Choosing the Right Firearm for Personal Defense: A Comprehensive Guide for New Shooters

Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2024.  With the new year, I know folks are thinking about what the new year has in store, especially with all of the uncertainty and increases in crime rates in metropolitan areas.  Personal safety has become a paramount topic for many.  So I wanted to start out the new year by revisiting a topic that might be top-of-mind for many: purchasing a firearms for self-defense. 

Selecting a firearm is a pivotal decision that carries significant weight. For individuals new to the world of firearms, this choice represents a unique blend of excitement and overwhelm. The prospect of owning a firearm introduces a sense of empowerment and responsibility, yet the multitude of options available in the market can make buying decisions difficult.

Embarking on the journey of firearm ownership requires a thoughtful examination of personal needs, preferences, and intended use. The excitement stems from the potential for increased personal safety and the opportunity to engage in various shooting disciplines. However, the overwhelming aspect lies in the vast array of choices, ranging from different types of handguns to various long guns, each catering to specific needs and preferences.

Newcomers must navigate through considerations such as firearm size, caliber, and features, all of which contribute to the overall suitability for personal use. Seeking guidance and education in this initial phase is crucial to making an informed decision that aligns with both safety and personal comfort. Therefore, while the decision to choose a firearm is indeed critical, it is also an exciting entry point into a world of responsible gun ownership, self-defense, and the development of valuable skills.

In essence, this comprehensive guide serves as a compass for those new to firearms, empowering them to navigate the exciting yet complex terrain of firearm choices. By understanding and weighing the factors of caliber, size, and personalized features, beginners can embark on their firearm ownership journey with confidence, safety, and a sense of responsibility.

Understanding Caliber: Striking the Right Balance

One of the first considerations in choosing a firearm is selecting an appropriate caliber. Caliber refers to the internal diameter of the gun's barrel, and different calibers offer varying levels of power and recoil. For novice shooters, it's crucial to strike a balance between stopping power and manageable recoil.

Common calibers for self-defense handguns include 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. The 9mm, in particular, is a popular choice due to its manageable recoil, wide availability, and the ability to carry more rounds in a magazine. Novice shooters often find the 9mm a good starting point for developing proficiency without sacrificing stopping power.

There are numerous well written books that explore the topics covered in this article and can help you with the self-defense firearms buying decisions.

Size Matters: Choosing a Firearm Proportional to Your Needs

The size of the firearm plays a pivotal role in both concealability and ease of use. For those new to firearms, a compact or subcompact handgun is generally recommended for personal defense. These sizes are easier to handle, especially for individuals with smaller hands or those who plan to carry concealed.

Consider the dimensions of the firearm concerning your body size and clothing choices. A firearm that is comfortable to carry and easy to conceal is more likely to be carried consistently, which is paramount for personal defense.

Features Tailored to Individual Needs: A Personalized Approach

Every individual has unique preferences and needs when it comes to firearms. Features such as the type of action (semi-automatic or revolver), sights, and safety mechanisms should align with the shooter's comfort level and intended use.

Semi-automatic handguns are prevalent for personal defense due to their magazine capacity and ease of reloading. However, some shooters may prefer the simplicity of a revolver, which typically has fewer controls and is known for its reliability.

Consider the type of sights that come with the firearm, as they greatly influence accuracy. Novice shooters often find three-dot sights intuitive, providing a clear sight picture. Additionally, some firearms come with integrated accessories like rails for attaching lights or lasers, enhancing their versatility for personal defense scenarios.

Safety features are paramount, especially for those new to firearms. Look for a firearm with user-friendly safety mechanisms, and always prioritize adherence to the basic rules of firearm safety.

Shopping by Test Firing: Finding the Right Gun

Moreover, an integral step in the decision-making process is the practical experience gained through test firing several models. Many shooting ranges offer the opportunity to rent firearms, allowing individuals to try out different options before making a purchase. This hands-on approach is invaluable in determining a firearm's comfort, recoil management, and overall suitability for the shooter. 

By test firing various models, newcomers can assess how different firearms feel in their hands, how they handle recoil, and which features resonate with their preferences. This trial-and-error process not only contributes to the informed selection of a firearm but also enhances the shooter's confidence and proficiency, fostering a safer and more enjoyable journey into responsible gun ownership.

Train Often: Stay Proficient Through Regular Practice

The commitment to responsible firearm ownership extends beyond the selection process. Once a firearm is chosen, ongoing training becomes paramount. Regular trips to the shooting range are essential for honing skills, familiarizing oneself with the chosen firearm, and maintaining proficiency. Participation in IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) and USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) style shooting matches offers practical scenarios, fostering real-world application of skills. 

See my Amazon Affiliate Link For Dry Fire Training Equipment

Additionally, incorporating dry fire practice into one's routine enhances muscle memory and reinforces safe handling habits. Continuous training not only refines marksmanship but also ensures that individuals are well-prepared for various self-defense situations. By staying involved in consistent and diverse training activities, new firearm owners cultivate a heightened sense of awareness, responsibility, and competence, contributing to a safer and more secure firearms ownership experience.

Conclusion: Empowering New Shooters with Informed Choices

Choosing the right firearm for personal defense is a significant step on the journey of responsible gun ownership. By understanding the factors of caliber, size, and features tailored to individual needs, novice shooters can make informed decisions that enhance both their safety and confidence.

Remember, education and training are key components of responsible firearm ownership. Seek out professional instruction, practice regularly, and stay informed about best practices within the firearms community. By doing so, you'll not only choose the right firearm for personal defense but also embark on a path towards becoming a responsible and proficient gun owner.

Know Your Target, and Know Your Skill Level

This video is an example of a hostage situation gone wrong in that the responding officers ended up killing the hostage as well as the suspect.  This is not about bashing the police.  I'm sure the officers are beside themselves with grief over this.  This is about a very important reminder of the fundamentals of defensive shooting that we should all be practicing and the responsibility that goes along with using our firearms in defensive situations.

As concealed carry practitioners, we may very well be the ones in this situation while waiting for the police to arrive.  Any time a hostage is involved, the situation can go south pretty darn fast, and we may not have the luxury of waiting for the police to arrive.

This video illustrates why training is so important.  Defensive shooting is a perishable skill, and we have to constantly train to stay sharp.

Reid Henrichs does an excellent job of breaking this incident down, so I'm not going to bore you with a lot of my own redundant further analysis or Monday morning quarterbacking the officer's tactics.  But I want to point out that I would like you to pay close attention to a few very important aspects of Reid's discussion: 1) knowing the target, 2) knowing what your teammates are doing, and 3) knowing your own skill level in executing those shots when the time comes.

My thoughts and prayers are certainly with the officers and the family of the victim.

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Armor Concepts

Acceptable Accuracy - Next Level Training

Bullseye discipline shooting and defensive shooting are very different with regards to the dynamics involved (obviously), but also in what is referred to as acceptable accuracy.  As Mike mentions in the video, putting holes in a small group on paper targets for a score is a lot different than putting effective rounds into a bad guy to stop a threat.   This video provides a pretty good discussion of the difference between bullseye accuracy and defensive (combat) accuracy.  The idea is to stop the threat.  More hits to an acceptable level of accuracy within an acceptable are (i.e. "center mass") creates more likelihood of incapacitating a threat.

I have worked with defensive shooting instructors who espouse the "other" theory of defensive shooting, that of putting all defensive shots into nearly the same place.  The idea of that philosophy is to create a larger wound cavity in a single place, and a single vital organ.  And then there are others who believe that shooting at a faster cadence, placing more rounds on the target with the highest delivery speed that will allow for accuracy, will be more effective in stopping a threat.  In other words: Putting all shots into as close to a single hole as possible, versus spreading more shots out over a critical area.

Armor Concepts

But I personally adhere to and teach the philosophy of combat accuracy with a greater shooting cadence versus the idea of trying to put defensive shots all in the same hole. Getting a lot of shots off faster, but still having the marksmanship to put them all in the acceptable accuracy zones (in my humble opinion) will increase the likelihood of putting rounds into vital areas and stop the threat.

Whichever you decide to use, remember to practice, practice practice.  Practice both and see which one works for you.  Remember: In a crisis situation, you will never rise to super-star performance.  You will always fall back to your level of training.

Defensive Pistol Tactical Training Styles

Over the years, I have had the good fortune to train with a wide variety of firearms and tactical instructors, and have learned efficient and effective gun-handling techniques from each and every one of them.  The instructors that I have worked with and trained under include law enforcement, SWAT Team Leaders, NRA civilian instructors, a former Navy SEAL, and even a former Army Delta Operator.  Each has their own style, and each has preferences for things such as stance, grip, front-sight focusing techniques, ready positions, malfunction clearing, and how to rack a slide. 

While one Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team who instructed in one of my classes was a proponent of the over-hand method for racking a slide, the Delta guy was a big fan of the “pinch” method.  The SEAL taught us the high compressed ready position for moving about and looking for threats, while many of the Army guys I trained with were taught the SUL position.  Most all NRA civilian instructors that I know teach the “tap, rack, bang” method for dealing with malfunctions, while the SEAL taught us the SPIR (Slap, Pull, Inspect, Release), then assess for threats method.  Rob Pincus, a law enforcement, and Personal Defense Network instructor teaches a point shooting method for aiming at a target that does not involve front sight focus at all, while many other law enforcement and NRA instructors I have worked with insist on front-site focus all the time.  And the Israeli instructors seem to teach completely different methods for everything all together.

The great value of receiving training from people who all do things differently is that you get to experience different techniques and hear different perspectives about what worked for them and their teams.  But at the end of the day, you need to find out what works best for YOU, and what will make you a better shooter and (should the worst happen) a winning gun-fighter.  So a few tips that I have learned over the years that have helped me: 

1. Go into the training with an open mind and a willingness to perform to the techniques being taught.
   
   
2. Practice what is being taught and HOW it is being taught by that particular instructor.  
   
   
3. Try (at least for that moment) to forget what has been taught in previous classes, and be willing to learn a new way of doing things.
     
4. Then, be able to pull everything back together and reflect afterward on what you have learned from a variety of people to put together your own menu of options that you will put into your personal training routine.

These are perishable skills.  Each technique requires constant practice for the buildup of muscle memory needed in order to master them.  The problem is that when you go into training that teaches a different technique than you’ve already learned, you will have a tendency to use what you are already practiced in and familiar with.  So don’t take it personally when the new instructor corrects you into doing it the way that is being taught in THEIR class.  The purpose of learning new things is to find out what works for you and what doesn’t.  You actually have to cheerfully accept the discipline that comes with these corrections to practice the movements in order see if the tools they are teaching to you are things that you want to (or even can) put into your own toolbox.

  

There is no law that says that when you pick your techniques that you only have to pick ALL of the techniques from only ONE particular class or instructor.  In other words, just because you learned something that works best for you from one instructor, it does not mean that you have to use ALL of the techniques from THAT instructor and not any of the others.  For example, I prefer the SPIR malfunction clearing methods that I learned from the SEAL over the tap/rack/bang method that the NRA people teach.  I alternate between the “pinch” and “overhand” slide rack techniques, depending on the necessity of the situation and arthritis in my hands.  I practice both.  The holster draw that I learned from the Delta guy seems more efficient and more natural.  I am now practicing a slide release after reloading technique that an Israeli instructor teaches because that one makes more sense to me for shaving those precious fractions of a second off of a critical movement that will make a difference in competition or, heaven forbid, a gunfight.  Some of the Israeli gun handling techniques, while unusual from what I have already learned, are worth it to me to look at and practice because they make sense also.  

So the bottom line here is that you have a lot to choose from.  If your instructors are reputable and have actual real-world experience, then it is safe to say that what all of them are teaching you is based on some pretty sound principles and tactics.  Pick which of the techniques from each area (and from each instructor) that work best for you (stance, grip, malfunction clearing, aiming, racking a slide, etc).  Practice your chosen techniques until you have complete mastery and fully developed muscle memory for them.

I honestly hope that none of us should actually get into a gunfight.  But if (when?) we do end up in one, we will not suddenly be able to rise to the ability of super-star combat warrior gun-fighting techniques.  We will always fall back to our level of training.  So we must make sure that our training includes many different perspectives, we should practice each of them over and over, and then pick the one that works best.  Then, practice some more until it is second nature and our level of training makes our natural actions as highly perfected as possible.  Learn and practice a wide variety of skills from each area, but master to perfection the skills from each area that will serve you the best.  Whether it is in competitive shooting or an actual emergency scenario, using consistent and thoroughly practiced gun handling skills will help you win.  

As the saying goes: professionals don’t practice until they get it right.  They practice until they can’t get it wrong.

Israeli Gun Handling Techniques

A few videos definitely worth watching.  The Israelis offer some different gun handling and tactical styles than what many of us in the U.S. are used to.  But I have a hard time discounting it when it's coming from an Israeli Special Forces instructor who has spent some time protecting his small country fighting the evilest people on the planet.

I'm going to practice these techniques and see how they work at my next pistol match.  A lot of what this guy shows seems to shave some valuable time off of the whole mechanical process for dealing with malfunctions, reloads, etc.

Another one worth watching.  In fact, I've watched this one a few times just to get some of the intricacies of the stances that he teaches.  These guys seem to have a very fast and efficient shooting style.

Israeli combat shooting with Masada Tactical - the audio is a little crappy at times due to the wind noise, but the techniques are interesting and worth a look.

The Aurora Massacre: The Case For Armed Citizens

(And Why Gun Free Zones Don't Work)

This past week has certainly been one of tragedy.  My heartfelt prayers and thoughts certainly go out to the victims, the families and the people of my home town of Aurora, CO.  I was in high school when the Aurora Mall, where the theater is, was brand new. And the apartment of the alleged gunman is just down the street from where I went to junior high school.  The apartment evacuees were relocated to my old high school.  But what really is disappointing to me (not surprising, but disappointing), is that the gun control wonks are coming out of the woodwork to use the blood of these innocent victims as a means for forwarding their agenda.  So, since everyone else is “Monday morning quarterbacking” this massacre, I thought I would jump on the bandwagon as well. 

That theater was a “gun free zone.”  More massacres have been successfully carried out in gun free zones than at places where good people were allowed to carry their gun.  Virginia Tech, the 2008 Chicago Mall shooting, and Fort Hood, just to name a few, are stark examples of this point.  On the flip-side, just take a look at the New Life Church incident in Colorado Springs a few years ago.  The gunman was armed similarly to the Aurora shooter.  But an armed woman was present and took him down before he could cause more than only a few casualties.  I carry all the time for that very reason.

Without an armed person present, those people had ZERO chance.  With an armed person present, their chances sure as heck would have been greater than zero!

On a Facebook discussion thread there was a comment made that one armed person in that theater could not have stopped the gunman. That's a perfectly valid point.  While it may be true (that one armed person may not have stopped the gunman), one armed person would have distracted the gunman long enough to allow more people to escape, or for others to take action.   It doesn't take much to distract a gunman who is as narrowly focused as this guy was. He was focused on killing as many people as he could. What I am talking about here is the concept that I wrote about in a previous article of getting off of your "X" and putting the bad guy on his "X." The other concept alluded to here is what we in armed self-defense circles call “gaining the half-second advantage.”  If you can distract the bad guy for even half a second, you can at least do something to take swift action and change the outcome - hopefully to a good outcome.

Yes, he had body armor. But, as the media likes to spin things, they called it a "bullet proof vest."  There is no such thing.  Different levels of body armor can protect against certain levels of ballistic performance, but no body armor is completely bullet proof. And depending on what he had, it is quite possible that he only had a low level of ballistic protection.  This guy didn't seem to know a whole lot about guns, to be honest.  So it isn't a far leap to say that he probably knew even less about ballistic protection.  An armed person would have tried to at least penetrate the body armor, and if that didn’t work try for a more vulnerable area.  At that distance (within that theater - a movie theater is way less than 25 yards), a head shot with a handgun is not out of the question. A proficient person with a handgun could have stayed concealed just long enough to un-holster and get a well-aimed shot off, then move to become a huge distraction to the shooter and attempt to take him down.  Either way, if the gunman had someone shooting back at him, he wouldn’t have been trying to shoot the people who were trying to escape.  

This why I am an armed citizen

The bottom line here is that the gun control crowd has got to finally realize that gun-free zones DON’T work, and allowing citizens to practice their right of self-protection DOES work.  This has been proven time and again.  Most sheepdogs I know are well trained to keep moving, and find shots that have a low perceived penalty for a miss. The shooter's main threat at that point would be the moving sheepdog with the gun that is shooting at him, so he wouldn't dare turn his attention to anyone else. Many more people would then be able to escape.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

So what can you do to be more prepared?  Take some form of “Active Shooter Response” training.  Even if you don’t carry a gun, this type of training will give you a good foundation of things to think about to increase your chances of survival.  I took some of my training through the FEMA Independent Study Institute, and I refresh the training annually.  For those of you who do carry a concealed handgun, I also encourage you to keep up on your live-fire training and keep those skills sharp.  See my previous article about the need for continuous training to learn more ways to stay polished.

This was a horrible event.  But let’s not continue to enable future similar events with more criminal enabling “gun free zones” and this insane insistence on taking away people’s rights to self-defense.  If guns were banned, he would have found another way to cause harm.  As Charlton Heston once said:  

"Here's my credo. There are no good guns, There are no bad guns.  A gun in the hands of a bad man is a bad thing.  Any gun in the hands of a good man is no threat to anyone, except bad people."

 

Getting Off The "X" - The Need For Tactical Training

I recently had the opportunity to go back for some excellent tactical training - low light pistol operator course at The Makhaira Group.  Excellent course - I highly recommend it.  So anyway - I’m not sure exactly what prompted the comment, but I recently mentioned to someone that I had just taken some formal tactical firearms training to refresh my own skills.  That prompted the comment: “Tactical training?!  Why in the world do you need tactical training?  You’re not a police officer or a member of the military special forces!”  That’s true.  I’m neither of those things.   And I’m pretty sure I won’t be gearing up to storm a hardened complex or rescue hostages any time soon.  But I am a “Sheepdog” - a concealed carry permit holder who loves his fellow citizens, and knows that I may very well be present someday in a crisis situation.  If I am present in such a situation (and the police are not), I want to make a difference and help preserve innocent life while waiting for the police to arrive.  Because of my commitment, I carry a concealed firearm for self-defense nearly always (except at work and when I’m in the shower).  I have made the commitment to protect my family, my neighborhood, and the members of my church.  That being said, I then also have an obligation to be proficient and have the ability to be as effective as possible if the opportunity for using my firearm in self-defense presents itself.  And to be honest, standing on a line in front of static paper bulls-eye targets in no way represents the types of situations encountered in real-world self-defense crisis situations.

The obligation: First, let me say this about the requirement for training: I do not believe it should be mandated by law.  The obligation to be proficient in firearms handling is a moral obligation, and each person needs to make the decision for themselves as to what level of training they think will give them the proficiency they need for their particular circumstances.  But if I am going to be a "Sheepdog" - one who is willing to be present in a crisis situation and I am armed, I then I feel that I have the duty to not be the cause of harm to others or myself.  If I freeze up, hesitate, or simply don’t know what to do, my chances of causing more harm are much greater.  This can lead to a whole variety of legal implications for me, or even more serious physical and emotional implications for all those present at the scene.  My goal then is to render aid to others, preserve life, protect the innocent, stop any imminent violence by the bad guys, and be an effective resource for the police who eventually arrive to investigate.  Again, I submit that performing proficiency training that involves standing on a line and shooting at static paper targets in no way prepares me to do any of the above.  But if I am engaged in a training regimen that teaches the concepts of moving, shooting, communicating, and making sound, decisions, my ability to be effective and prevent further harm greatly improves.  Tactical training provides just that environment, plus it provides a multitude of "stresses" that static target shooting does not provide.

"The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours." - LTC Dave Grossman, "On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs"

Enter a piece of terminology we in the self-defense circles fondly refer to as “getting off the X.”  If someone is attacking you, and you stand there like a statue, you will get injured or worse - shot.  It’s as simple as that.  But if you move and make quick, decisive actions, your chances of winning the fight and avoiding injury are greatly increased.  And if you can get the bad guy to “stand on his X,” then you further increase your chances of winning and stopping the attack.  The “X” is the place that gives an adversary static predictability.  In that case the person on the X might just as well be a paper target – easy to hit, and sure to be injured.  Your goal is to stay off of your “X” and put the bad guy back on his.

(Example Tactical Training Course Activities)

So what is out there in the way of tactical training, and what does the term “tactical training” actually entail? Tactical firearms training, hand-to-hand (or “empty hand”) training, and sporting competitions all lend themselves well to this idea of tactical training to address immediate threats. The word “tactical” simply implies trying to make decisions to help meet an immediate or short term goal. The immediate goal in this case is that of stopping a bad series of gravely harmful events. Tactics nearly always involves movement, quick decisions, and having contingencies. Tactical training does not always mean donning forty-five pounds of web gear and playing Rambo. Receiving tactical training means training for a variety of events and environments, and with a variety of methods, skills, and tools.

Tactical Firearms Training: If you’re going to carry a gun for self-defense, you need to be able to deploy it beyond the paper targets at the pistol range. This can (and should) involve a variety of formal training environments where actual experts in this field of study are there to give you real-world insights. In Northern Colorado, we have one excellent resource at The Makhaira Group. Gunsite Academy (located in Arizona), Front Sight (located in Nevada), and Suarez International (various training venues) are all excellent examples of well-renowned and affordable firearms training venues to help you sharpen your tactical skills. The key here is formal training from experts in their field. Get a professional set of eyes (not your well-meaning buddy) on your techniques and use the guidance of a disinterested third party to improve your tactics through professional instruction, and honest criticism and opinion.

Hand-to-Hand Training: Often referred to as “open hand” training. You may not be able to draw your gun, you may not have your gun with you (shame on you!), or the firearm may just not even be the appropriate level of response. Tactics involves a variety of tools. Knowing how to stop an immediate threat through a variety of means, even your own body, is an important aspect of being willing to be that “Sheepdog” in a crisis situation. If you’re going to step up to help out in a crisis situation, you’re going to get hurt. That’s a fact. This type of training will not only help build skills to employ various empty handed defenses, but will help condition your body to be ready and will help make it “hurt” less. See your local health club, self-defense school, or other types of activities in your area. There are a variety of video courses that you can take, but the actual physical practice is irreplaceable.

Shooting Competition Activities: There are a wide variety of firearms recreational and sporting activities that lend themselves well to the idea of thinking on your feet and practicing tactical movements. IDPA, defensive pistol, and even steel challenge competitions fit right in with this category of training. Many shooting ranges even offer “combat leagues” and other dynamic events. Here in Northern Colorado, the Northern Colorado Rod and Gun Club hosts International Defensive Pistol (IDPA), Defensive Pistol, and Steel Challenge matches monthly. Participation is open to the public, and participation fees are minimal (usually $10 dollars). Not only are these events dynamic, but they are well attended, and you can meet many others who are trying to build up their skills and you can share ideas.

Professional Reading: You heard me right! I know reading doesn’t sound very “tactical.” Do some homework and find out what’s going on out in the real world. All those “armed citizen” reports and such are chock full of real-life examples where someone defended themselves successfully (or tragically not), and have some very detailed descriptions of what was done right, what was done wrong, and lessons learned for improvement. Learn from others. Monthly magazines from professionally written sources such as the US Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) and the National Rifle Association (NRA), for example, have sections devoted to reporting on these incidents and can provide valuable insight into what others went through. Those publications also have a plethora of well written articles that talk about holster and concealment techniques, equipment suggestions, and additional training ideas.

Regardless of how you choose to do it, you need to “get off the X” and make additional training an ongoing endeavor. Tactical skills tend to diminish rapidly as they are largely a matter of muscle memory and ingraining behavior so that it becomes second nature. To keep skills sharp, you need to continually practice and get training in updated techniques. Getting off of your X may mean being able to putting bad guy back on his X in a crisis situation. There are no points for second place in this game – you need to be in it to win it.

The Decision to Become an Armed Citizen

Choosing to be an armed citizen takes a lot of thought and preparation, not to mention the right equipment:

Why are there no mass shootings at firing ranges?

What is it that makes a normal, every day computer geek who lives in a small town decide to carry a concealed weapon? After all, the town I live in is not an extraordinarily high crime area. I live in a good neighborhood and work in a fairly secure building. I have a family, two dogs, a bunch of mundane hobbies, and I don’t purposely hang out in dangerous areas. I have never personally witnessed a crime, and have never been the victim of an armed criminal. Although I have noticed that the local mall, even in this small town, seems to attract the dregs of society that hang out there with nothing to do except size up other people and decide who to harass – but that’s another part of the story.

A decision to carry a concealed weapon, after all, carries with it an awesome responsibility – why would I decide to be responsible for the myriad of issues that comes with it? By deciding to carry a concealed weapon I have decided that I am willing to take a human life if necessary. I have decided that I am willing to be put in the position to quickly decide in an emergency situation whether or not to run, shoot, or even if my decision will be the correct (and legally defensible) one. Finally, this decision carries with it a notable change in lifestyle.But despite all that, I made a conscious decision to carry a concealed weapon. In this article, I would like to document and share my decision making process with you to help you understand what makes a normal citizen make such a potentially life changing decision. This article will chronicle the decision making process, the social responsibilities of carrying a concealed weapon (as I understand them to be), and the significant lifestyle changes that one goes through once getting the permit and carrying a firearm.

Making the Initial Leap:

First, I’ll tell you a little bit about the “how” of my decision making processes. This is not, or certainly SHOULD not be an easy decision. In my case, it took a great deal of thought, prayer, research, and certainly training. Thought and prayer in this decision were the easy part. I felt that if I placed my trust in the Lord’s hands, that He would guide me toward the answers – and I believe He did. Faith that God designed us to be responsible for certain aspects of our lives, self defense being one of them, led me to what I believe is the right conclusion about carrying a weapon during my daily life.

For the research, I consulted many sources, among which being the National Rifle Association, the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, and various other Internet discussion forums. Then, there are numerous blogs, discussion forums, and news sources documenting the many instances where an armed citizen was able to save themselves and others around them by carrying and calling upon their weapon.

For the training, I relied partly on my prior experiences handling firearms, which told me that constant training is always needed. It started out as a venture to take my spouse to a basic pistol course, to get her familiar with firearms, and to pick up new insights on concealed carry for myself. From there, training evolved into regular visits to the range, getting involved in competitive shooting events, and constantly reading articles and books from noted authors on concealed carry and self defense. Training and gaining new knowledge about firearms and self defense is a daily part of my routine these days.

Now for the seemingly more philosophical yet most important part - the “why” part - of this whole decision process: It has become painfully clear to me that even in a small town like the one in which my family and I live, there are still bad people who wish to do others harm. We still hear about home invasions, store robberies, people getting robbed in their own driveways, and various other violent crimes, right here in our part of the state! A major city with noted gang activity is not far away – it is only a matter of time before the criminals get bored and decide to take their show on the road. And because I have a spouse, children, and two dogs, all of whom I love very much, I am willing to protect them. My willingness to protect them includes using deadly force if necessary.

 

The Philosophy and the Reasoning:

My willingness to protect my family goes beyond a mere philosophical need to prove that I am a good person and provider, however. I believe that I have a personal responsibility to protect them and provide for their safety. This responsibility is found in Biblical teaching, and further rooted in my own beliefs. The Supreme Court has made it perfectly clear that the government and police have no obligation to protect us as individuals (a noteworthy example being the 2005 case of Castle Rock versus Gonzales).  In a more recent case in Madison Wisconsin, a young woman (student) was slain.  She had called 911 but her call for help was ignored, the 911 operator hung up, and police were never called to investigate.  So I am responsible for myself as an individual, and for my family as individuals. I accept this. I am perfectly willing and able to take on this obligation and do my part.

Why do I carry a concealed weapon? THIS is why!

But I feel this obligation even transcends my obligation to just my family. Research has shown that areas that have more armed citizens experience fewer violent crimes. The more armed citizens there are the more uncertainty the criminals have. Who is carrying a weapon and who is not? This dramatically increases the criminal’s risks of being stopped, injured, or even killed during the commission of their crime. Studies by people such as Dr. John Lott have shown that an entire community is safer because of the population of people who carries concealed weapons. In fact, even noted anti-gun advocate and University of Pennsylvania professor David Mustard has had to admit that citizens who carry do not add to gun violence and do in fact make their communities more safe:

"When I started my research on guns in 1995, I disliked firearms... My views on this subject were formed primarily by media accounts of firearms, which unknowingly to me systematically emphasized the cost of firearms while virtually ignoring their benefits. I thought it obvious that passing laws that permitted law abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms would create many problems. But research has convinced me that laws that require right-to-carry permits to be granted unless the applicant has a criminal record or a history of significant mental illness reduce violent crime and have no impact on accidental deaths."

Source: "Culture Affects Our Beliefs About Firearms, But Data Are Also Important," 151 U. Penn. Law Review, 1387, 2003
 

I want my family to be safe, but beyond that, I want my entire community to be a good and safe place to live.  If my carrying a concealed weapon contributes to the uncertainty and uneasiness that the criminal vultures feel about committing crimes in my community, then I am not only perfectly happy with that, but I feel that I am part of the solution and not just a passive bystander to a greater threat.

The Practical Side of Carrying a Weapon:

By the way - this isn’t by any means meant to be a recipe for others to follow. My strategies won’t work for everyone. And there are far greater numbers of experts out there who can tell you more about tactics, training, and self defense than I could ever hope to. Rather, I hope to give some examples of some things that have helped me, and to help you decide for yourself what will work best for you.

So now that I have made this decision, how does it affect my daily life? Surely, one doesn’t just strap on a gun and go walking around. There are certain places an armed citizen can and cannot go, and certain things an armed citizen has to do a bit differently than before. As I mentioned before, the decision to be an armed citizen affects not only the person who is armed, but practically everyone around them. There is still a lot of fear and apprehension about guns out in the community. Some people believe in the right to be armed, but simply choose not to be. Then there are others who don’t believe that citizens should have guns at all, as well as those who are morbidly afraid of firearms. The latter is a result of lack of education (about firearms) and misinformation from a biased media in my opinion, and I will speak more to that in a later segment in this series.

Oh, What to Wear:

A recent cartoon I saw on the Internet depicted a person who was carrying a concealed weapon making the statement: “Having a concealed weapon is like wearing Power Rangers underwear; both are very cool, but you don’t dare show anybody.” There is a lot of truth to that. Having a concealed weapon, in my opinion, means that it stays concealed – period! There are a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that we keep our handguns concealed primarily because it keeps the bad guys guessing and gives us the element of surprise. Secondly, quite a few states have “shall issue laws for concealed carry permits, but not all of those states have “open carry” laws. This means that if you have a concealed firearm, it must stay concealed, lest you be arrested for public menacing. And finally, firearms just make some people frightened. I submit that those fears are irrational, but those fears are very real to those people; why put them through needless worry and stress? They have every right to feel as comfortable in their surroundings as we do. And their worry and stress tends to lead to unwanted attention drawn to yourself, and perhaps the requirement to explain yourself to law enforcement when those more frightened people freak out and call the police.

Wardrobe decisions are just something that has never plagued me before. I was in the Navy for twenty years – my daily attire was chosen for me. After leaving the service, I have been mostly a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy. Even when I am at work, jeans and a decent sport shirt or polo shirt are considered appropriate for my office. But carrying a concealed weapon means that your attire has to support concealment. Flaunting a weapon for the reasons that I have already discussed is just not something that I want to do. Colorado is an open carry state, and I have a permit, so either way I am covered. But the fewer people who know I am carrying the better. In fact, when I took my daughter to the mall recently, she had no clue I was carrying my handgun. Concealed means concealed – it’s as simple as that for me.

The particular handguns that I carry at the moment both seem to be most conducive to being holstered. They are fairly small (compact, but not sub-compact), but I feel I can retrieve them from a paddle holster on my hip better than some of the other types of holsters I have tried. And I tried several holsters before making this decision. I have a few other holsters that I try from time to time. As moods change and clothing changes, so too can the holster if needed. 

 

My main carry gun, the Bersa .45 UC, is large enough, however, that an in-waist-band holster scheme doesn’t seem to feel very comfortable at all. The paddle holster keeps it fairly high on my hip, but I still need to wear a long shirt or sweat-shirt to keep it concealed. I just bought some long shirts and leave them un-tucked – voila! Seems to work well in cooler weather, but in the summer I have to change that strategy a bit. Concealment vests are a good idea, but the looks of some of them on a person seems to scream out “Hey! I’m carrying a gun!” I found that a photographer's vest is a good choice as photography is a popular hobby in these parts. A small fanny pack works well when I go to the gym or am wearing sweats for a long walk or something.  Sweats and exercise shorts don't usually have pockets, so it is perfectly normal to see someone in such attire wearing a small fanny pack for carrying wallet, iPod, keys, etc.

What About Other Gear:

The type of holster and how to conceal were really the biggest decisions I had to make. Once I chose the best way to conceal my firearm so I could comfortably carry it around, the big issues were over. Beyond that, however, there are other things that I feel are necessary. Being in the information security biz, the term “defense in depth” is a large part of my daily vocabulary. Securing information takes a variety of tools to keep networks, computers and data safe. Self defense is really no different. A firearm is not always going to be the best or only method for defense from an attack. 

There are many types of attacks, and there are many types of defenses. Criminal attacks are not the only attacks. And certainly there are people who feel bold enough to get in your personal space because they are angry for whatever reason, but they aren’t really intent on committing a violent crime. I live in an area with lots of wildlife. We have foxes in the neighborhood regularly. Bears and mountain lions have been known to come down out of the mountains, as have coyotes. There are stray dogs as well. For example, at least twice in recent weeks while walking my dog, some stray dogs have attacked me and one other person near me while I was out. My dog is small, so I picked him up, and kicking the attacking dogs was enough to send them off. On a walk the other day, a gentleman and his dog were attacked by a large dog, and the dog drew blood. If I had not turned around to retrieve a forgotten item from the house before the walk that would have been my dog and me getting attacked. But had that happened to us, would drawing my weapon and shooting the dog been a viable solution? Certainly not! It was simply a case of a large, strong dog getting away from its owner. A good shot of pepper spray would have likely turned the dog away, and the dog would have lived. The owner would have been upset, but that would have been their problem. When animal control showed up, I think they had enough to worry about explaining how their big dog got away and attacked someone.

The point is that a firearm is not always the best or even most responsible defense. Shooting a dog or their owner, or even just shooting an obnoxious jerk that is getting in your face, for example, will probably land you in jail. But using the amount of defensive force commensurate with the attack is usually considered reasonable and prudent. If someone refuses to get out of your face and is getting close enough to be a threat, a shot in the face with pepper spray may do the trick. A potential attacker approaching in a dark parking lot may be scared away when a tactical grade flashlight is shined in their eyes, temporarily blinding them. I don’t care how “bad” you think you are – someone flashing a tactical grade flashlight in your eyes gives you pause to think about what else that person might also be carrying. So carrying other defensive tools might also serve as a deterrent in that it says that you are prepared and willing to act – and escalate your actions if warranted.

Having multiple tools at your disposal is a wise decision. So for that reason, besides the firearm, I carry other items such as a cell phone, pepper spray, a knife, and a flashlight. I consider these items the absolute minimum. And the beauty is that these additional items are relatively small, and I don’t have to feel like I am carrying a hardware store around in my pockets. Even if I am in a place where I cannot carry a gun for legal or other reasons, the other items are usually acceptable and legal.

By choosing the right types of self defense items, you will also have useful tools to deploy in multiple ways. For example, a good defensive flashlight and certain types of pepper spray come in the same shape and size of a kubotan stick. These can then be easily used to jab into bony or fleshy parts and inflict a great deal of pain in a close-in encounter. Surefire, for example makes flashlights which have a crenellated strike bezel which can also be used as a close-in striking tool to inflict injury and pain. A good tactical flashlight will help you look inside and underneath your car in a poorly lit parking lot, and will also temporarily blind someone who is approaching you.

Having defense in depth provides a greater deal of security than simply replying on one single tool – just as you have many tools to do all your household chores, so should you have many tools to provide for your safety.

The Mental Side of Being an Armed Citizen:

And NO – I am not referring to anything even hinting of those of us who carry having mental illness, being a mental defective, or any such nonsense.  In fact, all of the gun owners and CCW permit holders I know are at the top of the list of the most mentally and emotionally stable people I know.  Having acute awareness and mental abilities is a key factor in the persona who carries a concealed weapon.  Mindset is an important ingredient in self defense, and being mentally prepared for the worst is a part of my strategy.  Thinking about the various scenarios and knowing what actions I will take is one of my most valuable weapons.

In the following sections, I would like to focus one of the most valuable self defense weapons available – the human mind.  And while I am by no means a psychologist or expert of emotional well being in any way (I am a computer geek, after all), I do know that being aware, mentally prepared, and decisive in action is a key ingredient to survival.


Situational and Environmental Awareness:

In all honesty, I feel that a significant part of our society is made up of unaware, self consumed individuals.  For example, I ride a motorcycle – and I can’t begin to tell you the number of times I have been cutoff and almost hit by people on their cell phones or engaging in other activities while driving which distracts them to the point that they can’t even pay attention to what is going on around them.  These people can’t stop for simple stop-signs, and even by one woman I observed was eating a bowl of cereal (I’m not kidding) while driving her minivan.  Some people seem to always be on their phones, and the funny thing is, they don’t really seem to be talking about anything earth shattering.

Then there are just those who seem to be looking at their shoes all the time, or are obviously in another place while they are out and about.  I have a name for these people:  they are simply the “unaware” of our society.  Unfortunately, the criminal element is aware of these people as well, and they have their own name for them:  “Victim!”

In my refusal to be a victim or to allow myself to be caught unaware by some piece of street scum who is looking for his next victim, I am chosen instead to be aware of what’s going on around me.  I wish I could offer some advice on how to train yourself to do this, because for me it just comes naturally.  I was in the Navy, and spent a great deal of my time on the flight deck, and working around aircraft.  Our saying was:  “Keep your head on a swivel.”  To this day, I find myself being aware of everything around me.  I was fortunate; this is part of the incidental training that I received due to my profession.  For those of you who need some training in this arena, I suggest you read “How to Win a Gunfight:  Gaining the Half-Second Advantage” by Tony Walker (ISBN 0-7414-4341-4.  This wonderful book is full of insights on how to become more aware, and how to practice some of the other elements of self defense.

  

Stress Relief and Physical Fitness: 

I read somewhere that anger has no place in the life of someone who carries a concealed weapon.  That really struck me as profound.  One of the wildest stereotypes that the anti-gun people have of us is that we will get angry and go on a wild shooting rampage.  Well for one thing, multitudes of studies have shown that the “wild west” and “road rage” aspects of regular citizens carrying concealed weapons has never come to pass.  In fact, the more articles I read, the more I am convinced of something I already believed; law abiding citizens who carry weapons tend to be more polite and avoiding of situations that would illicit an armed response.  If someone is unhappy with me, I simply nod and walk away.  They may call me names, and they may insult me.  But that is just something that I have learned to live with over the years.  Getting into any type of altercation, armed or not, has just never been worth the outcomes.

So what does one do to get rid of the stress and anger?  We all get angry, we all get stressed.  And in the case of having to walk away from a situation, it is likely that pride and dignity will suffer to some extent.  For me, physical fitness plays an important part of that stress relief.  I’m not a spring chicken any more, so going to the gym regularly helps to relieve stress, but it also helps to add longevity and quality to life.  In fact, one of the other aspects of self defense is agility, stamina, and the ability to gain (as Tony Walker puts it) that “half-second advantage.”  An hour in the gym and I feel totally different and recharged.

But since I’m mentioning stress relief, there is another technique that my wife and I use for stress relief:  going to the range!  And no, I’m not talking about taking along effigies of our most hated co-worker or anything like that.  We participate in a weekly shooting league at our favorite indoor pistol range.  Each week, the targets are varied, the distances of the targets are varied, and the scoring is varied.  For about an hour a week, we go to the range, the shooting scenario unknown to us until we arrive, and we spend that time concentrating on those targets and getting the best score that we can.  During that time, we are thinking of nothing else!  All thoughts of our hectic work day have literally vanished, and we are all consumed in having fun at the range.  We share ideas on shooting techniques, we meet new people, and we enjoy talking with the proprietors on the gun shop.  This relates to physical fitness also because we are practicing new and varied ways to shoot, different types of targets, and shooting at different ranges.  In other words, we are getting a frequently changing look at the dynamic of shooting and practicing with our weapons.  We go home and talk about the evening at the range and just enjoy the fact that we have yet another activity that we enjoy doing together.  Having that aspect of my life in solidly good shape allows me personally to put everything else into place as well.
  

Thoughts While Out and About:

So what am I thinking about while out there running my daily errands?  Mostly on my minds is how to be as completely invisible as possible.  I want to be the person that no one notices.  So to that end, I don’t go out of my way to attract attention, and I certainly don’t go out of my way to give any clue that I am carrying a weapon.  What this means is that I am careful about how I get out of my car, lest my firearm be exposed, and I am aware of what other types of people are in the area.  For example, if a mother and her young children are in the area, I especially don’t want the youngsters seeing my gun.  I know that some people are afraid of guns, no matter how much we have proven that there is nothing to be afraid of, and I don’t want anyone needlessly feeling afraid or uneasy around me.  So for those reasons alone, I am very cognizant of making sure that my concealed weapon is just that:  concealed!

A very important part of my thought process is in knowing where I can or cannot go if I am carrying a firearm.  I know that some establishments don’t care either way, while still others adamantly refuse entrance to holders of valid CCW permits if they have weapons.  So essentially, I do the best I can to know who has what policy, and to respect their wishes.  But I will say this about the establishments who refuse to allow law abiding citizens to carry their concealed weapons into their businesses:  I won’t give them my business period.  But it’s not because I think they possess some liberal, anti-gun mind-set.  It is specifically because they have made the statement that I am not welcome to use my chosen method of self defense while on their premises.  If I or my family were to be in one of these types of places, and an armed gunman appears, they are disallowing me the means to defend myself.  They have no intention of providing for my protection while I am there, however, as seen by the lack of armed guards in any of these places.  Additionally, my state law makers have made it clear to me that I cannot hold them legally liable for damages, death, or injury if I or my family is harmed in their “gun free” zone.

Constantly on my mind when I am out and about is an awareness of other people, particularly who are the “good guys” and who are the “bad guys.”  I try not to be judgmental, but let’s face it:  you can just tell sometimes, who are the average citizens walking around, and who the lower forms of human existence are.  Going to the mall, for example, it is painfully obvious who the vultures are because you can see them sizing up everyone, following people around, and in general looking like they have no purpose in life other than to find their next victim.  This is the same behavior seen on nature channels when the jackals are sizing up their next meal.  It is just obvious, sometimes, that they aren’t there to do their shopping and leave – they just seem to be there perpetually as if that is their place of employment.  Well, perhaps it is.  I’m suspicious of everyone, and I spend a lot of time observing people.  Unless you are completely unaware of your surroundings, you kind of have an idea who you can (mostly) ignore, and who you need to keep your eye on.  Being aware is to be prepared, and being prepared means you are watching them more closely than the rest.  The best thing I try to do is just avoid the places where these maggots seem to congregate the most, but sometimes what you need is at the place where the vultures hang out:  The shopping mall and Wal-Mart seem to be the two most likely places where the dregs of society can be found here in my small town.

Wrapping It All Up:

So for these reasons, and more, I have decided to become an armed citizen. As you can see, such a decision requires a lot of thought, and for many people like me, is not an easy decision. But now that I have made the leap and obtained my permit, I have now stepped into a new life. In the next article, I will talk about how some of my daily wardrobe habits have changed to accommodate my carrying a concealed weapon, and the types of other things that I have to think about carrying. But as you will see, I don’t look on any of this as a burden or an inconvenience. I look at this as a necessary part of life as an armed citizen.

To me, carrying concealed means just what it implies. I don’t want anyone to know I am carrying a firearm, or any other weapons for that matter. It is important to me that the bad guys don’t know who is carrying – it keeps them guessing. And I know that there are a lot of frightened people out there who freak out at even the mention of firearms. Why put them through undue stress? In fact, as I am sitting here typing this from a public coffee shop, none of the people here have a clue that there is an armed citizen in their midst – and I intend to keep it that way. I’m not going to change their minds about the benefit of being armed in the time of our brief encounter – so why try? Why go through having to explain to them that their fears are irrational and that they are safe as kittens around me? It just isn’t worth it, but it is worth avoiding the situation altogether.

Beyond the act of concealment, I consider self defense to be a matter of employing the right tools for the job. That is why I carry a variety of self defense items such as cell phones, a knife, tactical flashlight, and pepper spray, and of course - my wits.

As you can see throughout this article, I have tried to illustrate that I do indeed consider being an armed citizen to be a serious and awesome responsibility.  These aren’t the ravings of some “gun nut” who just wants to be able to carry his “toys” everywhere.  This is the mindset of a free man who values his and his family’s safety above all else.  Self defense is a basic human right.  I owe it to my family to live a long life and provide for their well being and safety.  This is my responsibility, not that of the government.  I don’t want to rely on anyone else to carry out those responsibilities which are mine alone, but at the same time I don’t want anyone thinking that they have the right to take my abilities to perform my duties as a responsible citizen away from me.  The founders of our country made it clear that we were endowed these rights by our Creator, and that idea is still valid today.  Technologies have changed, and the population of criminals has increased from their day, but what was spoken then is still valid now.  My right to defend myself and my family is absolutely and unequivocally non-negotiable!

"The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible to live without breaking laws."

- Ayn Rand