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
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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
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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
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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.