Comments on: Short notes on being the ideal citizen … who happens to be armed.

By: KCM

KCM — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:31:18 +0000

Just found this informative site! I notice it’s been nearly ten months since the last post. That’s too bad as this could be a great forum for passing on concealed carry lessons learned, tips, etc. I’m hoping that all who get this will pass it on to their friends and acquaintences who carry so we can keep up the dialogue. We can’t all learn the same lessons the hard way and survive!

My tip: Join an active defensive shooting club or participate in a defensive pistol match. Don’t worry about embarrassing yourself. Most everyone there either is going or just has gone through the same ritual and is anxious to see you succeed as well. You will learn tons on your current capabilities and what you need to improve. You will carry more confidently knowing your capabilities and limitations. Your increased confidence will carry through to your demeanor and result in less likelihood of being accosted in the first place. And you may find yourself a new and useful fun pastime.

By: Monty

Monty — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:03:24 +0000

Great post! I would like to post this to the Texas CHL forum if it is ok with you (http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_Forum/index.php). Also, thanks for the great blog, I have both enjoyed it and learned from it.

Best regards,

Monty

By: Chuck J

Chuck J — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:17:41 +0000

Also – regardless of the situation, in most States, if you engage (pull your weapon in self defense), and the perpetrator turns to disengage, going after him is to re-engage or shooting him could result in a manslaughter charge. This is a hard choice to make, but if you confront a knife wielding robber in your house, and he turns and runs out the door, or doesn’t even make it outside in some cases, shooting him is not considered self defense.

On a separate note:
I had an embarrassing thing happen to me in California a few years ago which really emphasizes the need for a quality holster. I was in the movie theater with a Glock 20 in an Uncle Bens Shoulder Holster. I didn’t fit the holster correctly and when I stood up out of my chair, the thumbstrap grabbed my belt, undoing the strap, and my Glock fell out of the holster onto the floor. Since the movie was just finishing up, the lights were on and there was people everywhere. Of course they scrammed and shouted gun embarrassing me even further. I know make sure whatever weapon and holster I use, to fit it correctly and follow the manufacturers recommendation for fit.

By: felix

felix — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:00:29 +0000

There is a big responsibility in the carrying of any weapon. The mental awareness of always having it in your immediate possession and the places you can and cannot go with the weapon on you. For example…never leaving your weapon in a coat pocket unattended. Or going into a post office.

Good article, I am a CCW permit holder since 1990.

By: edmund

edmund — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:25:58 +0000

Excellent post. Life is too important not to take precautions in defending it.

By: David Gonzalez

David Gonzalez — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:39:16 +0000

What I suggest is for everyone, but especially for Chuck J., as he lives in Virginia. I know a person (a Virginian) who is now in prison for “malicious wounding”. He was accosted, defended himself with his legally-carried CW, and went looking for a phone to report the incident. The perp got to a phone first, so his story was deemed more credible than the one my acquaintance told. Moral: if you’re going to carry a gun, also carry a working cell phone so that the first report the authorities hear is yours, rather than your assailant’s. (Of course, if your assailant doesn’t survive, the point is moot—but you don’t want to leave the scene because flight is interpreted as guilt.) The incident I’m describing occurred in a remote area and my acquaintance felt that he had to flee from the wounded assailant for his own safety. Bad choice, as it turned out.

By: Chuck J

Chuck J — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:17:11 +0000

I also have a permit and live in Virginia. Good rules to live by and very well said.

Carrying a weapon doesn’t give you a ticket to be a bad-ass. Unfortunately, most of us have taken a bad wrap by the criminals you believe this to be the opposite.

Guns kill people like spoons make people fat. Carrying a gun is a very serious commitment, and you’ve done an outstanding job illustrating some important rules to live by.

The subject of Single Action/Double Action in criminal court (justifiable homicide) has taken a ugly turn. If it can be proven that, even if you had the intent to protect yourself, the gun may have accidentally discharge (versus squeezing a round off), that is call manslaughter in our courts. As ridiculous as this sounds, it is important to keep this in the back of your mind.

This is a great site.

By: erin clare

erin clare — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:22:45 +0000

This is such a good post, you should consider linking to it from other sites out there. You are fantastic at educating newcomers to firearm etiquette.

While I don’t own a gun, it’s still under consideration (you know which one is my favorite), I am intrigued about the proper etiquette to carrying these…

By: Gremlin

Gremlin — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:16:39 +0000

Nice post. I just got my concealed permit. I’m slowly but surely learning to live with my firearm. I can’t carry at work, but I try to always carry the rest of the time. Here is hoping I never have to use it.