After years of experience as a firearms instructor, it's clear that many people purchase handguns without a full understanding of ownership, handling, and their potential defensive use. Often, the decision to buy a firearm leads to the question: "What do I do with this?"
It's a critical question because owning a handgun for self-defense should not be a source of indecision or fear--it should be a journey to concealed carry handgun proficiency.
So, if you've acquired a concealed carry bag or holster and a shiny new firearm, the next step is to learn how to use them effectively and, most importantly, safely. Shockingly, statistics reveal that a significant percentage of CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) accidents occur during the drawing phase, typically due to sloppy, unsafe, or untrained handling.
The solution is straightforward—training. Pulling your Glock 43 from your Tooled Leather Concealed Carry Purse should not be riskier than confronting an attacker. Here's a logical sequence to follow leading to proficiency with a concealed carry handgun:
1. Safety Course: Start with a gun safety course. Understanding the basics of firearm safety is paramount. This foundational knowledge ensures that you're well-prepared to handle a firearm responsibly.
2. Gun Selection: Once you grasp the fundamentals, carefully choose a firearm that suits your needs. Consider factors like size, caliber, and ease of use, ensuring it fits comfortably in your concealed carry bag or holster.
3. Concealed Carry Bag or Holster: Select an appropriate bag or holster designed to accommodate your specific firearm. The right fit is crucial to ensure both security and accessibility.
4. Concealed Carry Training: Enroll in a concealed carry training course. This should include an NRA Basic Pistol Course, ideally led by an NRA certified instructor. These courses provide comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience.
5. Drawing from Concealment: Beyond the basics, seek an instructor who can teach you how to draw from concealment effectively. Learning proper techniques for accessing your firearm quickly and safely is essential in high-pressure situations.
By following this sequence, you prioritize safety and build a strong foundation in firearm handling. With a minimal investment of time and money into safety and training, you significantly reduce the risk of harm to yourself or innocent bystanders during a self-defense situation. Remember, responsible firearm ownership goes hand in hand with proper training and preparation.
Lastly, let's also put some stock into the method with which you will be carrying your pistol away from view. The holster, handbag, or other form of innocent-looking accessory plays the role of not only keeping your handgun safe, but keeps you safe, comfortable and confident. This will be an enormous part of your training and the only way to ladle a little reality onto this decision you have made to carry concealed.
Below are some links to simple yet very functional options for your first or fifteenth CCW. Whichever your choice, practice those fundamentals and never, ever assume that you're
"good enough" and stop practicing.
Here are the Amazon links:
