What to Do After Getting a CCW

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Many people get excited about getting their first CCW (conceal carry weapon) believing they have all that they need for self-defense.  However, getting a CCW is just getting you started.  There are a few additional steps that you need to take in order to conceal carry the right way.  In this episode, we will be discussing the 4 things you should do after getting a CCW.

 

– get training

  • having a gun alone doesn’t guarantee your safety
  • in a self-defense situation, you are going to be under a lot of pressure
  • just simply going to the range to practice target shooting is not enough
  • at the gun range, you are shooting at inanimate objects
  • in a real self-defense situation, you are going to be facing aggressive moving targets
  • in fact, most home invasions consist of 3 intruders
  • there are drills that you can practice at home like dry firing
  • but I would recommend getting some tactical training
  • we should at least have some home defense training
  • some say that at least having a gun is better than having nothing
  • I’m not going to debate that
  • however, when you are forced into a life or death situation it can cause you to react in certain ways
  • typically this is called fight or flight
  • with that being said, if you haven’t had the appropriate training your mind is going to be running a thousand miles per hour trying to decide what to do
  • this causes even more stress which causes inaction most of the time
  • however, by getting the training you are developing memory muscle
  • that way if you are ever forced in a life or death situation your memory muscle just kicks
  • your mind doesn’t just spin there trying to figure what to do
  • by getting the training you will learn how to respond to certain situations and take action without thinking
  • depending on where you live you can find a lot of tactical or firearm training courses around you
  • now, I have been disappointed with a lot of decisions that the NRA has made recently
  • however, on their website, they provide a lot of helpful resources
  • one such helpful resource is an area where you can search by state for certified trainers at https://firearmtraining.nra.org/
  • so I would recommend checking out their website to find an instructor close to you
  • get concealed carry insurance

  • not every self-defense situation will call for the need to use self-defense
  • this is why it is important to understand gun laws
  • self-defense isn’t over after using your weapon
  • the legal aftermath may be the most challenging part of a self-defense situation
  • you are now going to be forced to defend yourself after the fact
  • you will have to prove that using legal force was justifiable
  • this is why I wrote a post on what happens after you shoot someone in self-defense
  • this post talks about the importance of having CCW insurance
  • I personally use USCCA
  • they will provide you with legal representation from experienced self-defense attorneys
  • USCCA will also help to cover court costs up to $2 million depending on which plan that you have
  • defending yourself after such an emotional situation is unrealistic
  • if you have ever gone to court for legal proceedings you would know how confusing the legal processes can be
  • on top of that, it is just hard to understand a lot of legal jargon
  • I wouldn’t wait until after a self-defense situation to find legal representation due to the amount of stress and pressure that you will face afterward
  • you will want to focus on recovery from such an event instead of having the added pressure of finding legal representation
  • USCCA will take care of this for you
  • it can also be stressful trying to come up with the amount of money to pay for legal representation
  • CCW insurance is just like having car insurance
  • you may never need it but you will want to prepare for it if you ever do
  • get an appropriate holster

  • The deciding factor for a holster should not be based on price alone
  • having the wrong holster can lead to discomfort, a compromised drawstroke and even the loss of your gun
  • if you wear an uncomfortable holster then you may be dissuaded from conceal carrying
  • so I typically prefer a holster with a padded back between my skin and the actual holster
  • this is why I like the Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.5
  • it is also moisture wicking
  • so that way when sweat builds up it doesn’t feel icky
  • the right holster won’t compromise your drawstroke
  • you will want to practice with the holster to make sure you can easily and quickly pull your CCW when needed the most
  • the draw stroke should be a fairly straight-line draw, pointing towards the target, and line up your sights
  • this will vary depending on your carry position whether it be a cross draw, appendix, small of the back, or ankle positions
  • a bad holster can cause your CCW to slide out if it is not tightly secured in your holster
  • there should be a balance between concealment and accessibility
  • a good holster will make sure that you don’t stand out like a sore thumb or print
  • with a good holster, you shouldn’t be able to see the handle of your CCW sticking out
  • proper concealment will ensure that you have the element of surprise when responding to an attacker
  • get a gun belt

  • placing a firearm on your belt can force your pants to sag and droop
  • that can cause you to print or reveal to others that you are carrying a firearm
  • it can also cause performance issues if you are ever forced to defend yourself
  • you don’t want to be pulling your pants up every other minute
  • this is why it is important to have a gun belt that is designed to carry the weight of a CCW
  • most belts will bend and even break
  • gun belts are designed with reinforced leather that remains stiff and will stay at your waist
  • I personally recommend the KORE Essentials gun belt
  • I have had the same belt for a few years now
  • It still remains stiff so that I can properly carry without my pants sagging
  • I also like the fact that it is a ratchet belt
  • the thing with loop belts is that they are not always true to size
  • this is because the holes are placed a certain distance in between each other
  • what happens when you size is in between those 2 holes?
  • then belt may not be tight enough to hold the weight
  • with the Kore Essentials ratchet belt, it slides to place that you need it
  • so it fits any size

Conclusion

  • with that being said these would be my suggestions on what you should do after getting your CCW
  • if you have any suggestions please leave a comment at the show notes of this episode
  • your feedback and suggestions help the community prepare the smart way now so that we can thrive later.

 

 

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