National Carry Academy10 Things Concealed Carriers Take For Granted
September 30, 2019
There are a lot of things for a concealed carrier to remember, many of which we do most of the time. Some however, can get neglected if not reviewed from time to time. Do you carry regularly? How often do you practice? When was the last time you updated your skills? As a concealed carrier, you have a responsibility to make sure that you and your weapon are prepared to thwart a threat.
- Make Sure You Arm Yourself with the Appropriate Mindset.
A proper mindset for concealed carrying is just as important as your weapon so that you can avoid putting yourself into unnecessary conflicts.
That gun should be used to protect you and your loved ones from harm. Period. You are not a Gunslinger, or a Vigilante. Just because you have a permit to carry a deadly weapon does not mean you can take the law into your own hands.
When possible, avoid conflicts by staying calm and simply turning away and leaving the area. Once you introduce a gun into a conflict, the situation can escalate rapidly. Deadly force should always be your last resort. Being armed is not enough, you should also be mentally prepared.
- Improve your Skills With Training.
When you train, make sure that you learn the basics of how to use and maintain a firearm, safety precautions and different techniques in concealed carrying. Keep your skills and knowledge updated with regular practice and refresher classes so your body and mind will be ready for a possible encounter.
Each time you practice, review the basics and analyze you current skills to determine the areas that need improvement. There are specific drills that you can use that focus on a certain skill. There is always something new to learn and there is always a skill to improve. Dry firing at home can be of help as well, especially if you do not have enough time to go to the range on a regular basis. Snap caps must be used at home, and your gun must be unloaded. You also need live fire practice at the range so your skills and performance don’t deteriorate.
3.Increase You Knowledge of the Specific Laws of Your State.
You need to know what specific situations your state allows you to fire your gun in. Some states will not allow the use of deadly force in a few situations, while others do not even allow civilians to carry concealed guns. What does your state require you to do if you did have to use your weapon? Stay abreast of new developments in concealed carry laws and new methods and techniques.
- Carry Regularly
In spite of all the time, effort and money needed just to obtain a concealed carry permit, some carriers still do not carry all the time. Your gun will not do you any good, if you don’t have it with you when you need it. If you have a valid license, and are legally permitted to carry a gun, then you need to get used to wearing it all the time. You have no way of predicting when you will be in a threatening situation so it is best to be prepared.
Why wouldn’t a concealed carrier carry all the time? Some carriers may want to avoid the problems of traveling and transporting their handgun. Another reason is that some carriers do not feel comfortable when carrying a gun. There are many different concealed carry methods and lots of options when it comes to belts, holsters and the like. You owe it to yourself to do a little research and go try some on until you find one that you can be comfortable wearing.
- Don’t Constantly Check and Adjust Your Firearm.
Some carriers may feel conspicuous whenever they go out. They worry too much about whether the gun can be seen or whether they can easily reach it. As a result, they will continuously adjust the handgun and check to see if it is secured in place. This is a very bad habit. Why? Because this can draw people or even an attacker’s attention to you and your concealed pistol! You may look suspicious to others and to the police.
- Use your own Gun and Ammo during Practice.
It is important to use your own carry pistol and ammo during training and practice. How you perform during the practice will affect the way you will react in defensive situations and combat encounters. If you are very familiar with your own gun, ammo, holster and other things that you will use, you can successfully handle them and you will not have so much trouble during an encounter.
- Select the Right Concealed Carry Gear.
Choosing a quality holster from a reputable brand is important for a concealed carrier. You should select a holster that is made specifically for the gun you have. If the holster fits well, you should be able to easily draw or reholster your gun. A custom-fit holster will give protection to the trigger to avoid contact with your body.
A gun belt is one of the most important accessories that a gun owner must have. The support is needed to make sure that the gun will stay in its place and avoid injury to you and the people around you. A leather gun belt is highly recommended as it helps keep the gun from moving. Aside from being durable, it is also comfortable, will not sag or roll up when worn, and it can give support for your pants as well.
8.Select the Proper Cover Garments.
In choosing your clothes and covering garments, there are many things that you should consider including the temperature, your lifestyle and your activities. The clothes and covering garments you should use will depend on the size of gun that you will carry and your body type.
Make sure that you are familiar with the method of carrying you are using because some CC methods will require more cover and will make it hard for you to reach for your gun. Regular practice will let you get used to most types of cover clothing.
- Be Very Familiar With Your Handgun
You should understand everything about your handgun, from the magazine release, controls, external safety to the operation and everything that concerns your handgun. Some people believe that you need at least 3,000 to 5,000 repetitions of an action before you can develop muscle memory. Muscle memory pertains to your subconscious reaction when exposed to external stimuli
10.Stay Alert to Your Surroundings.
Situational awareness is critical to a concealed carrier in any environment. This involves being cautious of all the things and people and knowing the variables in your surroundings. Once you arrive at a place, do a quick observation and assess the environment. Is anything out of place or suspicious? Do you have an escape route should you need it?
10 Things Concealed Carriers Take For Granted
September 30, 2019
There are a lot of things for a concealed carrier to remember, many of which we do most of the time. Some however, can get neglected if not reviewed from time to time. Do you carry regularly? How often do you practice? When was the last time you updated your skills? As a concealed carrier, you have a responsibility to make sure that you and your weapon are prepared to thwart a threat.
- Make Sure You Arm Yourself with the Appropriate Mindset.
A proper mindset for concealed carrying is just as important as your weapon so that you can avoid putting yourself into unnecessary conflicts.
That gun should be used to protect you and your loved ones from harm. Period. You are not a Gunslinger, or a Vigilante. Just because you have a permit to carry a deadly weapon does not mean you can take the law into your own hands.
When possible, avoid conflicts by staying calm and simply turning away and leaving the area. Once you introduce a gun into a conflict, the situation can escalate rapidly. Deadly force should always be your last resort. Being armed is not enough, you should also be mentally prepared.
- Improve your Skills With Training.
When you train, make sure that you learn the basics of how to use and maintain a firearm, safety precautions and different techniques in concealed carrying. Keep your skills and knowledge updated with regular practice and refresher classes so your body and mind will be ready for a possible encounter.
Each time you practice, review the basics and analyze you current skills to determine the areas that need improvement. There are specific drills that you can use that focus on a certain skill. There is always something new to learn and there is always a skill to improve. Dry firing at home can be of help as well, especially if you do not have enough time to go to the range on a regular basis. Snap caps must be used at home, and your gun must be unloaded. You also need live fire practice at the range so your skills and performance don’t deteriorate.
3.Increase You Knowledge of the Specific Laws of Your State.
You need to know what specific situations your state allows you to fire your gun in. Some states will not allow the use of deadly force in a few situations, while others do not even allow civilians to carry concealed guns. What does your state require you to do if you did have to use your weapon? Stay abreast of new developments in concealed carry laws and new methods and techniques.
- Carry Regularly
In spite of all the time, effort and money needed just to obtain a concealed carry permit, some carriers still do not carry all the time. Your gun will not do you any good, if you don’t have it with you when you need it. If you have a valid license, and are legally permitted to carry a gun, then you need to get used to wearing it all the time. You have no way of predicting when you will be in a threatening situation so it is best to be prepared.
Why wouldn’t a concealed carrier carry all the time? Some carriers may want to avoid the problems of traveling and transporting their handgun. Another reason is that some carriers do not feel comfortable when carrying a gun. There are many different concealed carry methods and lots of options when it comes to belts, holsters and the like. You owe it to yourself to do a little research and go try some on until you find one that you can be comfortable wearing.
- Don’t Constantly Check and Adjust Your Firearm.
Some carriers may feel conspicuous whenever they go out. They worry too much about whether the gun can be seen or whether they can easily reach it. As a result, they will continuously adjust the handgun and check to see if it is secured in place. This is a very bad habit. Why? Because this can draw people or even an attacker’s attention to you and your concealed pistol! You may look suspicious to others and to the police.
- Use your own Gun and Ammo during Practice.
It is important to use your own carry pistol and ammo during training and practice. How you perform during the practice will affect the way you will react in defensive situations and combat encounters. If you are very familiar with your own gun, ammo, holster and other things that you will use, you can successfully handle them and you will not have so much trouble during an encounter.
- Select the Right Concealed Carry Gear.
Choosing a quality holster from a reputable brand is important for a concealed carrier. You should select a holster that is made specifically for the gun you have. If the holster fits well, you should be able to easily draw or reholster your gun. A custom-fit holster will give protection to the trigger to avoid contact with your body.
A gun belt is one of the most important accessories that a gun owner must have. The support is needed to make sure that the gun will stay in its place and avoid injury to you and the people around you. A leather gun belt is highly recommended as it helps keep the gun from moving. Aside from being durable, it is also comfortable, will not sag or roll up when worn, and it can give support for your pants as well.
8.Select the Proper Cover Garments.
In choosing your clothes and covering garments, there are many things that you should consider including the temperature, your lifestyle and your activities. The clothes and covering garments you should use will depend on the size of gun that you will carry and your body type.
Make sure that you are familiar with the method of carrying you are using because some CC methods will require more cover and will make it hard for you to reach for your gun. Regular practice will let you get used to most types of cover clothing.
- Be Very Familiar With Your Handgun
You should understand everything about your handgun, from the magazine release, controls, external safety to the operation and everything that concerns your handgun. Some people believe that you need at least 3,000 to 5,000 repetitions of an action before you can develop muscle memory. Muscle memory pertains to your subconscious reaction when exposed to external stimuli
10.Stay Alert to Your Surroundings.
Situational awareness is critical to a concealed carrier in any environment. This involves being cautious of all the things and people and knowing the variables in your surroundings. Once you arrive at a place, do a quick observation and assess the environment. Is anything out of place or suspicious? Do you have an escape route should you need it?