NEED TO KNOW
ARE YOU READY?
CONCEALED
CARRY
he decision to carry a gun
T should not be taken lightly. You
have to consider the practical,
legal, and mental aspects of
going armed. Here are some things to think
about to help you determine if you are ready
for concealed carry.
THE PRACTICAL
The practical aspects of concealed carry
are typically the most discussed even though
they are, in some ways, the least important.
The key is to make logical, well-thought out
choices to find the solution that fits your
needs and lifestyle.
30 GUNUPTHEMAGAZINE.COM | JULY 2015
BY ROB REED
EXAMINER.COM/FIREARMS-IN-DETROIT/ROB-REED
THE GUN
A concealed carry pistol has to meet the often
conflicting demands of effectiveness, ease of
use, and ease of concealment.
The most important aspect is reliability. For the
best odds of finding a reliable pistol stick to estab-
lished designs by quality manufacturers. Search
out both published reviews and online feedback
from individual owners to get a feel for the rep-
utation of any specific model. You’ll still need to
test out your pistol with your choice of defensive
ammo before relying on it as a carry gun.
Other features to consider are the caliber,
magazine capacity, trigger system, and the
size, weight, and bulk. Most experts recom-
mend a minimum caliber of .38 Special or
9mm, with .380 ACP often seen as a “bet-
ter than nothing” acceptable choice. The
current trend for striker-fired pistols, such
as the GLOCK or Smith & Wesson M&P, is
largely driven by their ease of use. The fact
that they have a consistent trigger pull for
every shot makes them easier to shoot for
most users than a double action/single ac-
tion design where the shooter has to master
both the initial long double-action pull and
then transition to a short single-action pull
for the second shot. While revolvers are still
a viable option their low ammo capacity and
slower reloads are disadvantages. As far as
 CONCEALED CARRY

“THE DECISION TO CARRY A GUN

SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THE
PRACTICAL, LEGAL, AND MENTAL
ASPECTS OF GOING ARMED.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CHOOSING THE

RIGHT HOLSTER, CHECK OUT TO “HOW TO PICK A
CARRY HOLSTER” IN THE DECEMBER 2014 ISSUE.

Photo courtesy of the NSSF, nssf.com.

GUNUPTHEMAGAZINE.COM | JULY 2015 31
 NEED TO KNOW

Training is essential in developing the skill to effectively defend

yourself with a handgun. Here students are practicing under the
watchful eye of an instructor at a defensive shooting class.

defensive ammo, there are many good choices
for modern defensive hollow points from repu-
table manufacturers. A web search will turn up
recommendations for any caliber. Make sure you
choose the gun that works best for you, and not
the gun someone else thinks you should use.
CARRY SYSTEM
Once you have the gun, how are you going to
carry it? If possible, the best way is on-body car-
ry in a quality belt holster. The holster should be
made for that specific gun, should cover the trig-
ger guard for safety, should allow for a full grip on
the draw, and should securely attach to the belt.
A dedicated gunbelt is important to support the
weight of the pistol and accessories. If you must
use off-body carry, such as purse carry, make
sure you understand the disadvantages of that
method. These include the fact that the draw is
usually slower and that you cannot leave a bag
with a loaded gun unattended for even a moment.
TRAINING
Whatever gun you pick, you need to know how
to use it. You are responsible for ensuring you
have the training needed to confidently and skill-
fully use your gun. If you had to take a state-man-
dated class to obtain your carry permit understand
that these classes cover the absolute basics and
that successful completion of the class does not
mean you are ready to carry any more than com-
pleting a Driver’s Ed course means you are ready
to drive in the Indy 500.
Although training can be expensive you can re-
duce costs by finding a knowledgeable instructor
in your area. Any good class should cover basic
gun handling, how to safely and efficiently draw
from the holster, the use of cover and conceal-
ment, one-handed shooting, and other defensive

32 GUNUPTHEMAGAZINE.COM | JULY 2015


shooting techniques. A training class is also a
good way to evaluate your choices of guns and
gear so you can correct any problems before you
wear your gear on the street.
THE LEGAL
The importance of understanding the laws re-
garding concealed carry and the use of deadly
force cannot be understated. You need to have
a working understanding of where you can legal-
ly carry your pistol, what restrictions are placed
on you when you are carrying, and the penalties
for violating the legal restrictions. You also need
CONCEALED CARRY
LEARN MORE FROM THE
ANDREW BRANCA LAW OF
SELF DEFENSE WEBSITE AT
LAWOFSELFDEFENSE.COM OR
FROM MASSAD AYOOB GROUP
AT MASSADAYOOBGROUP.COM.
to learn the legal realities of using a firearm in
self-defense. You should know exactly what con-
stitutes justification for using deadly force in your
state, how the legal system will react, and what
could happen if you are sued in civil court.
The best way to learn about the legal aspects
is from an attorney in your state who is familiar
with the relevant laws. Be wary of advice from
police and other non-attorneys or from gun shop
employees or people on the web. There are many
misconceptions about what is, and isn’t legal, and
taking the wrong advice can get you into trou-
ble. Be aware as well that the laws are different
GUNUPTHEMAGAZINE.COM | JULY 2015 33
 NEED TO KNOW
A reliable and effective handgun is vital for concealed
carry. This S&W Model 65 in an Alessi Talon holster is
one of the author’s CCW guns.
in each state and what is legal in your state may
make you a felon if you do the same thing while
traveling to another state.
Other good sources of legal information are
lectures or books by recognized authorities in
the field. In my opinion two of best are Attorney
Andrew F. Branca and firearms instructor Massad
Ayoob. If you can’t attend one of their seminars or
classes they each have written informative books
on the topic. “The Law of Self Defense: The Indis-
FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE ARMED
CITIZEN’S LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK, INC.
AT ARMEDCITIZENSNETWORK.ORG.
34 GUNUPTHEMAGAZINE.COM | JULY 2015
pensable Guide to the Armed Citizen, 2nd Edition”
by Andrew F. Branca and “Deadly Force: Under-
standing Your Right to Self-Defense” by Massad
Ayoob are both highly regarded.
Another resources is The Armed Citizens’s
Legal Defense Network, Inc. This is a member-
ship organization that provides information on
self-defense legal issues and funds for members
involved in self-defense cases. In addition to oth-
er benefits, members receive a copy of Ayoob’s
CONCEALED CARRY
book and a DVD series of expert lectures on
self-defense legal topics.
Whatever your source, making sure you under-
stand the law is a vital part of preparing to carry.
THE MENTAL
The mental aspect of carrying a gun is probably
the most important. A concealed handgun is not
a talisman: It is a tool designed to inflict harm on
another human in order to save your own life. In
a crisis you will not have time to reflect on this.
You’ll have to make the decision as to whether
or not you can take a life in self-defense ahead of
time. You also have to understand that you need
to act to a higher standard when you start carry-
ing a gun. Once you have the ability to use deadly
force you have to have the good judgement to
reduce the chances of needing to do so in the
first place. You can’t afford to get angry, or lose
your temper, or do anything that could lead you to
needing to draw your gun. When you are satisfied
that you have the skill, knowledge, and judge-
ment to accept this responsibility you’ll know that
you are ready for concealed carry.