You sure about that?
There is a lot of talk about when to carry, what to carry, how to carry. I will discuss training, equipment, mindset, and general best practices in another post. However the question almost no one asks, the elephant in the room in almost every firearm permit class is this:
Are you willing to look another human being in the eye and take his or her life?
This is the most fundamental question behind weather or not to carry a firearm on your person. Ironically it is also the most overlooked. Do not take this question lightly, give it the long thought and introspection it deserves. Remove the pride, fantasy, and bravado from your mind, you must look at this question carefully. If you cannot answer with a resounding YES, you should not carry a firearm.
It's not a pleasant thought to dwell on, and it may take you some time to ponder. In truth you won't know for sure until the situation presents itself. But, if you have doubts when you are sitting calmly thinking over the matter, you very likely will have the same doubts when that critical moment arrives. Those doubts will get you, and your loved ones killed (quite possibly with your own firearm). Worth noting is the fact that you will also have to live with your actions. Preserving your life is not much use if you fall into a well of self-pity and depression so deep you might as well be dead.
Will all confrontations involving your firearm result in death? The odds say no, not even close, but if you are well trained and practiced the odds begin to shift (and you will be well trained and practiced right?). You never shoot to wound, you shoot to stop the threat, and frankly there is a very real possibility that stopping the threat may result in the death of another human being. If you are unsure there is no need to read on.
....You are still here, I will assume that you have either considered the question posed to you earlier carefully and made your choice....or you are just terrible at following directions. Regardless, let us continue....
Most states require you to take some type of class before obtaining a permit to carry a firearm. While these classes (at least in my state) are largely a joke, they do offer very helpful insight into the laws of your specific state, and you will need to know the law, inside and out.
Step 1 - Research Laws in your state, and if applicable find a reputable instructor who teaches the course in your area. Register for the course (be prepared to pay between $50 and $100 for the course).
Now it's time to start thinking about what you want to carry. If you are new to firearms or to EDC (everyday carry), I strongly encourage you to find other rational human beings who have obtained their permit and discuss what they like to carry. There are many considerations, caliber, weight, size, etc. This is an important decision and you should not pick something because it looks cool or because it matches your shoes. Remember you are going to be taking this with you any and everywhere you go so you need to be comfortable carrying the weapon and shooting it. If possible find a gun range that rents the make, model, and caliber of the guns you are considering. Rent them and shoot them. The firearm needs to be comfortable, and portable, but you also need to be happy enough with it that you will be willing to put in practice time daily. Most ranges that sell and rent guns will waive the rental fee if you choose to purchase a gun on the same visit (ask first). You will not be limited to only one gun with your permit, but for new permit holders it's best to get a well established practice and method of carrying down with one gun before you begin to make changes.
Step 2 - After you have done your research and tried out a few firearms, decide which one works best for YOU (not your brother, cousin, sister, mother etc), and purchase the firearm.
At this point I recommend you find a reputable instructor or class, that will train you in basic handgun skills. These skill should include drawing from concealment, accuracy drills, speed drills, and general EDC safety precautions. I prefer private lessons, but there are many good schools out there that teach groups. Again, do your research find something reputable. This will cost some money, but it's well worth the expense. You can do this before or after your permit class, but since most permit classes require you to shoot your gun (not qualify or draw) it's worth taking some steps to familiarize yourself with the gun through training beforehand.
Step 3 - Take your course and submit the application to for your permit (cost between $100 and $500 varies state to state). In my state we have a wait of about 2 months, but it can fluctuate up to 6 months at times, depending on the number of applicants at any one time.
Keep practicing. If your private instructor or class was any good they gave you drills to practice at home that will help you refine your skill even with out actually shooting the gun. Practice every day, drawing from concealment, dry firing (trigger control), malfunction clearing, reloading, and so on. Try to shoot once a week, even if it's just a quick 50 rounds. Muscle memory is key and it's not enough to fire your gun once every few months. Stay on top of your skills and they can be relied upon, when needed, to save your life.
In my next post we will review what to do once you have your permit, and discuss methodologies of carry, and some best practices for EDC.
Remember what works for one person may not work for another. You must find what works for you, start building your system now. If you try to fully adopt someone else's system there will likely be conflicts with your life or comfort that will cause you to not want to carry or to carry improperly.
Keep practicing.
