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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.

 

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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 engineering 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

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.

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

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.

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

What a loaded question. A holster is a pocket, pouch, or another form of receptacle used to hold something else to get it out of your hands. That something else could be a gun, a cellphone, a screwdriver, a number of tools, or anything you wish to carry on your person. For the purpose of this article, we will be talking about a holster made for carrying a handgun.

Handgun holsters have been around for a long, long time. They were first just a belt holding up your pants. Men would put the barrel of the gun between their belt and pants to hold it and have it available if it was needed. Then someone created a leather pouch to carry it in and hung the pouch on their belt.

Later the gunbelt was  developed and even put cartridge loops around it. This was the beginning of the western gunbelt in the early 19th century.

Some of the earlier holsters had covers or straps over the gun. These were mainly used by the military. Later on the open holster was developed for the cowboys so they could draw the weapon faster in the case of an attacking animal, either the four-legged or two-legged kind.

The holster’s main purpose is to hold the gun close by and protect it from the elements. It also keeps the gun held in a safe manner so you don’t get shot accidently. [By the way, the common belief is that there is never an accidental discharge of a firearm, only negligent discharges.]

Concealed carry holsters were designed for hidden handguns when some of the bigger cities in the east decided they didn’t want everyone in town carrying a gun around. So the guns were being held in holsters under the arm with straps around the shoulders, in a vest or jacket pocket, or a smaller holster attached to the belt of the pants, even behind the back. Then they were covered by a jacket.

In the late 1900’s and into the 20th century, people were getting more creative. They started developing more ways to conceal their weapons. The ankle holster for men and  garter belt holster for the ladies were becoming more commonplace.  Some men would even hide a smaller gun like a derringer in their hat.

More modern forms of concealed carry are the belly band, a wide elastic band around the mid-section with pockets sewn in, undershirts with sewn-in pockets, and even a band around the bicep to hold a gun under the sleeve of a short sleeved shirt.

Pocket holsters are being made with a sticky backing so the holster isn’t withdrawn along with the gun. A company called Sneaky Pete is making a holster that looks like a PDA pouch on the belt. Ladies purses and fanny packs are made with secure gun-holding pouches in them. Flash Bang is a company that makes ladies holsters and has one that clips to her bra.

Military and police are also getting creative about how to carry their firearms when on duty. They now have holsters made of nylon and velcro around their legs just above the knee, on their chest, or on the side of a bullet-resistant vest.The point here is that anywhere you think you can carry a gun, someone is making a holster for it.

I read an article once that showed Massad Ayoob hiding 56 guns on his person at the same time. This would not be an everyday occurrence, of course, but that is creativity.

As I said in one of my blogs, there are probably more holsters for each handgun out there than there are handguns. You just have to find the one that fits your need. If you would like some assistance with finding a manufacturer or advice about making one for yourself, just send me an email. I will be happy to help in any way I can.

Dr. Ignatius Piazza

Friday, September 9, 2016

Dear Harry,

I recently had dinner with Donald Trump.

I sat right across the table from him.

I listened more than I talked.

I thoroughly enjoyed the evening I spent with him.

Donald Trump looked healthy, well-rested and was extremely energetic. His conversation was positive, passionate, articulate, and intelligent. He is VERY “Presidential.”

Refreshingly, he is not a “politician.” He speaks his mind and is not willing to buckle under any pressure from anyone in his efforts to make America great again.

Regardless of whether you are a Republican, Libertarian, Democrat or Independent, if you care about your Second Amendment rights, there is really only one candidate to vote for. That candidate is Donald Trump.

Whether you believe Donald Trump can actually make America great again or not, if you care about your Second Amendment rights, there is only one candidate to vote for. That candidate is Donald Trump.

Whether you agree with Donald Trump’s position on immigration, foreign policy, economics, taxes, the military, social security, health care or not, if you care about your Second Amendment rights, there is only one candidate to vote for. That candidate is Donald Trump.

WHY? Because Donald Trump and his family are very pro-gun. I have had numerous conversations with Donald’s son, Eric Trump, as well. Donald, Donald Jr., and Eric are big time gun owners, train with their guns, and are VERY familiar with Front Sight. The Trumps cherish the Second Amendment the way you and I do. To the Trumps, “Making America Great Again” means protecting and restoring the Second Amendment. They don’t just talk the talk. They walk the walk.

On the other hand, you have Hillary Clinton, who has publicly stated many times that if she could, she would confiscate every gun in America!

Even more important than what Donald Trump can do for America over the next 8 years is the fact that the next President of the United States will have the opportunity to appoint FOUR, possibly five Supreme Court Justices! If Donald Trump is making those appointments, you can be SURE the Second Amendment will be protected for the next fifty years or more.

If you let Hillary Clinton make the next four or five Supreme Court Justice appointments, she will appoint anti-gun justices and in the next several years, the individual right to keep and bear arms will be overturned at the Supreme Court level.

As I said, if you care about your Second Amendment rights, there is only one candidate to vote for and that candidate is Donald Trump. Voting for anyone else will place your Second Amendment rights in imminent peril.

He has my vote. He should have yours too.

So what can you do to help? THREE EASY STEPS…

1. MAKE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND MAKE SURE YOU VOTE!!! I cannot emphasize this enough. DO NOT sit on the sidelines and think that your vote is not needed. EVERY VOTE for the Second Amendment is needed. It is our duty and honor to uphold and defend the freedom our forefathers fought and died to give us. Voting is Freedom. Fire a shot in defense of the Second Amendment by voting for Donald Trump. If you have not yet registered to vote, go to https://vote.usa.gov/ and register online. It is easy. NO EXCUSES.
2. Financially support the ONLY pro-gun candidate who can win the Presidency of the United States. Go to https://www.donaldjtrump.com/ The Trumps don’t just talk about “Making America Great Again.” They believe it and they have put tens of millions of dollars of their OWN money behind it. They have also taken their attention away from their own extremely successful businesses to focus on turning our country around and protecting the rights you and I cherish. So don’t sit on the sidelines! Do as I have and do as the Trumps have. Make a financial contribution to elect the ONLY pro-gun candidate who can win the election and become the next President of the United States! Financially support the Trump campaign!
3. Get involved on the ground as I am doing to help the ONLY pro-gun candidate who can win the election and become the next President of the United States! You can make a big difference. You Can Help Make America Great Again! Volunteer to help the Trump campaign win the election! Go to https://www.donaldjtrump.com/volunteer and see all the different ways you can help and become part of the team making America great again!

Want to know what I said to Donald Trump as I shook his hand after dinner?

I said, “No matter what happens, no matter how hard your detractors push you, no matter how badly the politically correct media treats you, NEVER apologize for speaking your mind.”

Donald responded. “I won’t. I can tell you wouldn’t either.”

We nodded in agreement.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ignatius Piazza Founder and Director Front Sight Firearms Training Institute #1 Front Sight Road Pahrump, NV 89061

http://www.frontsight.com

[email protected]
1.800.987.7719

Police stand guard outside the library in Birstall, England, where MP Jo Cox was killed Thursday. (Oli Scarff/Agence France-Presse)

By Adam Taylor June 16

Four days after the horrific mass shooting in Orlando sparked a fresh debate about gun control in the United States, a fatal attack on a politician in Britain is bringing attention to that country’s gun control policies.

Jo Cox, a member of the British Parliament for the center-left Labour Party, was shot and stabbed while meeting with constituents near the northern city of Leeds on Thursday. According to police, the 41-year-old has died of her injuries.

Any physical attack on a British politician would be extremely unusual, but that the attack on Cox involved a firearm may be even more surprising within Britain. The United Kingdom has strict gun laws that make getting a firearm quite difficult. Gun crime is relatively low in the country.

British member of Parliament dies following shooting

“In terms of the types of gun that can be legally owned, background checks and the penalties for illegal possession and use, we are one of the strictest in Europe,” Helen Poole, a researcher with the University of Coventry who recently studied firearms across the European Union, said in an e-mail.

The British government pursued legislative bans on assault rifles and handguns and dramatically tightened background checks for other types of firearms after a horrific mass shooting at a school that killed 15 children and their teacher in 1996. As The Washington Post reported in 2013 a total of 200,000 guns and 700 tons of ammunition were taken off British streets in the 17 years since the attack. Military-style weapons and most handguns were banned, including Olympics-style starting pistols.

According to the most recent statistics, there were 1,338,399 shotguns licensed in England and Wales last year, and more than 500,000 firearms of other types also licensed. There were about 582,494 licensed shotgun owners and 153,603 licensed for other firearms, almost all of whom lived in rural areas and who used their guns for sport or to protect their farmland.

That means that last year there were around 1,863,524 legally held guns in England and Wales, two nations which have a total population of over 58 million. To put it another way, this means that around 3,200 shotguns and other firearms for every 100,000 people in Britain. Meanwhile, some estimates suggest that there are believed to be about 357 million guns in the United States for 317 million people.

Legally owned guns are just one aspect of gun ownership, of course. France has strict gun laws that are comparable to Britain’s, but authorities have estimated that there may be 30,000 illegally obtained in the country. Around 4,000 were thought to be “war weapons,” including Uzis and the Kalashnikov AK-variant rifles. These are the sorts of weapons that were used in a series of terror attacks in Paris last year that killed scores of people.

Britain has not yet suffered a shooting attack on the similar scale to the one in France. Perhaps part of this may come down to geography, rather than policy. Because the island country is not part of the Europe’s Schengen Area, which has no border control, importing a bulky AK-47 without arising official suspicion is a difficult task. In France, driving halfway across the continent with such a gun in the trunk of your car is a real possibility.

Without the widespread availability of such guns, anyone seeking a firearm for criminal purposes in Britain will need to get creative. In 2014, the Birmingham Mail reported that criminals in the city had been forced to use “plundered war trophies and collectible weapons, sometimes more than 100 years old.” In fact, during the 2011 riots in the city, experts discovered that a late 19th-century St. Etienne revolver had been fired. In other instances, flare guns and replica weapons had been retrofitted in an attempt to make them deadlier.

More sophisticated guns are often in drastically short supply. Handguns have been sold for more than 10 times the price at which they could be purchased in the United States. This sometimes leads to elaborate arrangements between gun dealers and their customers. The Economist has reported that two rival gangs in Birmingham were later found to have used the same gun to shoot each other’s members and affiliates. Each had rented the gun from a third party at separate times.

Matt Lewis, the director of Arquebus Solutions, a company that helps governments track illegal firearms, says Britain is seen as a “world leader” in understanding the circulation of illicit firearms. “The UK has arguably the best approach the management of illicit firearms in the E.U., if not across the globe,” Lewis says.

Yet gun violence has not been eradicated in Britain.

Last year, officials recorded a rise in both homicides and gun-related crime in the country. Numbers compiled by GunPolicy.org, a global project of the Sydney School of Public Health, found that 146 people died because of gun violence across Britain in 2012, the most recent year for which the group has numbers. There have also been a small number of mass shootings since stricter gun control legislation was put in place: In 2010, a man killed 12 people and injured 11 more before killing himself in a shooting rampage in Cumbria, England.The shooter in that instance, Derrick Bird, used a double-barrel shotgun and a .22-caliber rifle. He was a licensed firearms holder.

According to witnesses, the gun used to shoot Cox on Thursday appeared to be either antique or modified.

“It looked like a gun from, I don’t know, the First World War or a makeshift, handmade gun,” eyewitness Hichem Ben Abdallah told Sky News. “It’s not sort of like the kind of gun you see normally.”

Source:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/16/what-the-fatal-attack-on-a-british-politician-says-about-guns-in-the-u-k/ 

First Day of training at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada

If someone is going to carry a gun for self-defense, then training is of the utmost importance. The training one gets is directly proportional to the efficiency with the weapon being carried. Self-defense handgun training is comprised of many facets of the concealed carry lifestyle, and it is a lifestyle. No one should ever carry a handgun for self-defense without the best training they can get. This includes, but is in no way limited to;

• Situational awareness
• Safety procedures
• Proper Mindset
• Firing accuracy
• Clearing of malfunctions
• Drawing from concealment
• Proper methods of carrying a handgun
• Legal aspects of carrying a handgun
• Legal consequences of using a gun for defense
• Etc. Etc. Etc.

Situational Awareness

The “Color Code of Awareness”

Let’s just start at the top. Awareness of your surroundings is crucial to defending yourself and the people you are with. If you don’t know what’s going on around you, then how can you be prepared to stop an attacker? There is a thing called the “color code of awareness”, developed by the late Jeff Cooper, that all good firearms instructors teach. Most people are quite familiar with the concepts, but a review of these essential survival levels is worthwhile. Cooper broke down alertness levels into four colors, or degrees, of preparation for the use of deadly force. This color code system is a mental process, not a physical one, and should be practiced whether or not you are armed. Being alert may help you to avoid a deadly threat, which is always preferred.

Condition White

In condition White, you are relaxed and unaware of what is going on around you. We often see people walking down the street or through a mall with their attention heavily focused on a phone. Sometimes they will walk right into traffic or fall over trash cans, they are that “focused”. Even without their nose in the phone screen, they are often not paying any attention to what’s going on in the immediate area. When folks are in a diner or restaurant, they are usually not watching the other patrons, or who is coming in the door. That is unless the person entering is loud and attracting everyone’s attention. I like to compare this situation to a flock of sheep going about their normal duties of grazing and sleeping. They will rarely see the wolf until it’s chewing on their friends.

Condition Yellow

In condition yellow, you remain relaxed but are aware of who and what is around you. This merely means that you are paying attention to the sights and sounds that surround youWherever you happen to be. Condition yellow does not mean you are always afraid of everyone you come in contact with. Instead, you simply have moved your alertness to a level of attention that will prevent you from being totally surprised by the actions of another person.

When walking through the mall, you are moderately aware of those people in the area. When sitting in a restaurant, you may sit with your back to the door, or not have too many others sitting behind you.

You don’t have to insist on sitting with your back in the corner and watching the door intently. You are not anticipating a threat, You’re just making yourself conscious of your  surroundings and the other people around you. You could also run a mental scenario of what may happen and how you would react to certain incidents.

If you are attacked in condition yellow, it should not come as a total surprise. Your response to a threat should have been pre-planned to some extent, allowing you to simply run an existing plan rather than having to make one up quickly while under fire. A responsibly armed citizen should be in condition yellow whenever they are moving in society, or even at home or somewhere they feel is a safe place.

Condition Orange

In condition orange, you have identified something of interest that may or may not prove to be a threat. Until you are sure of whatever has caught your interest, you will concentrate on the possible threat and will stay focused until you are satisfied there is no threat. If someone or something looks out of place, you change from a 360-degree general awareness to a more focused concentration in a specific direction. At the same time, you can’t drop your general awareness, because a bad guy in front of you may be a distraction for another behind.

If someone or something looks out of place, you change from a 360-degree general awareness to a more focused concentration in a specific direction. At the same time, you can’t drop your general awareness, because a bad guy in front of you may be a distraction for another behind.

If you are attacked in condition orange, you should be expecting the attack.Hopefully, you will be facing your attacker since you have already shifted your focus in his direction. If you are well trained, your subconscious mind will have been searching for similar training you may have had, or any pre-visualized “what if” scenarios you’ve thought about in case something like this would occur.

Condition Red

Condition red is when you have confirmed that the potential threat has indeed become a viable one and it’s time to act. This doesn’t necessarily mean you will now pull the trigger. It means you are prepared to respond to the threats actions as you feel appropriate for the situation.

Once you’ve shifted to condition red, you will be fully prepared to either defend yourself or flee, if possible. But, your intense concentration on a forward threat will reduce your 360-degree focus. You won’t be able to recognize a threat from behind without some training about the tunnel vision that naturally occurs in this kind of stress.

If possible, in both conditions orange and red, you should move to a position of advantage. This is the time for the decision of “fight or flight”. If you are attacked in condition red, you should be fully prepared to defend yourself. Whether or not you have a gun in hand or on target will depend on the circumstances, but mentally, you are already ahead of the game.

This is all part of self-defense handgun training.

Safety Procedures

Safety is the number one subject when you think about using and carrying a handgun. Certain rules MUST be followed always. One thing you need to remember-“There is no such thing as an accidental discharge of a gun, only negligent ones”. If the safety rules are followed correctly, there will never be an “accident”. When a gun goes off unintentionally, it’s negligence.

There are four cardinal rules of handgun safety.

1. This rule means that we must always treat every firearm with the same respect we would give a loaded weapon.

   When we follow Rule One, even after we have just checked to see that the gun is unloaded, we still never do anything with it that we would not do with a loaded gun.

   This is the cardinal rule, and all other safety rules follow naturally from it. At its heart, Rule One means that the other safety rules will always apply. It means we carefully protect our good habits, and never excuse our bad ones.

2. This rule simply states the first and most logical consequence of Rule One.

   

   A commonly-seen violation of Rule Two

   puts the left hand in the line of fire.

   No matter what we are doing with the firearm — whether we are unloading it, cleaning it, or showing it to a friend — we never allow the muzzle to point at anything we do not want a hole in, nor at anyone we are not willing to kill.

   Rule Two means we always stay very aware of muzzle direction during the entire time we’re handling the gun.

   If we must pick the gun up or put it down, we must notice where the muzzle is pointed from the very moment when we first touch the gun until the moment when we finally let go of it.

   If we cannot pick the gun up without allowing it to point at something that shouldn’t be shot, we should not pick it up. If we cannot put the gun down without allowing it to point at something that shouldn’t be shot, we should not put it down.

   Whenever we handle a firearm, we can think of it as a Star Wars light saber: anything it crosses will be cut in half.

3. You should consciously intend to put your finger on the trigger. A responsible gun owner never finds their finger resting on the trigger or within the trigger guard.

   The trigger finger should always be indexed on the side of the slide above the trigger guard.

   What is a target? It’s anything we deliberately point the weapon at. It’s a place we fully intend to put a bullet. Whenever we are not deliberately pointing the weapon at the “target”, we must keep our finger away from the trigger and up on the frame of the gun.

This rule sounds deceptively simple, but it covers a world of potential tragedies.  Among other things, it means we always identify our intended target, and that we must carefully consider the backstop — or lack of a backstop — beyond it.

Hunters must always visually identify the game they are shooting.  It is not enough to merely hear a noise or see a quick flash of motion or color.  We  must see enough of the animal to positively identify it as both legal and safe to shoot.

Placing the finger high on the gun’s frame.

When shooting at the range, we must never begin firing until we are absolutely sure that no one is lurking behind or around the targets.  It isn’t enough to simply hear someone call the range clear.  When we’re the ones holding the gun, we must look for ourselves. Every shooter is responsible for where their own bullets land, and that’s why we look for ourselves.

To follow Rule Four, we make sure of the space between us and our target by asking ourselves, “Could someone come between you and what you’re shooting at?”  We do the same thing by looking at the areas around our intended target, when we ask, “If you miss your target, what will you hit instead?”

For concealed carry permit holders, this becomes even more critical. With such high stakes, we must be overwhelmingly sure of the circumstances before we pull a gun in public.  If we are not overwhelmingly certain that the person we intend to shoot is an immediate, deadly threat to an innocent person, then we know that the gun is not the correct solution to the problem.

Rule Four also means that every time we fire a gun in practice, we must have an adequate backstop that will stop a bullet.  When we practice dry firing, we  must have a safe backstop at home.  On an outdoor range, we never allow the muzzle of the firearm to point above the berms which are designed to contain the bullets.

When we use a gun “for keeps,” as in hunting or self-defense, it may not be possible to have a solid backstop as we would on the range.  Nevertheless, we must always be conscious of where our bullets will land.

For self-defense, when there is an innocent standing directly behind the target, we should either hold fire or reposition ourselves so that the innocent is no longer in the line of fire.  We must weigh the deadly threat from the attacker on one hand against the deadly threat from our own bullets on the other hand.

Whenever we handle guns, we know that we will be called to account for every round we fire, not just the ones we intended to shoot. We know we are responsible for every bullet that leaves our guns, not just those that hit the intended target. That’s why we guard our good habits every time we handle a gun, and that’s why we always follow the Four Rules.

Proper Mindset

This is the mainstay of being a “responsibly armed citizen”. As the carrier of a concealed firearm, you are expected to take the responsibility for your actions. This means with or without your gun. You should be the epitome of good judgment in any situation of confrontation with another human being. You must avoid confrontation at all cost at any time. If this means eating a little crow once in a while, then do it.

Ladies training at different ranges around town

Massad Ayoob, I’ve been told, has carried a twenty dollar bill wrapped around a coin. When confronted by a thug, one of the first things he does is to throw the wrapped coin to the thug and offer to buy him a coffee. This does two things. It distracts the thug away from his attack mode and gives Mr. Ayoob a way to avoid a mishap. Massad Ayoob is one of America’s premier self-defense gun experts and has been called as an expert witness in numerous self-defense shootings around the country. His books are considered as bibles in the firearm society.

Weapons Firing Accuracy

It can be a lot of fun going to the firing range to exercise your skills at shooting, and get in a little “range time”. Not only for fun, it’s really necessary to hone your skill, and you have to be able to control where your shots land. It’s even more critical if you are involved in a self-defense shooting.

This may sound a bit gruesome, but the facts are the facts. If you must stop an attacker with your gun, you have to know where to hit him/her with the bullets, and you must know how many times to hit them. The rule of thumb is two in the thoracic cavity and one in the cranial ocular cavity. To those not familiar with human anatomy, this means two to the chest and one to the forehead. The real purpose is to simply “stop the threat”. Some thugs can be stopped with one shot, but most won’t. They can keep coming at you with a shot to the heart, depending on how high they are on adrenaline or drugs.

Accuracy can be quite important in these cases. Science has shown that you will be “as good in a real gunfight as you are on your worst day of training“. The reason for this is the adrenaline rush that you will experience in the stress of a fight. You will get tunnel vision, your manual dexterity will greatly diminish, and your hearing will almost disappear. This is a physiological response to the stress of the situation. The body does this automatically to protect the vital organs from the stress of what may happen. You can control this a little bit with the right training, and lots of it. You need what’s called “muscle memory”. And muscle memory is perishable, meaning, if you don’t use it, you will lose it.

If you are going to be accurate with your gun you must train. You need to know trigger control, hand/eye coordination, where to put your hands and how to get them there without shooting yourself. You need to know how to get the gun from the holster to the shooting position and on target. You need the ability to clear the gun in case of a malfunction. This is all found in your muscle memory and you need to instill it there.

Clearing a malfunction

Handguns are generally pretty reliable, but they are man-made machinery. They can fail, and Murphy’s Law has been known to take over at the most inopportune times. You should be able to recognize a malfunction and clear it in seconds without much thought. Again, here comes your muscle memory. Guns can jam when a spent casing fails to eject, when a live round fails to feed into the firing chamber, or when a magazine fails to feed the next round up to the feed ramp. All this is possible with a semi-auto handgun. A revolver has far less possibility of malfunction, but it can still happen. Part of your training will teach you to recognize the fault and fix it within seconds to stay in the fight, and hopefully win.

Prepared to win? Can You Draw From Concealment?

Drawing from an IWB holster

Granted, a lot of these circumstances will probably never occur, because most gunfights are within just a couple feet, and are over in 2 to 3 seconds., according to FBI statistics. To survive this kind of fight, you also need some specialized training. How do you get your gun from concealment to fire fast enough to defend yourself if the attacker is just 3 feet away? FBI tests show the attacker can close 21 feet in less than two seconds. Can you stop him with your gun? Many can with the right training.

How Will You Carry Your Gun?

You must know how to carry your concealed handgun in a manner fit for swift deployment. Sounds kind of military, doesn’t it? This is where your choice of a holster comes into play. You should train with the gun you carry in the holster you carry it in and in the location you will normally carry it. There is a statement many people have quoted often. “Carry the same gun in the same holster in the same place all the time”. Remember that muscle memory thing? If you carry differently from time to time, your muscles won’t remember where your gun is or which one you have on you. You have to get used to the same thing from day to day. I understand there may be occasions when you must change your routine, but this should not be a regular occurrence.

Training Includes Knowing What The Law Says

The judges gavel in the court room.

Laws are supposed to be somewhat universal, but we all know they’re not, don’t we? Gun laws in New York are much different than laws in New Mexico. You have to know the law in your own jurisdiction, as well as any jurisdiction you may travel into or through. This is all part of your training as a gun carrier. You may remember hearing about the man from Wyoming going from Georgia back home and his plane got diverted to New York City. His gun was being carried legally in the airplane when he left Georgia, but in New York City he was breaking the law and faced 10 years of prison. This is an exception, but not all that rare. Lots of folks have gone through this kind of treatment. Some of it is innocent miscarriage, like the man I just told you about, but some are just ignorant of the laws from state to state or city to city.

How About The Law If You Use Your Gun?

Ask George Zimmerman how the law treats you if you  use your gun. Do you remember him? Generally, the law says in a self-defense shooting the shooter is at fault whoever he is. Experts say the first one to call 911 will be considered the victim, the good guy. But you and I both know if you are the shooter, you will go to jail. That’s where the USCCA comes in if you’re a member and carrying legally. They will be there to fight for you in the court system. Check them out in my reviews page.

The Last Word?

The last word here is; Self-defense handgun training is your individual responsibility. You are responsible for your own actions and your own training. If you think, like my nephew, that you know all you need to know, and training isn’t necessary, then I wish you lots o’ luck.

Training for firearms use is available all over the country, There are good schools, there are great schools, and there are not so great schools. You just have to find the one right for your location and budget. I personally recommend Front Sight Firearms Training Institute in Nevada, just outside Las Vegas. You can see my review of them here in these pages. And if you wish, I can arrange great discounts for the training there. Look at the review, then contact me at [email protected].

If you would like to leave comments about this article, please do so in the box below. I’d really be interested in hearing what you have to say. Thanks for stopping by.

Harry

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Gun Digest’s History of Concealed & Defensive Handguns eShort: Discover the history of concealed carry handguns & learn about the firearm laws, facts & … & concealed carry. (Concealed Carry eShorts)

Do you wear the hat or t-shirt that tells everyone you are a “gun nut”? Do you have weapon decals all over your pickup truck? A yard sign warning intruders to stay away or be shot? Let me give you some things to think about.

I Don’t Dial 911 – Forget The Dog, Beware Of Owner

Do you wear one of these?

These quotes have been around for a long, long time. They get all kinds of responses from passers-by and neighbors, from eye-rolls to thumbs up. But did you ever imagine what the District Attorney would tell the Court if you had to actually use your gun? “This person has been looking for an excuse to shoot somebody for a long time”, or almost anything like this.

The Courts have seen many good citizens that have used their guns in attempts to defend themselves, their families or even strangers on the street. It’s the DA’s job to show them as “bad, angry thugs, looking for reasons to use their gun”.

Yard signs, t-shirts, and hats that may seem humorous to you will be taken completely out of context by someone wanting to put you away.

The guy breaking in your front door to harm you, steal from you, rape your wife and daughter? He was the bad guy in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing.

But what is his family going to say to the news crew on the front lawn? “He was a good boy”. “He never hurt anybody in his whole life”. “He went to church every Sunday and was a good father”. “That man that shot him was a menace to the neighbors”.

Does this sound familiar?

I Have My Rights, You Know

It’s true. You have the first amendment right to free speech, and that includes putting a sign on the lawn. That also includes wearing any t-shirt you choose. You have the first amendment right to defend the second amendment. But it may not always be prudent to exercise these rights in such a public way.

We, as gun owners, have a responsibility to portray ourselves as good citizens, and most of us are.There are a few who just don’t think to “hold their tongue”.

There is a lot of talk about gun control and there has been for many years. “Guns are bad. They kill people”. A lot of folks are afraid to even look at a gun. If they see one on your hip, under your shirt, or in your car, it scares them into a panic. Even the sight of a pro-gun bumper sticker gives them a chill.

But I Have A Choice

We all make choices every day. Selecting the caliber of a defensive handgun is a very personal choice. There are also some other personal decisions we have to make. Many elements will influence our decision-making processes. We need to remember, in an argument, “the first one to raise his voice is the loser”.At that point, it’s clear to see emotion has overcome intellect.

In a discussion about gun ownership and use, we need to remember to stay calm. Be firm in your beliefs, but do it calmly. The facts are on your side. Gun crime is down while gun ownership is up. The places with the toughest gun laws have the highest murder rates (thinking of Obama’s Chicago?).

The number of mass shootings is down (contrary to the media and Obama Administration views) and the number of legal defensive gun uses is up. Of course, the media doesn’t talk about that part. Very few Concealed Carry permit holders ever commit violent crimes. In many cases, they prevent them.

So, when the majority of people in this country only think of the damage guns do, how do we tell them that gun ownership does more good than harm? The mainstream media repeatedly says, “guns do damage”. The reality is that guns don’t “do” anything. Guns are inanimate objects. People do damage. It’s not the guns; it’s the people.

There are about 80 million gun owners in this country and just 12 million of those legally carry concealed handguns. We are the minority, but we need to be leaders in the discussion because we know more about guns than anybody else.

Conclusion?

Tell me, where are you in this debate? Are you loud and boisterous, or quiet and reserved? No one, especially me, is going to judge you. You should just debate with facts instead of opinions. We need to tell the story the right way. Talk about the benefits of gun ownership. How can we do that?

Let me know your views in the comments box below. I would really like to have your opinions to base my next article on. Or email me at; [email protected]

The United States Concealed Carry Association was formed about ten years ago when the founder became a father for the first time. He suddenly realized he was responsible for the care and security of his new child, as well as his wife and future family members. Read his story here.

It is similar to the story of every new parent. “How can I protect my family the way they need me to”? Tim has also recently written a book about the trials and struggles he faced bringing the USCCA to a reality, and the magazine that was spawned from the efforts.

The US Concealed Carry Membership – How Does It Benefit Us

Membership in the USCCA has many great benefits, primarily stemming from the need for education, training, insurance and legal defense. Education and training both come, in a large part, from the Concealed Carry Magazine. This is the major publication of the USCCA, along with a weekly online newsletter and numerous emails. Insurance and legal defense come from The Defense Shield, a segment of Delta Defense, LLC.

The training and education is , in my opinion, some of the best you can get. The writers are all well experienced in the use and care of all kinds of firearms, mainly used for carrying concealed. They are from all walks in the life of weapon use and the defense in court. They are Lawyers, Doctors treating the wounded, Police Officers ( retired and currently working), private security and military. Some are not working in law enforcement. They are firearms instructors from all over the country, and housewives & mothers prepared to care for their families.

Although  the staff of the US Concealed Carry Association are not lawyers, and cannot, therefore, dispense legal advice, they have an abundance of useful knowledge about the legal systems in most states. They always recommend you educate yourself about the laws and statutes in your own jurisdiction.

Part of the service of the Self-Defense Shield is a listing of qualified attorneys around the country that are experienced in defensive firearm use by CCW permitted civilians. Reciprocity between states is also part of the education arm of the USCCA website.

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.

Delta Defense, LLC is one of the bi-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”.

Delta Defense, LLC was established for the Legal Defense of members faced with the decision to use their gun in defense of their family or anyone in immediate need. (Part of the responsibility of carrying a weapon for defense is the desire to help other citizens being threatened with death or severe bodily injury by “the bad guy; mall shooters, theater attackers, etc.”).

“The Self-Defense Shield consists of an insurance policy owned by Delta Defense, LLC that designates the USCCA members as insureds. No individual underwriting is required. Delta Defense, LLC owns and pays for the policy while YOU, as a USCCA member, automatically get the benefits. This liability policy is issued by United Specialty Insurance Company, a subsidiary of State National Companies, Inc.  State National Companies currently writes over $600 million in premiums. United Specialty Insurance Company is rated ‘A’ by A.M. Best.” [usconcealedcarry.com/shield/]

The US Concealed Carry Insurance

Consider the plight of George Zimmerman. Almost everyone in the country has heard of George and his court case. George used his legally carried gun in self-defense against Trayvon Martin in Florida. At first no charges were being brought due to the belief of the police and District Attorney that he was justified in shooting his attacker.

When the media got hold of the story, things changed drastically. The DA’s office changed their mind very quickly. George was then charged with murder. He spent some time in jail before he was able to attain a defense team to get him out on bond. Then the story really got public.

George Zimmerman spent about two years defending himself and went millions of dollars into debt. I won’t go into all the details of his case in this article. He eventually was acquitted in the courts eyes, but still hasn’t recovered from the trauma of the case and may never get the debt paid.

Had George Zimmerman been a member or the US Concealed Carry Association, things would have been a lot different. The insurance provided by USCCA would a have had him out of jail on bond right away. His lawyers would have been put on retainer and their fees paid. USCCA and their Delta Defense, LLC would have provided up to 1.1 million dollars of coverage for his defense and civil actions afterward. It is likely the case would have been settled much quicker and with a lot less headache for George and his family. See this link for a preview of the legal benefits of USCCA Membership.

This is just one case. As it was, this is one of the most publicized cases in the history of this country. Many other similar cases have occurred and almost all of them went pretty much the same way.

When you use your gun in a self-defense manner, your real defense is just beginning. Fortunately, there have been numerous cases of self-defense shootings that never get to court. But when it does happen, you’re in for the time of your life.

 The US Concealed Carry Magazine

Concealed Carry Magazine is probably the nation’s best publication for educating and training individuals in responsibly carrying concealed firearms. The authors of articles in this magazine are some of the most knowledgeable and experienced people in the country. The magazine contains product reviews, training procedures. and real life experiences of everyday people who have been “in the fray” when it comes to defending themselves. 

When this magazine was first published there were no advertisements in it of any kind. The belief was that the publisher didn’t want to be beholden to anyone for the content and readership. Before long the readers themselves were asking for ads so they could know about the products available to them. I personally have found the ads to be most enlightening, and look forward to seeing the new stuff coming out. I, as do most readers, read the book from cover to cover when it comes in the mail.

The nation’s leading experts in
self-defense and concealed carry…

Concealed Carry Magazine has the finest writers and researchers who’ve dedicated their lives to training and preparing responsibly
armed Americans. These men and women are the nation’s leading experts on concealed carry and self-defense. Combined
they have hundreds of years, and thousands of hours of experience in military, law enforcement, special operations, security, and
much more. You simply will not find this level of expertise in any other concealed carry publication.

“The ONLY magazine I’ve ever read cover to cover!” “Your magazine is the only magazine I’ve ever read cover to cover in all my life. I’m 56 years old and that’s a lot of magazines!”

“A wealth of valuable information” “I have found a wealth of valuable information in the magazine each month. I especially find the tactical articles useful, as well as real gun tests that are truly critical of firearms that are typically used in concealed carry. This organization and its resources are invaluable in my search for concealed carry knowledge”

“Courtesy of CCM, I am a better informed Permit holder & instructor” “It is refreshing to get no BS reviews on equipment. Courtesy of Concealed Carry Magazine, I am a better informed permit holder and instructor”

Armed American Radio

Mark 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 call “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

I have personally been a Platinum Member of The Unites States Concealed Carry Association for four years. I believe it’s the best organization available today for the carrier of a legally concealed firearm. The benefits are the best you will find anywhere. Visit their website here to see for yourself what I mean.  If you wish to carry a firearm legally for self-defense you should “hope for the best, and prepare for the worst”.  I highly recommend you look into the USCCA today.

If you would like to comment on any part of this article, please leave me your thoughts in the comments box below. For a more personal note, you can email me at [email protected].