Concealed Carry: Beyond The Law

You got your concealed carry permit or you live in a permissive state that allows you to constitutional carry. Great, what’s next? 

Having a firearm and a permit to carry is just the start of your journey and responsibility. When I  first started to conceal carry, I too had some doubts. Through training, getting my questions  answered and with experience I feel like I have a much better handle of all the facets needed to  comfortably and responsibly carry.  

Here are some considerations for concealed carry.  

1. Legal: Know the law. You need to understand and know when a firearm can be used in a  conflict. You can never use it during road rage, to win arguments, or teach someone a  “lesson.” You can never be the aggressor. Do you have a duty to retreat or can you stand your-ground? What are places that you can and cannot carry your gun legally? If it gets to  the point of actually using your firearm in self-defense or defense of others are you willing  to live with the results? Additionally, there are insurance options that will assist with legal  expenses from a self-defense incident. A lawyer told me it may cost $10,000 to half a  million dollars. 

2. Safety: Do you know the 4 Rules of Gun Safety? Not just by memorization, but through the  practice of how you handle your firearm. This applies, not only at the range, but every time  you handle your firearm. It also includes proper storage. Learn them: live them. 

3. Mindset: Have you heard of the Color Codes of Awareness? It is much better to avoid or  escape rather than defend. Do you practice the Color Codes of Awareness daily? These  were developed to describe your state of mind in how to be defensive; is it not specific  tactics. Can you de-escalate a heated situation? Are you willing to swallow your pride and  walk away while being insulted, disrespected, spit on or worse?  

4. Equipment: 

• Guns - If you don’t already have your firearm, do your diligence in finding which firearm YOU can comfortably manipulate, shoot, conceal, and carry. Like cars, make-up, or  clothing there is a right fit for everybody. Copying your husband, friend or firearm  instructor might not be the best fit for you. 

• Holster - It must fully cover and protect the trigger. Maintain it’s shape so you can re holster one handed. Stay in place during the draw. Secure your gun with retention or hide  it completely from sight. This might be in the waistband (IWB) or outside the waistband  (OWB) or other areas of concealment. 

• Gun Belt - It should be stiff enough to hold the weight of the gun and any accessories you  may carry. It shouldn’t allow you to lose the gun even if you need to run. 

• Concealment garments - Clothing should be loose enough to “hide” the gun to keep it  concealed. Depending upon the garment you may carry a little more (bigger gun) or a little  less (smaller gun). Also, are you able to live normally, including bending, sitting, reaching,  driving without others noticing your firearm. 

• Ammo - Using the right ammunition can not only stop the threat faster, but also make  your firearm more reliable and decrease the chance of collateral damage. Find  appropriate hollow point ammo that works reliably in your firearm.  

5. Carry Position of the Gun: There are many ways to carry: IWB, OWB, ankle, or off-body.

• You must be able to draw your firearm efficiently and safely, meaning you don’t muzzle  your own body parts. 

• The firearm should stay in place and not require you to constantly adjust it.  • You should be able to carry it in your chosen method of carry on a daily basis under most  conditions. Obviously not during lap swimming, at your child’s school play, or on  commercial flights. But, carrying concealed is a decision and one that should not be  taken lightly.  

• It is generally not comfortable, but should be tolerable. It’ll poke you, weigh on you,  cause you to sweat or avoid certain positions.  

6. Training: 

• Marksmanship - Can you make hits at what you are aiming at: 2-5 yards, 10 yards, 25  yards or more? Know your limits and don’t shoot beyond your limits as you are  responsible for every bullet that leaves your muzzle until it comes to a stop.  

• Drawing - Be able to draw the firearm from concealment safely and know how to operate  it. Does it have a safety you need to defeat? Do you keep a round in the chamber? If not,  is it your standard operating procedure to rack the slide when you draw? 

• Malfunctions - Do you know the 3 types of pistol malfunctions and do you know how to  correct them to get the gun up and running. Work them until they are instinctive. • Dry Fire - This allows you to put in repetition to engrain skilled movements needed in a  gun fight and helps make you proficient. Things like drawing, getting the sights quickly on  target, proper trigger manipulation, reloads, re-holster, and movement with the firearm  can be done in addition to live fire exercises to build your gun skills. Have a routine that  removes any live rounds from your dry fire area and never point your firearm at anything  you are not willing to destroy. Have a safe backstop for your dry fire practice; just in case.  • Tactics - Flat range training is shooting at a range practicing closed skills: draw, reloads,  etc. at known targets. These skills don’t take into consideration high cognitive skills  during a dynamic critical incident. Working on scenario-based or force-on-force training  with live partners, simulated threats, over varied terrain can be invaluable to the realism of  an actual encounter and expose weaknesses in your current training.  

7. Daily Habits and Routines: 

• Consistent storage - Your gun should live on your body, in a locked storage unit or  securely staged at home. You should also check the condition of your firearm before  wearing it to make sure it’s in the same set up you prefer (round in the chamber, full  magazine, etc).  

• Minimal handling - Don’t show your gun to others, unholster it, or fidget with the gun in  public. 

• Treat it like your wallet and car keys: same place, same process.  

The moment you get your Concealed Carry Permit and Firearm the real work begins. Get  educated, get some quality instruction and put in the practice to become a responsible and  competent concealed carry gun owner.  

Remember the old adage: When seconds count, police are only minutes away.