or non-resident concealed carry permit (Does not include FOID cards). All permits must remain valid. The Primary and Spouse will be covered for all legal use of force responses to life-threatening attacks at your home, your vehicle and any place it is legal to carry in public or on premises in which possession of a firearm is not illegal or prohibited by the property owner (all legal weapons covered). All family members under 18 years of age shall be covered (at no additional cost) that reside at the home of the Primary member, who are not prohibited from possessing a firearm, inside the residence ONLY (all covered up to a 500k bond). Family members 18 years or older must have their own membership plan.

Conifer Insurance Company

The principles at Conifer Insurance Company and the C.W.I. Agency recognized the dangers and perils inherent in the exercise of this fundamental right. Like you, we take the right and responsibility of self-defense very seriously. While researching the insurance market, they discovered there was not an insurance product accessible to the public, providing real coverage for the legally armed CPL holder. They knew they had to do something about it because they are shooters just like you.

The Concealed Weapon Insurance Advantage

As a result, they partnered together to provide unique Concealed Weapon Insurance to protect the Conceal Pistol License (CPL) holder. This coverage is unlike any program available today. Their Conceal Weapon Insurance program provides coverage for legal defense costs you will likely encounter in the aftermath of an act of self-defense.

Unlike other so-called self-defense programs, you are not required to join any association to access our program. There are no dues to pay. They will not share your personal information and they will not solicit you for political donations. They designed their CPL program to cover you anywhere you can legally carry a concealed firearm in the United States.

No Limitations on Representation

Their program provides easy, accessible, and affordable protection when you need it most. Don’t be fooled by legal service payment plans that restrict representation and require you to use their investigators, experts, and lawyers. Those programs do not provide insurance protection. Their program provides real self-defense insurance protection.

With the Conifer Concealed Weapon Insurance program, you are free to use one of their referred professionals or have the flexibility of choosing counsel of your choice. You are in control of your defense, not some prepaid legal plan with limitations and use restrictions.

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US Concealed Carry Assoc.

The USCCA Self-Defense SHIELD insurance-backed member benefit safeguards the futures of over 200,000 responsibly armed Americans from all 50 states. It provides legal and financial protection against criminal and civil charges if you’re ever forced to defend your life or the lives of your loved ones.

When you combine the education, training, and protection of the Self-Defense SHIELD, you will discover that the USCCA is the ultimate solution for responsible, American gun owners.

Delta Defense, LLC is one of the by-products of the US Concealed Carry Association as well. As the organization developed, Tim became aware that there was much more to family protection that just defense from “the bad guys that want to hurt you”. The bad guys are just the beginning of your troubles when there is a need to use a firearm for protection. The legal system is the next step in “self-defense”.

Your Universal Membership Benefits

Up To $2,000,000 Civil Suit Defense And Damage Protection

Up To $250,000 Criminal Defense Protection And Attorney Retainer

24/7/365 Access To The USCCA Critical Response Team

No Annual Limits – Benefits By Occurrence

Up-Front Bail Bond Funding

Members-Only Deals And Discounts

Local Attorney Coordination

Firearm Theft Liability Coverage

Wage Compensation While In Court

Complete Subscription To Concealed Carry Magazine Included

100% Up-Front Coverage (No Deductible. No Reimbursement.)

Personal Hardship Coverage

Covers Use Of All Legal Weapons

Attorney Counseling by USCCA Legal Advisory Board

Expert Witness Coordination

Interrogation And Grand Jury Protection

Members-Only Online Video Library And Article Vault

Complete Psychological Support

There has been an UPGRADE to the Defense Shield Benefits. Click this link to see the changes.

USCCA Law, LLC

For the legally and responsibly armed citizen, navigating the legal aftermath of a self-defense shooting can be especially overwhelming. The United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) has uncovered a group of questions shared by these responsible patriots: What happens after I’m forced to protect myself or my family with a firearm? Will I be able to defend myself again in court? Will I go to jail?

The USCCA has seen a growing need to provide its members with answers to these profound questions. They’ve responded, in part, by establishing their very own law firm—USCCA Law, LLC—whose sole purpose is to handle legal matters of the United States Concealed Carry

Association. Members of the USCCA have access to this growing network of pro-2nd Amendment attorneys in every state. However, the members are not required to use any of the attorneys referred by USCCA. Indeed, having experienced legal counsel can be the one thing that ensures innocent, responsibly armed individuals make it home to their families after they’re forced to defend themselves.

Education

Increase your self-defense and firearms knowledge with Concealed Carry Magazine, our online education tools, and 1,000s of articles.
The USCCA is your best and easiest path to being a responsibly armed American.

Training

The USCCA also has a firearms instructor program available to all members who feel they are qualified to train others in the safety and use of firearms.

The USCCA has over 426 certified firearms instructors across America. You’ll be able to easily keep your edge when you connect with one of our instructors.
Don’t settle for second best… train with a certified USCCA instructor.

“After a self-defense incident, would you know exactly what to say to the police, and what NOT to say? Get your personal copy of the USCCA’s brand new free guide that’ll reveal The 6 Things You Didn’t Know Would Happen When The Police Arrive…”

Sean Hannity
USCCA Member Since 2015

Comparison of Coverages

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There have been changes in benefits for most programs since this comparison was done.

Due Diligence is always advisable.

Second Call Defense

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markdailydevotional-1-1-5681508armed-american-radio-2019271Mark Walters is the creator of Armed American Radio. It came about from a conversation between the founder/President of USCCA and a new member. The member suggested a new avenue of publicizing the organization, the conversation continued, and Mark is “on the air”. Each week Mark talks about the new developments in the defensive handgun lifestyle and has some great guests on his show. The show aired on Sunday only at first. Now it’s on the air six days a week in many cities. In some locations, it’s still available on Sunday only, however.

Concealed Carry Travel

Carrying your firearm from state to state can be a real harrowing experience. Concealed Carry Permits are not like a drivers’ license. You normally cannot use it in every state you travel through. There is a thing called “Reciprocity“. State Governors have to enter into an agreement to allow permits to be accepted between their states. There are a lot of states that just don’t honor permits from anywhere else. California will only honor permits issued in Calif. Nevada’s permit will be honored in 22 other states. Utah and Florida issue non-resident permits to just about anyone and they are accepted in the most states. The USCCA has a list of reciprocity states on their website

Conclusion

There are numerous companies offering some kind of insurance benefit for the concealed carry public. Some will even cover those folks without CCW permits. Some cover the member-only while others include the spouse or even the entire family.
I think the best common catch-phrase at this point is; “due diligence is required”. Do your homework and you can find the company with a plan to suit your needs and budget. But be very careful. Some of them claim to be offering “insurance” when, in the strictest of terms, they are not. Some memberships and the pre-paid plans don’t really fit the correct definition of ‘insurance’.

Add your comments and/or questions below, and I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can.

Use Of Firearms For Personal Safety And Defense

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For many years, firearms have been considered effective defensive weapons. If you think things through you will realize that due to the deadly potential of guns they are really a poor choice for personal protection for the vast majority of people. Those are the people dependant on others to protect them and keep them safe. However, if you don’t have personal security guards, who do you rely on? The police are not always within reach. We all remember hearing the phrase; “there’s never a cop around when you need them”.

The use of firearms
is unwarranted in many circumstances. Their use in any situation can have grave consequences. The use of a gun in defending oneself from an assault could be considered “excessive force” in some instances. It would be up to the victim to prove that a life-threatening situation occurred and deadly force had to be used. Unfortunately, even when the victim is not charged with a crime for using a licensed gun they could find themselves on the defensive side of a civil lawsuit.

The intent of personal protection devices
is not to distract and disable the attacker and be able to escape to get help. Avoidance is always the best choice, but when this is not an option, a weapon can be the only salvation. The purpose of using a gun or any defensive weapon is to “STOP THE ATTACK“!  A large number of the people using a gun for self-defense don’t know when to pull the trigger and when not to. Professional law enforcers have to go through intensive training in shoot or don’t shoot scenarios and yet they still sometimes get caught up in legal problems. This is one of the primary reasons to get proper self-defense training.

Assailants have been known
to kill or seriously injure someone in a matter of minutes after they had been shot defensively, even many hours after being shot with so-called man stopper ammunition. This is why you are told in self-defense training to continue shooting until the threat is no longer present.

Sometimes the emotional trauma and psychological effects of a victim shooting another person can be devastating. Even veteran law enforcement officers are many times affected, especially if the perpetrator is killed. Many victims are unprepared for the intense emotional aftermath of killing someone [even in self-defense] and whose agenda was to only protect him or herself. This scenario is a very real possibility when firearms are used.

When there is the presence of a gun, the criminal action sometimes increases the possibility of a death or serious injury. Once a firearm is introduced by the victim, its use is frequently, but not always, the only action remaining, and an innocent person may be injured or killed. As previously mentioned, the use of the gun by the victim [ justified or not] is subject to legal litigation. Maybe the victims will not be charged with a crime, but it would be possible to find themselves at the wrong end of a long and costly civil lawsuit.

Last, but not least

There is a large burden on the gun owner to properly secure their firearms. There is always the possibility of a child or teenager getting their hands on a firearm with tragic results. Once again, I reiterate here my views on the security of firearms in the home. “If the gun in question is ‘on your person’ then the aforementioned child or teenager can not get to it without your knowledge.” I am quoting myself here from many writings and opinions given in comments to other writers.

In closing

I would like to repeat; Firearms can have a legitimate and useful role in self and home defense, but only [and I stress only] if the person is fully trained on the use and handling of the firearm, totally comprehending the responsibility and consequences of the use of a gun and has the psychological toughness to use a firearm for the purpose of self-defense.

Please leave your comments/questions below.

Some Of The Most Misused Gun Terms

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Some Of The Most Misused Gun Terms

When it comes to firearms, there’s no shortage of misused terminology. Sometimes the error is committed innocently, a simple mistake owing to the shooter’s ignorance. A common example is the interchangeable use of “clip” and “magazine.” However, other misused terms are more harmful. They aren’t just inaccurate; their frequent use can negatively affect the public perception of firearms. Referring to a semi-automatic carbine as an “assault rifle” — a term that implies a fully automatic action designed for purely offensive purposes — is the biggest offender. More on that later.

Anti-gun groups, politicians and biased members of the media often use such terms incorrectly — sometimes due to lack of knowledge but often with malicious intent. So, if we as gun owners don’t accurately apply firearms terminology, who will? How can aspiring shooters, genuine journalists or the public-at-large hope to receive reliable information? Here are some of the most commonly misused and confused gun terms.

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AR-15 Rifle used by US Military, Referred to as M-16

 

Assault Rifles

The term “assault rifle” is perhaps the most commonly misused gun term, and certainly, it’s one of the most damaging to the public’s perception of firearms. Most often, the media, anti-gun groups, and all-too-many gun owners incorrectly use it to describe an AR-15 rifle.

As noted by David Kopel in an article in the “Journal of Contemporary Law,” the U.S. Department of Defense defines assault rifles as “selective-fire weapons that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between submachine gun and rifle cartridges.” The AR-15 and other civilian carbines errantly called assault rifles do no such thing. They are semi-automatic, non-battlefield firearms.

To add further clarity, “AR” does not stand for “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle”. It stands for ArmaLite rifle, after the company that developed it in the 1950’s.

However, anti-gun groups have been hugely successful in applying the false label to convince Americans that AR-15’s and other semi-auto rifle platforms are a fully automatic, public threat. Much of the mainstream media now uses the “assault rifle” label broadly and without question.

To further capitalize, anti-gun groups completely invented the term “assault weapons” to broadly cover everything from home-defense shotguns to standard-capacity handguns — anything they wish to ban.

In fact, according to Bruce H. Kobayashi and Joseph E. Olson, writing in the Stanford Law and Policy Review, “Prior to 1989, the term ‘assault weapon’ did not exist in the lexicon of firearms. It is a political term, developed by anti-gun publicists to expand the category of ‘assault rifles’ so as to allow an attack on as many additional firearms as possible on the basis of undefined ‘evil’ appearance.”

So, while the term “assault rifle” is frequently misused, the term “assault weapon” doesn’t even really exist.

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magazine

 

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Ammunition Clip

 

Clip vs. Magazine

Do you know that boxy rectangular thingy that holds cartridges and slides into the bottom of your semi-auto pistol? It’s not a clip — no matter how often the term is misused. It’s a magazine.

A magazine holds shells under spring pressure in preparation for feeding into the firearm’s chamber. Examples include box, tubular, drum and rotary magazines. Some are fixed to the firearm while others are removable.

A cartridge “clip” has no spring and does not feed shells directly into the chamber. Rather, clips hold cartridges in the correct sequence for “charging” a specific firearm’s magazine. Stripper clips allow rounds to be “stripped” into the magazine. Other types are fed along with the shells into the magazine — the M1 Garand famously operates in this fashion. Once all rounds have been fired, the clip is ejected or otherwise released from the firearm.

In essence, clips feed magazines. Magazines feed firearms.

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Accuracy vs. Precision

These seemingly synonymous terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe two distinct aspects of shots on target. Accuracy is a measurement of the shooter’s ability to consistently hit a given target; precision is essentially the tightness of his groups.That’s the same thing, you say? Perhaps further examples are in order. The best illustration of the differences I’ve come across is courtesy of an unlikely source: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA’s article “Accuracy vs. Precision” was written with surveyors in mind, but its examples include four, four-shot groups by a rifleman (who we shall assume has a perfectly zeroed firearm and is aiming for the center of the target).

In example No. 1, the rifleman’s four shots are scattered all across the target. This is neither precise nor accurate.

In example No. 2, the rifleman places a tight four-shot group in the upper left of the target. This is precise (the shots are close together) but not accurate (the shots are far off-center).

In example No. 3, the rifleman lands a fairly wide four-shot group near the center of the target. He is accurate (his shots are near the intended target) but not precise (it’s a wide group).

In example No. 4, the rifleman delivers a nice, tight, four-shot group directly to the bullseye. This is both accurate (he hit the center of the target) and precise (all four shots were close together).

So, while a rifle that consistently produces tight groups is often described as “accurate,” it’s more properly an indication of good precision.

Pistol vs. Handgun

There is some gray area with this one. Some use the term “handgun” to describe any hand-held firearm, but only use “pistol” in reference to semi-automatic handguns — not revolvers. I’m of the school that believes pistol and handgun may be used interchangeably. Here’s why.

One authoritative source, The NRA Firearms Sourcebook, defines a pistol as “a generic term for a hand-held firearm. Often used more specifically to refer to a single-shot, revolver or semi-automatic handgun.”

Then there’s the historical record. Though there’s debate over whence the term “pistol” arose, by the late 16th century it was commonly used to describe any hand-held gun. It even appeared in works by William Shakespeare. Then along came Samuel Colt, who described his cylinder-firearm invention as a “revolving pistol.”

“Pistol” was an established part of the vernacular long before the semi-auto handgun. Therefore it’s safe to say all handguns are pistols, and all pistols are handguns.

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Glock 42 Sub-Compact

 

Pocket Pistol vs. Sub-Compact Pistol

Every sub-compact pistol is a pocket pistol, but not all pocket pistols are subcompacts. Let me explain.

A sub-compact pistol is simply a small, concealed-carry-friendly version of a particular full-size model. For example, the Springfield XD 9mm Subcompact is a 3-inch barrel version of the full-size 9mm XD with a 5-inch barrel. There are no standard dimensions per se that constitute a subcompact, and thus sizes vary among manufacturers.

“Pocket pistol,” on the other hand, is a generic, somewhat slangy term for any small handgun suitable for concealed carry in a pocket or otherwise. The Ruger LC9, for instance, is a pocket pistol. However, it is not a subcompact. It is a stand-alone pistol, not a smaller version of a full-size gun.

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Cartridges of Different Calibers

 

Cartridge vs. Bullet vs. Caliber

Given the vast differences between the terms “bullet,” “cartridge” and “caliber,” it’s amazing anyone with a modicum of experience would confuse them. And yet how many of us have been in a gun store when someone walked in looking for “a box of .30-’06 bullets” when he obviously wanted actual cartridges?

A “bullet” is merely the projectile that exits the barrel. Specifically, it’s a non-spherical chunk of lead, copper or other material intended for use in a rifled barrel. The bullet’s “caliber” is a numerical approximation of the bullet’s diameter, often expressed in millimeters or hundredths of an inch.

“Bullet” should not be used interchangeably with the term “cartridge” — a bullet is a mere component of it. Cartridges consist of the case, primer, propellant, and projectile. In the case of rifles and handguns, the bullet is seated in the cartridge case. Cartridge is also an accurate term for any shotshell.

Extractor vs. Ejector

There are two main errors with these terms: using them interchangeably or the false assumption that the extractor also ejects spent shells. Designs vary, so some generalities are in order.

In most firearms, the extractor hooks onto the head of a chambered cartridge and pulls it rearward as the action is cycled. The extractor alone does not eject the spent casing — that’s the job of the ejector.

In many semi-automatic firearms, the ejector typically looks like a small blade positioned opposite the ejection port. In a nutshell, the extractor pulls the shell rearward until it contacts the ejector, which flings it out the port.

There are exceptions. Some double-barrel shotguns, for instance, are “extractors-only.” They are equipped to slightly extract spent shells from the chamber, easing removal by the shooter’s fingers. Other double-barrel shotguns have ejectors that spring spent shells from the gun — no need for extractors.

Shells vs. Shotshells

The confusion with the term “shells” perhaps stems from its similarity to the word “shotshells.” I’ve run across folks under the impression that “shells” only refer to shotgun cartridges (shotshells). In reality, “shells” is an accurate — albeit somewhat colloquial — descriptor for any handgun, rifle or shotgun cartridge or cartridge case.

Shotshell, on the other hand, refers to a round of shotgun ammunition — most accurately one that contains pellets rather than a slug or other projectile.

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Sound Suppressor

 

Suppressor vs. Silencer

Here’s a differentiation that tends to get people fired up. Many firearm experts believe that the term “silencer” has no correct usage — rather, it’s an inaccurate slang term for “suppressor.” Suppressors aren’t silencers because they don’t actually “silence” the firearm. Guns that fire silently exist only in Hollywood. Suppressors merely moderate escaping gases, greatly reducing but not eliminating noise.

The NRA Firearms Sourcebook makes the distinction clear, defining a suppressor as “a device attached to the muzzle of a firearm to reduce the noise of discharge. Sometimes incorrectly called a ‘silencer.’”

I believe that’s the most accurate definition. However, here’s where things get muddy: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms uses the term “silencer” in its official paperwork.

So, I suppose, either term is accurate. Still, I advise sticking with “suppressor” and avoiding the use of the word “silencer.”

Armed Citizens Are Successful 95% Of The Time [FBI]

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This is an article sent to me from Jacob Paulsen, of https://www.concealedcarry.com

As per his request, I am sharing this article with as many people as possible through my websites and social sharing. Please read through the entire article, as it is a real eye-opener.

Rather than posting the article in its entirety, here is the link to Jacob’s site where you can read it for yourself. Please, Please do so!!

https://www.concealedcarry.com/news/armed-citizens-are-successful-95-of-the-time-at-active-shooter-events-fbi/

Below, I am also reproducing the graphics provided by Jacob, of course, with his request for it to be shared.

active-shooter-fbi-data-infographic-4750577 Courtesy of: ConcealedCarry.com

As a Responsible  Concealed Weapons Carrier myself, I take this to heart. I hope you do, too.

I also hope you have some way to protect you and your family in the event you are forced to use your weapon in a defensive situation. I personally rely on the USCCA to provide the security I need. I see that Jacob Paulsen also endorses USCCA in emails I have received from him.

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Harry James

[email protected]

Concealed Carry For The Disabled

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Concealed carry for the disabled can be one of the biggest challenges they face to defend against an attacker. People with disabilities and seniors tend to be victimized far more often than other populations of people. Their need for self-defense training is great, yet many people are not strong enough physically for martial arts training.

People with disabilities have fewer self-defense options than able-bodied people. This is especially true if they are confined to a wheelchair or have their mobility otherwise reduced.  The disabled are also more likely to be victims of crimes due to their tendency to be easier targets. The solution is to not remain vulnerable to criminal attacks.

As a result, those with disabilities should be taking advantage of all opportunities to even the odds and arm themselves for protection.

As a disabled person, you may not necessarily be able to run to safety, punch an opponent, or scream loudly for help.

Out in public you are at a disadvantage and as author Carolyn Boyles says in her article “Disability, Self-Defense and Concealed Carry” on USConcealedcarry.com:

“That leaves a firearm as the most practical choice for a person with a disability. As with any of the above self-defense choices, hopefully, a person (especially a disabled person) can discharge the weapon accurately and effectively to avoid either being disarmed or attacked by the assailant. Fortunately, I have never had to find out.” (Read more about concealed carry options for the disabled here)

Depending on the level of injury or disablement, the traditional methods for concealing, drawing and presenting a handgun may not apply. Shooting from a sitting stance is different than standing and many people experience reduced dexterity and slower reaction times. Neither of these examples is a reason to not carry, but rather problems to be solved with creativity and training. If you use equipment such as canes, walkers, or wheelchairs to assist your mobility, these devices can be used to help conceal your weapons for easier access.

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Concealed Carry for the Disabled

 

Disabled or not, you are still ultimately responsible for your safety. There aren’t police waiting on every street corner and most of us can’t afford our own bodyguards, so it comes down to utilizing every possibility to ensure we are capable of protecting ourselves.

If a physically strong, able-bodied criminal attacker launches an attack on a person with disabilities or a senior, the notable disparity of force in the attacker’s favor places the target of the attack at an incredible disadvantage. In order to even the odds and avoid being victimized, if the potential victim is unable to retreat, they need an effective force multiplier they can operate, such as a firearm. The reality, however, is that a handgun or any other firearm is not a kind of, ‘magic talisman.’ If a person is not proficient with their firearm, it is of no more value than a large stone, and it could be taken and used against them.

As a disabled person seeking to enhance your personal protection, you aren’t alone. There are many other people who are working towards the same goal.

Some concealed carry self-defense classes are designed especially for those, who have reduced function. Don’t fight this battle alone. Seek out others and consider taking some shooting classes focused on the issues disabled people face on a daily basis. This is one of the self-defense training facilities that will cater to the disabled shooter;

http://riclin.net/classes/disabled-individuals/

We’ve all witnessed athletes with physical disabilities defy the odds and do what seems to be impossible. Similarly, individuals with physical disabilities shouldn’t let what they “can’t” do stop them from becoming a responsibly armed citizen. It just takes a bit of patience, a good mindset, and proper training in certain areas in order to develop a defensive posture when physically disabled.

A proper mindset is the first thing every gun owner should possess in order for their training to be effective. The force behind a good mindset is the motivation to survive. Whether it’s your family, faith or another driving factor, it’s beneficial to reflect on this motivation and hardwire it into your gun ownership responsibilities and training.

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Training is for everyone

Next, all responsibly armed citizens should receive proper training in the form of mental, medical, physical, and firearms training.

  • Mental training can be as simple as viewing educational videos or reading articles and books, such as those available to USCCA members and subscribers. These materials can cover topics ranging from fundamentals of concealed carry to gun model and operation specifics.
  • Advanced and survival first aid courses are highly recommended, as they teach individuals how to stop bleeding, properly use tourniquets, and other important skills related to survival skills that are crucial to being a fully prepared and self-reliant citizen.
  • Physical training is especially important for those whose physical capabilities are limited. Build on what you can do and make what parts of your body move, move even better. We recommend asking a doctor for the best advice on how to properly gain strength as well as take advantage of concealed carry training tools. For instance, those whose disabilities may render them unable to hold a handgun how it is supposed to be held because of decreased range of motion can use a laser aiming device to learn how to properly aim using one hand.
  • Advanced training in handgun operation is crucial. Those with disabilities should try out different pistols and revolvers until they find the one that is most comfortable using with their given disability.

Seeking out further training will only help you. Consider approaching your gun shop owner or finding classroom-based training courses to further develop and practice skills.

People with disabling physical injuries and chronic pain are no doubt at a disadvantage. Living with pain on a daily basis is tough. So, let’s face it. Combat training when it is already hard to move, twist, bend, reach, etc. is hard! However, it is what it is. Training is just what we must do if we are serious about being able to fight with a handgun. So, what are some of the specific adversities many of us with physical disabilities have to deal with and how can we overcome them, or at least effectively deal with them?

Let’s consider some of the issues disabled people face on a daily basis. Most folks don’t have any idea what they have to go through.

Getting Dressed in the Morning

People without physical disabilities may not ever consider what it takes for a disabled man or woman to get dressed for the day. But with a limited range of motion, think of how much more difficult it is to put a holster on your belt, on your ankle or get into a shoulder holster. How would this be done? How could you put a holster on the belt if you can’t bend or twist at the torso? Do you wear an ankle holster if you can’t tie your shoes?

A lot of thought has to go into choosing the gear you will use to carry a concealed handgun and how you would reach it to draw and bring it to the ready. A conventional belt holster may not work at all. Maybe a fanny pack would be a better choice. If you are confined to a wheel chair a shoulder holster, or variation of one, may work out best. You might have to have a special holster designed to mount somewhere in, or on, the chair.

In some instances, it may work out better to dress your pants with a holster before you put the pants on. It wouldn’t matter too much if you wear an IWB or OWB, the procedure will be the same. Thread your belt through the loops of your pants and the holster while they are easier to reach, then put them on together. I do this all the time. At night, I don’t even take the holster off my pants unless they are going into the laundry bin.

How Do I Draw My Gun?

Drawing the weapon for use against an attacker is another thing to consider. It’s not like just twisting around to draw from the four o’clock position. This takes some serious thought and training to know where to carry and how to get your gun out for use if needed. A disabled person must train just as much as anyone else to be able to move into position and draw smoothly and efficiently.

Be aware of the position of your gun and holster on your body. If it’s on your waist, know exactly where it is and be able to reach it with as little effort as possible. Maybe carrying in the appendix position would be a good choice. Maybe a pocket holster would do. Whatever you decide, you must practice, practice, practice.

Am I Able To Shoot And Move?

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Stainless revolver with wood grip

As a person with a little bit of arthritis setting in, I can tell you that moving around sometimes isn’t all that quick and easy. Manual dexterity is also an issue with some disabled folks and even the elderly without defined disabilities. Can you get a grip on the gun and press the trigger? Which gun should you carry? Some have easier trigger pulls than others. Racking the slide on an autoloader may be pretty hard to do for some people. You may consider carrying a revolver, instead, but they usually have a harder trigger pull than auto-loaders.

Can you move to cover or concealment? Can you draw and move at the same time? This takes a bit of mental rehearsal and more practice with a dry fire procedure.

I know this sounds like an awful lot of work and effort going into carrying a gun. But it’s the same for us all, whether we are disabled or not. Think about what it would be like to get attacked without any defense at all. It’s like the sheep standing in the pasture with no sheepdog, just waiting for the wolf. And we know the wolf is going to eat the weakest of the sheep first, isn’t it?

Cleaning Your Gun

This is important but in reality, can be handled by someone else if needed. Many local gun stores offer cleaning at a reasonable cost to their customers. If you have too much difficulty with the slide or internal workings, then a gun cleaning service at the local shop might be the answer.

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The Ruger Autoloader

Some Final Thoughts

Massad Ayoob, an expert in the use of firearms for law enforcement and self-defense, sums up the choices this way: “Guns are the only weapons that put a physically small or weak person at parity with a powerful, very possibly armed, criminal.”

That leaves a firearm as the most practical choice for a person with a disability. As with any of the above self-defense choices, hopefully, a person (especially a disabled person) can discharge the weapon accurately and effectively to avoid either being disarmed or attacked by the assailant.

Many people with a variety of disabilities in America do indeed own firearms. They pursue training on how to use these weapons. They feel the need to possess a firearm because the leadership of this world has let down everyone, to include people with disabilities. They feel the need to own a firearm because they understand the lawmakers, military, police forces, and other government organizations do not have the ability to keep them safe.

Concealed carry for the disabled is, in my opinion, necessary for the safety of all our disabled and elderly citizens. The police can’t protect anyone from around the block or across town. Our citizens must be able to take care of themselves first, then call the “second responders” to “clean up the mess”.

If you have an opinion on this topic, please leave it here with me in the comments box below. And thanks for stopping by. Please come back anytime.

Best Concealed Carry Guns 9mm

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Every now and then, someone will ask what the best handgun is for concealed carry. The most asked question I get is “What caliber is best to carry”?
My personal preference is the 9mm and here are some reasons for my choice.

 The 9mm ammo is easy to get.

The 9×19 is probably the most plentiful in the ammo market, and it’s affordable. It’s used by the military, most law enforcement agencies, and NATO. It has enough power to stop the biggest majority of aggressive attackers and frequently do the job with only one well-placed shot. It is appropriate to say here that any caliber is ineffective with one shot if it’s not well placed. This is why the recommendation is “two to the chest and one to the head” if possible. Often this is not the case , but a good shot will get the job done.

One of my friends in the past used the rationale of finding sufficient supplies of ammo in the ‘collapse of society’ scenario. If the military, NATO, use this round and you are in short supply during an all-out survival instance, you can find 9×19 ammo laying around anywhere there has been a serious firefight.

9mm is the round most law enforcement uses.

“If it’s good enough for the cops, then it’s good for me, too”. This is one of the main reasons I choose to carry the 9mm. If, God forbid, I am forced to use my gun for defense of myself or a loved one, I most assuredly will be going to court to defend my actions once again. The courts and juries will/should not have difficulty understanding my reason for carrying the same round used by police. It would not be considered “overkill” as may be interpreted with something larger (.45ACP, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, etc.).

Handguns chambered in 9mm are frequently less expensive.

This isn’t always the case, of course, but a great many of the 9mm handguns can be had for less than $500. People have said for decades,” you get what you pay for”, and this is true in many instances. However, you can get a 9mm handgun for much less than you would expect, like the Taurus PT111 Millennium G2, (MSRP of $316). There are several 9mm compact handguns in the $450  to $600 range and are some of the most popular guns around. I have seen some US-made 9mms for less than $200. Hi-Point Firearms has a 9mm for well under $200 and a .45ACP for only $199. They have an unearned reputation for being lower quality, but the reviews are not supporting this line of thinking.

What are the best concealed carry guns – 9mm ?

When I refer to the best concealed carry 9mm guns in this article, I am talking about the most popular guns. This would point to what the consumer market would consider “the best” because that’s what they are buying.

Glock

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Probably the most well-known handguns are the Glocks. Glock has a very large selection. They have the .380, 9mm, 10mm auto, .40 S&W, and .45ACP, .45G.A.P., and .357. They are also made in several sizes, from full-sized to sub-compact.

The 9mm Glocks are the G17, G19, G26, G43, G34 and the G17L. I have three of them; the G17, G26, and G43,  I enjoy shooting all of them at the range. And they are all suitable for every-day carry.

The Glock has a polymer frame and steel slide, making it lighter than the all-steel weapons. The Glocks don’t have a thumb safety. However, the “Safe Action” design makes the external safety totally unnecessary. This gun can be carried with a round in the chamber without danger of going off unintentionally. It’s said you can drop a Glock from a three-story building without fear of it discharging. Some of the other gun makers are using this design as well. There are three safety features built into the design. The trigger has a safety lever that must be depressed in order for the trigger to be pressed back to release the striker. There is also another lever inside to prohibit the striker from moving until the trigger is pressed. In addition, the striker is held in the half-cock position. All three of these features must be activated in proper order for the weapon to discharge.

These safety features in the Glock make it one of the quickest guns to employ. The shooter doesn’t have to remember to first take the external safety off to fire in an emergency. Just draw the weapon, aim, and press the trigger. I wonder, how many people trying to defend themselves have forgotten to release the safety before trying to fire?  They have a “dead trigger”and it creates confusion and hesitation. This gives the attacker more time to overcome their victim.

The GLOCK “Safe Action”® pistol is manufactured with only 34 component parts, a significantly lower number of parts than the semi-automatic pistol designs of GLOCK’s competitors. This smaller number of component parts increases reliability by reducing the potential for technical problems. The cost associated with spare parts inventory is reduced, which contributes to the lower overall maintenance costs for the life of the GLOCK pistol.

Pricing for the Glock Concealed Carry Pistols is quite reasonable for what you are getting. They can be had for between $450 and $750. depending on which one you choose.

Kahr Arms

Kahr Arms began it’s life as a manufacturer of computer numerical controlled (CNC) machining tools in 1981. It was a relatively obvious step going into gun manufacturing due to the ability to use their CNC experience to make quality guns  at an affordable price. The video shows the retail of the CT9 at around $300. The video was produced in 2014, and since then the retail of the CT9 has gone to an MSRP of $449. Still quite affordable.

One of the more popular models in the Kahr Arms line is the CW9. It’s a bit smaller and is referred to as a concealed carry compact pistol.
The first time I looked at a CW9 I thought the slide spring was very strong. It was a little hard to rack the slide, too. But the store guy just said, “it’s a new gun”. I guess he meant it needs some breaking in. The video said the same thing about the CT9. But then this is kind of normal. My Rugers were pretty stiff when I got them, too.

The Kahr does have a thumb safety that doubles as a slide lock. The one lever does both jobs quite nicely.

Kahr makes both Polymer frame guns and all steel guns. So you can have it either way. I prefer the polymer frame mainly because of the weight difference.
MSRP of this gun is also $449 as is a number of their products. Very affordable, and one of the most popular defensive handguns in the market.

Sig Sauer

Sig Sauer has always shined in the full-size duty carry and compact pistol market. Each handgun is painstakingly engineered and crafted in New Hampshire and carries the full weight and promise of the manufacturer. Where the P250 really shines is in its modular nature. It is comparable to the Glock 19 in terms of size and magazine capacity but that’s where the similarities end.

Sig Sauer got its start in 1853 as a wagon manufacturer. The Swiss military soon asked them to make rifles, and the rest is history, so they say. Sig began their efforts to market in the US in 1985 in Virginia. They called themselves SIGARMS, Inc. Then in 1992 they moved to New Hampshire. Sig Sauer is now imported  into the Us, and SigArms, Inc. is manufactured in the US. If you are interested, the history of Sig Sauer and SigArms, Inc. can be found at http://www.sigsauer.com/AboutUs/History.aspx.

Sig Sauer makes a model labeled the P250. This one can be chambered in many calibers and sizes. You can choose whatever combination needed for your own purpose.  The very popular P239 is a compact version that can also be chambered in 9mm, .40S&W, and .357SIG.

“The P239® was developed in response to demands from law enforcement and federal agents for a compact back-up pistol ideal for off duty concealed carry. The slim profile of this single-stack pistol provides easy concealment without sacrificing handling. The excellent handling characteristics of the P239 are the result of 239-9-bss-large-9584583engineering we call “performance engineering” and it’s one of the keys to all SIG SAUER® pistols. The P239 is available in three calibers – 9mm, .357SIG or .40S&W – offering you the choice that’s right for you.” http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductDetails/p239.aspx  MSRP; $993

I only have one Sig. I love it. It feels great in my hand, isn’t too heavy, and shoots sweet. My Sig Sauer is the Mosquito version in .22 LR. I didn’t get it for defensive carry, though. It’s just for fun.and practice shooting. If a novice goes to the range with me this is what they start out with. The only drawback I have with this gun is the fact it eats only lubricated ammo. Winchester white box ammo won’t feed through it. A minor inconvenience to remember when I buy ammo for it.

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm

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Smith & Wesson could well be one of the most well-known brands of firearms in this country. Headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, they have been making quality firearms for over 165 years.

In 2005, Smith & Wesson debuted a new polymer-frame pistol intended for the law enforcement market. Dubbed the M&P (for Military and Police), its name was meant to evoke S&W’s history as the firearm of choice for law enforcement agencies through its previous lineup of M&P revolvers. The M&P is a completely new design with no parts interchangeable with any other pistol including the Sigma. The new design not only looks completely different than the Sigma but feels completely different with 3 different back straps supplied with each M&P. Many of the ergonomic study elements that had been incorporated into the Sigma and the SW99 were brought over to the M&P. The improved trigger weight and feel and unique takedown method (not requiring a dry pull of the trigger) were meant to set the M&P apart from both the Sigma and the popular Glock pistols.

The M&P is available in 9×19mm, .40 S&W, and .357 SIG. Also, a .22 LR M&P was developed with Carl Walther and is made in Germany. A .45 ACP model was released in early 2007, after making its debut at the SHOT Show. In addition, compact versions are available in 9×19mm, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .45 ACP.

The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm Pistol features a Melonite barrel and steel, white dot, dovetailed sights. Designed to be less than 1″ thin, this semi-automatic double-action pistol has polymer grips and is striker fired with a 9-round capacity. It is equipped with thumb and striker safeties. I read somewhere recently, the thumb safety is optional on the M&P Shield.
MSRP: $449

Springfield Armory XDS 3.3 9mm

The XD-S 3.3″ 9mm belongs to a specific category of carry pistols and is not meant to compete with or replace compact double stack 9mm pistols like the Glock 19 or a Sig P250. Rather, the XD-S is made for when a thin, single-stack subcompact pistol is appropriate, but without giving up the 9mm chambering. It’s also very appropriate for when you want to own only one carry gun that will work in just about any carry context.

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Direct competitors in this category include pistols like the M&P Shield, Kahr PM9, Ruger LC9, and the Glock 43. Some people say the XD-S has features and benefits over these competitors and it ranks as a top contender with all pistols in the subcompact category.

The XD-S is a polymer-bodied pistol with a forged steel slide. The polymer is a bit thicker than you’ll find in most pistols and the finish is excellent.
Given that this is a striker-fired pistol with no external safety, the controls are minimal. The internal safety mechanisms are  just like those found on a Glock pistol. The slide lock and takedown levers are sturdy and have nice texturing for ease of use. The magazine ejection controls are ambidextrous and the magazine actually jumps out of the frame when the button is depressed. I wish all magazines ejected this easily.

The grip is a little too short for my taste. I would suggest using the extended magazine for added comfort and control. It would also add another round to the capacity.
MSRP: $499

Ruger

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Sturm Ruger has been making guns in the US since 1949. They have built a reputation of being one of the best, most rugged firearms made today. I have owned four Rugers in my lifetime and still have three of them. One of my first handgun purchases was a used Blackhawk six-shot .357Magnum revolver I found at a gun show in 1982. I have put that gun through firearm “hell” over the years and still trust it to do its job faithfully. My next purchase was the Ruger SP101 in .357Magnum.

I have two 9mm Rugers I carry frequently. One of my EDC’s is the LC9. This is a 9mm subcompact single stack. The only Ruger smaller than this is the LCP, which is a .380 and sold only to law enforcement in many states.

The LC9 is hammer fired by a concealed hammer and has the external thumb safety. I like this gun with only one exception. The grip is a little too thin for my comfort. The first time I picked one up I put it down again right away because of the thin grip. I couple years later, I took another look and found a sleeve to put over the grip. This adds a bit of width and made it much more of a handful.

The other Ruger I carry is the SR9C. It’s striker fired and still has the thumb safety. It also has the internal safeties similar to the Glock Safe Action design.
This gun is a bit bigger than the LC9 and I like the way it fits my hand. The first time I held this one I knew I had to have it. And when I fired it I was sure I had a winner. It was more comfortable than my first Glock, the G26 Baby Glock, and I could shoot it more accurately.

Conclusion?

What are the Best Concealed Carry Guns in 9mm?

I don’t know if there is a conclusion I could draw from this. There is a great number of excellent 9mm handguns out there in the marketplace. And, actually, most of them are pretty good. Let’s see if I can name a few more.

I just had a look at a list of handguns and almost choked. I can’t even begin to count them all. I’ll leave you with a link to the list I found at Wikipedia and let you peruse them at your leisure.  But I can list some of the top names that I would not shy away from. So here they are…..

Beretta,  Colt,  CZ,  Desert Eagle,  Heckler & Koch,  Hi-Point Firearms,  Kel-Tec, 

Kimber,  Remington Arms,  Taurus,  Walther Arms

Thanks for stopping by and putting up with me rambling on. Please let me know what your favorite handgun is and why you like it so much. Just leave your  comments below and I’ll get back to you right away.

Are New Yorkers Losing More Of Their Rights?

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New Yorkers applying for handgun licenses or renewing existing licenses could potentially have to submit to a state review of their social media histories and internet searches under a proposed new state law. “We hear about these instances where there’s a mass shooting,” said Rochester area Assemblywoman-elect Jamie Romeo, […]

The law would empower State Police to investigate for “commonly known profane slurs or biased language used to describe the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person.”

The law would require handgun licensees to open those records up for an audit of their search records going back one year, and of their social media activity going back three years.

“The Bill of Rights is totally under assault with this particular bill,” said Tim Andrews, president of the New York Shooters Committee on Political Education (SCOPE). “It’s an invasion of privacy. Some would see it as a Fourth Amendment violation, and a violation of the First Amendment, freedom of speech.”

Click here to view the original web page at www.whec.com

My Opinion;

I would seriously question the sensibility of the New York lawmakers. Although I fully understand the motivation behind this kind of thinking, I believe they are trying to overstep their authority. I also believe this bill will never survive, even in New York.

Harry James; dusty@defensive-handguns.com