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.
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.
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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
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).
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).
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.
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
There have been changes in benefits for most programs since this comparison was done.
Due Diligence is always advisable.
Second Call Defense
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 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.
