Carry Where You Can
One of the topics I hit on with my students is the importance of actually carrying once you get your concealed carry permit. In the state of Illinois, getting a permit is an expensive proposition, between the $150 fee to the state, the price of the 16 hour training, and any shooting you do to keep your skills sharp. It’s important that once your permit comes in, you actually take advantage of it and carry where you can.
I’ll Carry When I Think I’ll Need it
You’ve probably got a friend or family member who says this. You might have said this in the past, though surely, you aren’t saying this now. However, in the interest of helping you know how to speak to these wayward souls, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, unless you are in law enforcement, Military, or very specific private security settings, there is no way you would knowingly go into a situation where a shooting will occur. Concealed carry holders are always reactive to threats because they are not the source of initiation. There is no way for you to predict when you will need a concealed firearm, which is precisely why the mindset most concealed carry holders adopt is one of preparedness, not just in firearms, but in all parts of their lives.
Another thing to keep in mind is that people who do knowingly go into situations where they will need a gun take rifles as their primary weapon, not pistols. In the immortal words of Karl Erickson from Tactical Rifleman, “If I’m going to a gun fight, I’m bringing a rifle.” I sincerely hope that as a concealed carry holder, you aren’t knowingly walking into a firefight alone, with a pistol, and without any armor (or a plan). The reality is, as a concealed carry holder, you wouldn’t knowingly walk into a gun fight and if we had the option, we would avoid the fight entirely. You don’t know whether you are walking into a gun fight or another day at the supermarket, so you should carry where you can.
It’s Not Comfortable to Carry Every Day
Carrying a firearm isn’t comfortable. It doesn’t have to be terrible, but it’s never going to be great. That being said, the pros definitely outweigh the cons, and there are things you can do to make that process more comfortable. Finding the right holster, one that fits you, your gun, your carry setup, and your body is a huge help. Another important piece is getting the right belt, one that is sufficiently stuff and distributes the weight of your firearm evenly. Choosing the right firearm for concealed carry is also important. I encourage people to carry the largest, most capable gun they can reasonably conceal, but sometimes, finding a certain gun or specific setup is necessary to make it work. Adding an undershirt into the mix can be a huge help in making concealed carry more comfortable. There is no getting around the fact that adding a piece of metal close to your body adds weight, bulk, and chaffing to your life and is not going to be inherently comfortable, but there are things you can do to make it better so that you can carry where you can.
I’m Not Confident Carrying Every day.
This is a great issue to recognize and call out, because it’s easy to fix with additional training and basic gun handling. I’ve spoken to many new shooters who don’t want to carry for fear of accidentally shooting themselves or not feeling confident that they could use their firearm if they needed to. Becoming comfortable with your gun by dry firing and safely handling it at home can help you overcome some of that fear, as can taking training classes and shooting more. Ultimately though, the only way to get comfortable carrying is to carry. While I don’t advise anyone carry on an empty chamber, if you are looking to build your confidence that you can safely carry a firearm without a negligent discharge, temporarily carrying without a round in the chamber can help build that confidence. Your choice of gun may also impact your comfort here; if even after proper training, handling, and practice, you still aren’t comfortable carrying, moving from a striker fired gun to a DA/SA gun might help mitigate those concerns as well (striker fired guns are perfectly safe to carry, I am speaking here about an individual’s personal concerns, not the overall safety of the platform). Finally, while I strongly encourage private citizens carry where they can, I recognize that concealed carry isn’t for everyone.
If you do want to get more confident with firearms and build your skills, sign up for one of our classes.
Any gear mentioned in this post was purchased for my personal use. I have not been compensated or incentivized by any company for any product reviews, highlights, or opinions.
Upcoming Live Fire Classes
Defensive Pistol Fundamentals – 1
Saturday, January 27th – 9am to 1pm
This class is a live fire training opportunity to work on defensive pistol skills. This first class will focus on fundamentals, including grip, site picture, and draw.
Intermediate Defensive Pistol – 2
Saturday, February 24th – 9am to 1pm
This intermediate defensive pistol class will focus on taking the next step in your firearms proficiency with items like target transitions, reactive targets, and reload drills.
Next Level Defensive Pistol – 3
Saturday, March 30th – 9am to 1pm
This next level defensive pistol class is an advanced class for practicing shooting and moving, transitions, and reactive targets.
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