Everyone here at JustPews understands that incorporating a firearm into your E.D.C. can be intimidating; that’s why we made the Concealed Carry Guide! There’s a lot of information out there to digest and a lot of decisions to make as you’re getting started. In this comprehensive beginner’s guide we go over the things you need to know and choices you need to make.
As we did with the the Guide to Handguns, let’s go over some quick myths before we get to the articles.
This Guide is a Work In Progress; all parts are not finished but will be made available as they are finished.
The Myths
1. The Gun Is Enough
A lot of people purchase a firearm thinking that’s all they need to do. The reality is you have to practice and you have to train. You have to practice drawing the firearm, you have to practice shooting, follow-up shots, and clearing malfunctions.
Believing just buying one is enough is like believing purchasing a gym membership makes you skinny.
2. Manual Safeties Are Bad
We don’t like manual safeties because we don’t want to train for them; this doesn’t mean they’re bad. If it makes you feel comfortable with carrying a round chambered, then that’s something you should have on your firearm.
If you aren’t carrying with a round in the chamber you’re wrong.
3. Dry Fire is Worthless
A weird and dying myth is that dry fire practice offers no value to concealed carriers…
Practicing your draw, holstering, disengaging your safety (if there is one), and acquiring your sight picture while practicing your trigger pull is highly beneficial. Your goal should be to achieve a 1 second draw time. You aren’t going to reach that goal without doing it at home with an unloaded gun.
4. “The 2nd Amendment is my Carry Permit”
- I wish
- No it isn’t
There are Constitutional Carry states, however, those residents are unable to leave their state with a pistol on them legally without a permit. Don’t risk losing your rights during a traffic stop for felonious carry. Spend the money, get a carry permit, and be smart.
5. Shoot To Kill
One of the things we see a lot of individuals saying is that you should “shoot to kill” so the individual can’t take you to court.
The truth is, you shoot to stop a threat, and that unfortunately sometimes means someone loses their life.
Do. Not. approach them to “finish them off”. If anything, you should attempt to plug their holes if you have the knowledge and equipment to do so. This can actually help you in court as it shows you didn’t want to take a life.
6. Dragging the Body Inside
This one primarily focuses on home defense. A lot of people echo that they’ve been told by Law Enforcement to “drag the body inside” for legal purposes. There’s a lot of issues with this. The biggest one being it’s tampering with a crime scene/evidence; which is a felony punishable with up to 10 years in prison.
Leave the body or person where they fell, apply aid if you’re able to, and wait for authorities to show-up.
7. Shooting a Warning Shot
In most states just having your handgun in your hands is considered deadly force; this gets amplified if you attempt to send a warning shot.
It’s unfair that the law punishes you for attempting to forcefully deescalate a bad situation but it is what it is.
You are liable for every bullet that leaves your gun, if you aren’t at risk for great bodily injury or death, leave your firearm holstered. This is not a tool meant to diffuse a verbal argument.
Concealed Carry Guide
As a new gun owner or even a new concealed carrier you have to make yourself familiar with a lot of new laws. Unfortunately this isn’t like playing ignorance when a new traffic law passes; you have to be up-to-date at all times.
In this portion of the guide, we go over some state based defensive laws you need to look into, as well as some federal laws that might affect you.
Holsters can make or break your concealed carry experience entirely. A bad holster can also be deadly. In this part of the concealed carry guide we break down holsters bit by bit so you can make a well informed opinion on what you should be look at.
Carry Positions Explained
Coming Soon!
When it comes to becoming a competent concealed carrier the number one mistake individuals make is they don’t participate in dry fire training at home. While taking formal instruction is important, dry fire training is crucial for keeping those perishable skills sharpened.