Child firearm safety @ home!!!

Child Gun Safety @ Home

Guns are in more than one third of all U.S. households, so they're a very real danger to children, whether you own one or not. That's why it's important to talk to kids about the potential dangers of guns, and what to do if they find one.

If you do keep a gun in the house, it's vital to keep it out of sight and out of reach of kids. The gun should be kept locked and unloaded, and the ammunition should be stored separately.

Guns and Pretend Play

Allowing kids to play with toy guns is a personal decision, as is how to respond to a child's pretend shooting action during the course of play. Remember that even if you don't allow your kids to have a toy gun, their friends may have them. So explain to your kids that real guns — unlike toy guns or those shown on TV, in movies, or in video games — can seriously injure or even kill a person.

Talking to Kids About Gun Safety

Teach kids to follow these rules if they come into contact with a gun:

stop what they're doing

do not touch the gun

leave the area where the gun is

tell an adult right away

It's particularly important for kids to leave the area to avoid being harmed by someone who doesn't know not to touch the gun. A child as young as 3 has the finger strength to pull a trigger. It's also important for kids to tell an adult about a gun that's been found.

If You Have a Gun in Your Home

Many kids are raised with guns in the home, particularly if hunting is a part of family recreation. If you keep a gun in the home, it's important to teach your kids to act in a safe and responsible way around it.

To ensure the safest environment for your family:

Take the ammunition out of the gun.

Lock the gun and keep it out of reach of kids. Hiding the gun is not enough.

Lock the ammunition and store it apart from the gun.

Store the keys for the gun and the ammunition in a different area from where you store household keys. Keep the keys out of reach of children.

Lock up gun-cleaning supplies, which are often poisonous.

When handling or cleaning a gun, adults should never leave the gun unattended.

If you own a gun or have found one in your home and want to dispose of it, call your local police station. Do not dial 911 or an emergency line. Laws differ between states, but generally, the firearm will be checked to ensure it was not part of a criminal investigation and then it will be destroyed.

Community "buy-back" or "amnesty" days are another disposal option. These programs allow people to bring unwanted guns to a designated place where they will be made unusable. To find out if your community hosts such a program, contact your local police department — but don't wait until such a program becomes available to dispose of an unwanted firearm.

Gun Safety Outside Your Home

Gun safety does not end when your child leaves your home. Kids can still come in contact with a gun at a neighbor's house, when playing with friends, or under other circumstances away from home.

Make sure you talk to your kids about gun safety outside your home. They might even know which friends have guns in the home and where they are stored — ask them.

Also discuss gun safety with the parents of friends if your child spends time in their homes. It may feel like an awkward conversation, but the person you ask will likely understand that you only have your child's safety in mind. It is OK to speak up and ask! If there is a gun in the friend's home, you need to decide if it poses a safety risk to your child. If you're uncomfortable having your child play there, consider offering to host at your house instead.

A Word About BB and Non-powder Guns

Non-powder guns, such as ball-bearing (BB) guns, pellet guns, and paintball guns, are not regulated by the government but can cause serious injury and death.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that kids under age 16 not use high-velocity BB guns or pellet guns. And these guns should only be used under the supervision of an adult. Kids who have a BB gun, or are likely to come into contact with one, must know to never point it at anyone, including themselves.

Paintball guns are known to cause traumatic eye injuries, so kids need to wear protective eye gear. Kids should not put caps for toy guns in their pockets because these can ignite due to friction and cause burns and loud noises that can damage hearing.

A women's guide to firearms...

Choosing a Firearms Course: A Guide for Women

Fiona Harris

Mon October 5th, 2009

Are you a woman who is considering enrolling in a firearms training course? If you are new to the sport, choosing the right training is as important as choosing the right gun. In fact, it is more important in some ways because your training may determine which gun you ultimately purchase. What should you look for in a training program?

First and foremost, you must select a good trainer. All good trainers have a few things in common: they are certified by the NRA and/or a government agency (such as the concealed carry handgun certifier in your state or a police/justice academy for your city/state); they want you to learn and enjoy shooting sports; and they insist on safety. You can easily verify the certification status of a prospective trainer and many trainers have their credentials listed on their websites or marketing materials. This certification is important because it shows that the trainer is committed to offering professional training, is aware of the latest techniques and products, and will follow industry-wide standards for training. You will also generally receive professionally-prepared materials, such as safety guides, that will be an invaluable reference after the class.

As for the philosophy of the trainer and his/her attitude towards your success, this is not as easy to ascertain. You want an instructor who believes the focus of the training is you and not him/her. 

Unfortunately, some trainers make the training about themselves - how well they shoot, how many competitions they've won, etc. Not only is this boring for the students, but it does nothing to increase their knowledge or skills. Often you can get a sense of the instructor's focus simply by reviewing his/her website or brochure. If these are not available, check with prior students; ask the trainer for a few names and follow-up by speaking with them. You would do this for a plumber or roofer so why not for your firearms instructor? If the instructor is not forthcoming with references, move on.

When it comes to safety, a certified trainer follows all safety guidelines to the letter. And this is what you should expect as a student. If you decide to attend training with a non-certified instructor, ask him/her to outline the safety procedures beforehand. Avoid situations where whole classes of 20 or more go to the range at once. It is very hard for the instructor to monitor so many people. In addition, personalized attention that is crucial for beginners is not likely with a large group. The broad safety measures that are standard in firearms training are: no loaded firearms in the classroom, hearing and eye protection worn at all times while on the range, only one student shooting at a time. Find out where the range qualification will take place. Proper ranges are the preferred location - they offer maximum safety and will familiarize you with range procedures.

Should your trainer be male or female? It does not matter. If you stick to the guidelines above, you will receive excellent training regardless of the sex of the instructor. Shooting is no longer considered a macho, men-only activity and many male instructors have classes just for women. Today there are lots of great women shooters - and you'll find women on any given day at local ranges. Shooting is a fun sport that you can enjoy with friends and family. So get started today by enrolling in a well-considered training course.

Think before you decide to CCW !!!

Are You Too Stupid For Concealed Carry?

July 12, 2012 at 08:00

Written by Dan Zimmerman

By Paul McCain

Let’s face it, aside from owning the right gun and gear, not everyone is equipped to carry a concealed weapon. With the boom in firearm ownership in recent years, there are a lot of new gun owners. And plenty of first-timers seem to have picked up that first gun as an impulse buy, apparently thinking, “Hey, I’m going to buy me a gun and carry it!” Their friends pack heat so how hard can it really be, right? If you’re too stupid to think through some really important questions before you start carrying, you have no business walking around with a concealed weapon. You need to stop to consider that . . .

There are legal, ethical, moral and competency implications whenever you strap on a firearm. Here are just some of the things you need to be aware of:

Legal Implications

If you carry a gun, you need to be prepared to accept the legal consequences, whatever they may be. Are you willing to go through the trouble and expense – both financially and emotionally – of being arrested, charged and tried if you have to use your firearm? If not, leave the heater at home. Can you deal with whatever might come your way when it comes to encounters with law enforcement officials who may or may not understand and respect your state and local carry laws? If not, don’t carry.

Ethical Implications

When you take on the responsibility of being an armed citizen, you also assume a greater level of ethical responsibility for every aspect of your behavior while packing. You don’t pick fights. You don’t respond to aggressive comments or gestures by going for your gat. You never go looking for trouble. You don’t – ever – drink while armed. And you never brandish it or joke around about carrying concealed. Concealed means concealed…in every possible sense. If you can’t conceal it, do not tote it. You aren’t trying to impress anyone by carrying. Your ethical posture hasto be above reproach when carrying.

Moral Implications

Are you mentally prepared to actually shoot and kill somebody? If not, the gun should stay in your safe. If you think you are just going to pull the gun out and wave it around to scare somebody off, don’t carry. If you think you can “shoot to wound,” you have another thing coming.

If the gun comes out of its holster, you must already have decided to kill somebody. Period. There is no middle ground. Can you do that? Have you thought long and hard about what that means? Are you willing to see what a bullet will do to a human body? People don’t always just fall over dead like in the movies. You have to prepare yourself for the emotional trauma of gravely wounding or killing another human being.

Competency Implications

If you are going to carry a concealed weapon, you need to be rigorous about safe, competent gun handling. Your heater is always loaded – or it better be. That means you must never ever, under any circumstance, draw it while carrying unless you’re truly in a life or death situation.

You do not pull it out to show to your buddies. You never cover anyone with the muzzle. Your finger should be indexed. You simply do not “play around” with your concealed firearm. It goes in the holster and never comes out, unless absolutely necessary.

And you need to be fully trained in the use of your firearm. Find a competent instructor and take a class. Better yet, take several classes. Just as if you want to get to Carnegie hall, you need to practice, practice and practice some more. You owe it to yourself to get in as much range time with your carry gun as you possibly can. If you aren’t willing to master all aspects of handling your concealed carry firearm, don’t strap it on.

Are you too stupid to handle all of this? Most likely not. But these are just some of the things you will need to consider before you take on the responsibility of concealed carry. Yes, it’s your right, but you need to exercise that right legally, ethically, morally and competently or you’ll hurt the cause of those that do. Got it?

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/07/daniel-zimmerman/are-you-too-stupid-for-concealed-carry/

So you decided to conceal carry...now what?

First Concealed Carry Handgun

Brittany Eaton

Tue September 1st, 2009

So, you have decided that you want a concealed carry firearm. There are many things to consider when buying a defense firearm. Firstly, you need to know the laws in your state for concealed carry. You need to know how to safely own and operate your firearm. You also need to know where you plan on concealing it while it is on your person. What size gun you plan on carrying. What caliber you want your gun to be in and how much you are willing to spend.

Before you begin, I recommend that you go talk to a local firearms instructor and take a class on firearm safety. You also need to make sure you have a place that is safe to keep your firearm. You do not want your child to be able to access it, but you want to be able to get to it as soon as the need arises. A good idea is a handgun safe that unlocks by key and combination. I prefer to keep my gun loaded and near me at all times. Night or day, because in an emergency situation it can be quite difficult to get into a safe or to get to gun that has been put away.

Now, you need to take into consideration where you want to keep your firearm when it is on your person. Most choose to place their handgun on their hip. This offers easy access to the firearms in case of an emergency, but it is harder for a smaller framed person to conceal a weapon here unless it is winter or they just like wearing large clothing.The best holsters for concealed carry are going to be leather. Plastic is not for concealed carry it sticks out and nylon does not support the gun enough to keep it in place. You want a good leather holster that conforms to your gun and body, along with a good strong belt. Cloth belts will allow the gun to fall in different directions. Make sure you maintain good posture while you are concealing a gun. If you slouch your gun will stick out. You do not want a holster that has any sort of latch.

You want to avoid cross draws, that is, reaching across your person to access your firearm. This takes longer and could prove to be fatal in certain situations. It is also harder to conceal with a cross draw holster. Another reason is that it puts it closer to your enemy and gives him the option of grabbing it out of your holster. Also, when you draw your gun in that manner you have no choice other than to be aiming your gun at everyone along your left side up to your target. If you are fighting very close to a person it makes it harder for you to reach across and get to your gun.

Another option is a bag designed for concealed carry. These offer smaller framed persons the option to conceal a weapon without the trouble of hiding it underneath clothing. However, this is not the best idea due to the fact that some bags designed for concealed carry often make it even more difficult to get to your firearm. If you cannot draw the weapon as easily from the bag as you could a hip holster than you need to do something different.

There is also ankle holsters. These, I personally do not recommend, unless it is for a back up gun, as it is harder to get to during an emergency.

Another option is a pocket gun, which will fit right in your pocket. I recommend only using pocket guns as back up guns as well, as it is hard to get into a pocket sometimes. They make holsters specifically for your pocket which make it appear as if you just have a wallet in your pocket.

Another holster to have is an in the waist band holster and it is exactly what it says it is. A holster that goes inside the waistband of your jeans. Yet again it is best if it is a leather holster.

Many women choose to carry a gun in their purse. I do not recommend doing this. This does not allow easy access to the firearm in a state of emergency. If you have a hard time getting to you lipstick or keys, what makes you think you can get to a gun quickly enough?

Now that you have decided where to carry your firearm, you need to decide what size firearm. Smaller firearms tend to hold less bullets and quite commonly smaller bullets both of which can prove to be detrimental in almost any situation. A larger firearm may be harder to conceal. Your personal attire comes into play a lot when deciding what size firearm you would like. If you wear small clothing that you couldn't hide a cell phone in, you are not going to be able to hide a larger sized gun. If you wear a 3 piece suit everyday you will be able to get away with carrying a larger sized gun. The main thing is, you need to be able to hide your gun properly in the clothing that you would normally wear. You want to make sure that you have at least two different types of holsters to conceal your firearm in because, what may work for one day may not work for another.

No matter where you decide to conceal the gun,, you need to practice drawing it and re-holstering it until it is second nature to you. During these practices, unload the firearm, check again to see that it is unloaded, put it into it's holster with the safety on and then remove the firearm quickly and in a safe direction while flicking the safety switch. Do this as often as possible! Always check and recheck to make sure that the gun is not loaded. I cannot stress that enough. Check and recheck. If you are unsure check again. If you set it down while it is unloaded and then pick it up, check again. Anytime you pick up a gun you are to consider it loaded. You need to program yourself to automatically draw the weapon and flick the safety switch and put your finger on the trigger only when it is on your target. Practice this, so that when the time comes you will do it correctly.

Another thing you may want to take into consideration is whether the gun you choose is going to be single action only, double action only, or both single and double action.

With a single action firearm you must pull back the hammer everytime you fire. This makes the trigger very sensitive and will help to keep you from pulling in different directions and it will take less time to fire. This also means that you have to make sure that you pull back the hammer every time and with such a light trigger pull you risk setting off your firearm before you intend for it to go off.

A firearm that is double action only has a very long trigger pull and a very heavy trigger pull. You do not (nor can you) have to pull back the hammer to fire your gun. It will take slightly more time to fire and you do run a higher risk of snatching to one side or the other. You also run a lower risk of setting off your firearm when you do not intend to.

With a firearm that is single and double action you get the choice of cocking the hammer to make it single action, or leaving it double action. I prefer to carry a firearm that is single and double action. I carry it cocked (hammer pulled back) and the safety on. This makes my first shot very quick. All that I have to do is flick the safety off and fire and then I can follow up with double action shots. The only problem with this is that you may pull or snatch the gun when you immediately go from single to double action. This is why training is very important. No matter which gun you choose, you will have to get into a habit with it. You will have to train with it.

Another firearm is also available that has no hammer at all called a hammer less revolver. These are double action only, but do not cause you to worry about snagging the hammer on something when you draw your gun to fire.

Recoil is also something you may be concerned with. There are many things that play into recoil, such as, barrel length, caliber size, how much contact your hand makes with the gun, how soft or hard your grips are, bullet weight, and powder charge. They do make low recoil rounds for most calibers. The longer the barrel the less muzzle rise, however, if you do have a longer barrel you are going to have to conceal it. The amount of powder behind a bullet and the powder charge also affect this. The more powder and the higher the powder charge the more recoil it will have. Less powder or lower powder charge means slightly less power. If you have a very small handgun and one of your fingers hangs off of the end it will cause more recoil, however, that is less to conceal. If you have softer grips it will cushion your hand slightly and you have slightly less recoil.

Now that you have a larger understanding of recoil you are ready to pick a caliber. Remember that your goal is to stop your attacker from causing you any, or any further, harm. A few good choices are .380, 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, and .357 Magnum. These are just a few of the many options out there. .380 is the smallest caliber that I would choose for personal defense. Make sure you check the availability of the ammunition that you choose and the price. You don't want to buy a gun only to find out that you cannot get ammunition for it I do not recommend that you choose a .22 for self defense. Some will argue that if you hit a man in the right places you can stop him with this caliber, but, you do not want to risk missing that certain spot when someone is attacking you.

Next step, hit the range. Rent as many handguns as you can and see what you like best. Find a place with a large selection of handguns for rent. Make sure the gun fits properly in your hand. The curve in between your thumb and index finger needs to be in line with the back of the gun and you should still be able to reach the trigger properly with your index finger. Before beginning point your handgun downrange while it is unloaded and dry fire it a few times make sure that the trigger is smooth. (Do not dry fire a revolver. This could damage the gun) Also be sure that you are not pulling in anyone direction when you shoot. If you are try positioning your hand better or tightening or loosening your grip. If someone warns that you are pulling or snatching this means that you are making your bullet go in the incorrect direction for various reasons. Some people anticipate recoil and so they flinch others hold the gun to firmly and force the barrel down upon firing. Snatching is a bad habit and one that you need to break before it even begins. (attached is a chart from sharpshooter.com that may show you what you could be doing wrong). Shoot each gun a few times and see what you may have a preference for.

Now, you are ready to go to your local gun store. Pick out your gun and then compare prices online. If you decide to buy online I would suggest buying something new unless you know what kind of problems you are looking for in a used gun. Make sure you have already obtained a concealed carry license and that you have reviewed your states laws by this time. When you buy your gun you will have to wait until you have had a background check go through before you can take it home. This could take a while, so be patient. This is also the time to purchase your holsters and a cleaning kit. Make sure you get a cleaning kit with instructions and one that fits your caliber gun. I recommend Otis as a good cleaning kit with easy to read instructions. Remember to clean your firearm often to avoid rust and corrosion.

Being a responsible gun owner means being aware of your surroundings at all times. When the day comes that you do have to use your gun in self defense you need to be aware of who or what is behind your target. There have been many cases in which someone has fired their weapon in self defense and hit someone that was innocent in the process. Always be aware of your surroundings. That includes people objects and other people with firearms.

Remember that as a gun owner, you are responsible for your actions. When you shoot a bullet in self defense you can not take that bullet back. There is no reset in real life. Do not flaunt your new purchase overly much and always be concerned for the safety of others. Never hand anyone a loaded gun and remember to check and recheck that the gun is unloaded. Practice with your sidearm regularly and make sure to always use correct safety procedures.

Changes to the new Illinois CCW law

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Lawmakers try to change new concealed carry law

The Associated PressJanuary 13, 2014 

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FILE - In this July 10, 2013 file photo, semi-automatic handguns are seen display for purchase at Capitol City Arms Supply in Springfield, Ill. On Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, Illinois residents for the first time can apply for permits to carry concealed weapons. For now, they can apply only online through the Illinois State Police website. Six months ago Illinois became the last state in the nation to approve a law allowing the public possession of a concealed firearm.

SETH PERLMAN, FILE — AP Photo

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. — Just more than a week into the process of licensing Illinois residents to carry concealed weapons, lawmakers already have attempted to tinker with the new law.

The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reported Monday (http://bit.ly/1aWL2xB ) reported Monday that legislators have introduced bills to increase penalties for carrying guns where they're not allowed, including schools; punish instructors who don't carry out training properly; and lower the legal age for carrying.

State Rep. Deborah Conroy, a Villa Park Democrat, said officials from the Elgin School District, the state's second-largest, were amazed to learn the law had changed the penalty for carrying a gun in school from a felony the first time to a misdemeanor the first two times.

Conroy also wants to hike fines for people carrying guns in other places where they're not allowed by the law, such as libraries, parks, and mass transit buses and trains.

Gun-rights advocates want to make the new measure less restrictive, pointing out that laws are only as good as the people who decide to follow them.

"You can limit it for the good guys, but for the bad guys, there's no limit," Pearson said. "We want to make this thing work. We want to make it right. If we do, it could save a lot of lives, and save a lot of money."

Rep. Ed Sullivan, a Mundelein Republican who helped write the concealed carry legislation, agrees. He wants to see how the new law works before changing it. Even he, however, is working on legislation to punish gun-safety instructors who falsify training records in the state with the strictest requirement — 16 hours of instruction. They would serve jail time and lose their carry licenses.

"We have found some instances where people paid for the training, but the instructor just signed off on it," Sullivan said. "Obviously, that's fraud."

Other proposed changes include lowering from 21 to 18 the age at which someone can apply for a license to 18, from 21.

And Democratic state Sen. Dan Kotowski of Park Ridge has introduced a measure to prohibit carrying guns in houses of worship and is planning stricter rules related to guns and mental health issues.

"A vast majority of my district was opposed to it (concealed carry)," Kotowski said. "Now ... they are asking what I am doing to make sure people with mental illness aren't getting access to these weapons."

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/2014/01/13/3002607/new-concealed-carry-law-draws.html#storylink=cpy

Illinois CCW growing pains...

1.13.2014, 06:23 PM

Illinois authorities overwhelmed by concealed carry gun applications

M. SPENCER GREEN/AP

Chicago Police Department officials appear at a news conference in Chicago last year with a display of guns seized as a result of the city ordinances that aim to reduce gun violence by banning gun sales within the city's limits. Many of these same officials are now concerned about the growing number of concealed carry gun permits pouring in.

More than 1,000 requests for concealed carry gun permits are pouring in each day in the nation's last state to allow the practice, sparking concerns among Illinois law enforcement officials that they might fall behind on weeding out applicants with a history of violence.

The Cook County Sheriff's office says it already has identified about 120 applications it plans to contest since the online application process was opened to most state residents Jan. 5. Chicago Police Department officials, locked in a battle to control high-profile gang violence, say they, too, are worried about keeping up with the flood of applications, while downstate sheriff's departments said they might not have the capacity to meet the new law's vetting requirement in the time allowed.

Illinois State Police officials insist a full state review will assure that permits don't land in the hands of those who shouldn't have them. And with 90 days to do the job after the 30-day window closes for local law enforcement agencies to make their objections, the agency has far more time than its counterparts in some other states, including Pennsylvania, where law enforcement has 45 days to investigate, and Wisconsin, where the state has 21 days.

But local law enforcement officials say they were not given the resources for a task that was supposed to provide an extra safeguard: a 30-day window to ferret out applicants who might meet the state standards but have something in their backgrounds that could render their applications too risky to approve.

Have you applied for your Illinois CCW permit?

More than 13,000 concealed carry applications get early OK

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More than 13,000 concealed-carry applicants OK'd

By Dahleen Glanton, Tribune reporter

7:30 am, January 8, 2014

The Illinois State Police said Tuesday that it had completed the initial approval of more than 13,000 concealed carry applications, moving residents a step closer to being able to carry loaded firearms in public.

Meanwhile, applications continued to pour in via the State Police’s online registration site. The State Police received 1,089 applications Tuesday, for a total of 15,539.

Police officials said 1,749 applications were approved Tuesday, for a total of 13,064. Those applications must now be reviewed by local sheriff’s departments, state’s attorneys, local police and the attorney general’s office, all of which have the power to object to a permit being issued. They have 30 days to complete the process.

On Sunday, the first day most people could apply electronically, 4,525 applications were filed. The bulk of the applications reviewed, nearly 7,000, were from people who were allowed to apply in advance during mid-December. They include firearms instructors and applicants who submitted electronic fingerprints along with their applications.

State Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said the early-application window allowed the department to beta-test its system prior to the large influx of applications this week.

“We have not had any issues and will be closely monitoring the process,” said Bond. “We also hope to establish a steady baseline to help determine how the numbers will fluctuate on a daily basis.

Bond said that at least 105 applications were classified as incomplete and were rejected. The incomplete applications included missing information, insufficient training, invalid or missing photo and failure to provide 10 years of residence information.

To ensure that the applications are not denied unjustly, Gov. Pat Quinn has appointed a seven-member panel of federal prosecutors, FBI agents and judges to review objections raised by law enforcement. The board has another 30 days to review the rejected applications.

All told, the State Police has 120 days from the time they receive applications to issue licenses. Those who have been fingerprinted will receive their licenses within 90 days.

But Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart raised concerns last month that the approval process was “fraught with problems and holes” that could lead to permits being issued to people who have been arrested in the last seven years for domestic violence, gun possession or gang crimes. Since law enforcement agencies are banned from searching a comprehensive national database, Dart said, law enforcement agencies have to pour through their own databases to look for arrests and jail records.

Currently, the state only accepts applications filed online through the State Police website. The agency will start accepting paper applications on July 1.

dglanton@tribune.com

Beginning CCW students...read

Gun Safety Tips for Beginners: Avoiding Holster Mishaps

USCCA | SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 | 9 COMMENTS

 inShare 

 

When you’re learning something new, you’re bound to make a few mistakes. Ask any firearms training instructor and they’ll agree that the most dangerous moment in a class—and likely the one in which a mishap or mistake will occur—is when beginners start working with their holsters.

In a past issue of Concealed Carry Magazine, Kathy Jackson outlines some of the risks involved when a gun is drawn from a holster incorrectly, as well as how to avoid them. We’ve highlighted a few of them below.

Shoulder Holsters
If a gun is drawn from a shoulder holster or reholstered incorrectly and the gun is accidentally discharged, the brachial artery could be shot. If this major blood vessel is hit, rapid blood loss will occur. To avoid an accidental discharge, always keep your trigger finger off the trigger when drawing or reholstering. During a concealed draw, a shooter can raise their non-dominant elbow as high as they can during the drawstroke to reduce the risk of crossing the brachial artery. During an open draw, slap the non-dominant hand on the dominant shoulder while getting a solid grip on the gun and keep the elbow elevated until the gun clears the area.

Belt Holsters
There are two risks when you are using belt holsters for your concealed carry purposes. One is “muzzling” the lower leg during the drawstroke as well as when reholstering if you draw from a kneeling position. The other is sweeping the abdomen during the drawstroke, which occurs “if the non-dominant palm is not securely anchored on the abdomen.” To avoid these mishaps, Jackson instructs readers to draw before kneeling, or to anchor your wrist or elbow on your abdomen. When drawing from a concealed holster, always make sure to move your cover garment far enough out of the way when anchoring your non-dominant hand.

When reholstering, remember the following:

• If using a collapsible belt holster, put the gun inside of it before placing the holster back on the belt.
• When using other types of belt holsters, make sure loose clothing is moved out of the way so it doesn’t obstruct your ability to safely reholster. If you feel resistance, stop and check for obstacles before you continue.
• Make sure your trigger finger is out of the way before reholstering to avoid accidentally firing. Also, keep your wrist straight to prevent yourself from accidentally discharging your gun into your torso.

Learning to safely draw and reholster your gun is an essential step of firearms training for any responsibly armed citizen. A little practice and preparation could make a huge difference if you find yourself in a situation where you must respond quickly to defend yourself and your family. This is one of the many reasons the USCCA encourages routine firearms training courses.

So you applied for your Illinois CCW...now what???

7 Common Mistakes of Concealed Carry Licensees & New Shooters

November 1, 2012 | by Col (Dr) Benjamin Findley

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Accepting the Responsibility of Proper Training

So that you will regularly, properly, and legally carry a concealed firearm, you must select your optimal firearm, gear, and accessories that match your lifestyle, dress, work, recreational and daily activities, personal preferences and philosophies and understand certain guidelines. It is a terrible thing when anyone takes the life of another and you should accept that shooting someone with your firearm is only a last resort, after you have done everything possible to avoid a firearm confrontation and retreat. However, if you carry concealed you must also accept that to protect your life and the lives of your loved ones in specific scenarios, you might be faced with using a firearm and deadly force to take another’s life in self defense. You must have the knowledge, training, mindset, skills, and best firearm and accessories to appropriately and legally handle situations you might encounter. Since the firearm and equipment challenge may involve a trial-and-error approach that can be time consuming and costly for a new concealed carry licensee and shooter, included below are some ideas about that issue as well as some other topics and considerations that may save you some time, trouble, money and, most importantly, help safeguard your life and the lives of your loved ones.

Mistake #1 – NOT UNDERSTANDING THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY OF CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON NOR ADOPTING THE RELATED MINDSET AND TRAINING PLAN

You are carrying a deadly weapon that can kill people, ruin and change the lives of the person you shot or killed, their families, and your own life and family. Carrying a firearm brings a lot of responsibility, so adapting the proper concealed carry mindset is extremely important. Those who carry must go out of their way to avoid conflict and confrontations. We must be more mellow and discreet with an easy-going attitude. Just because we can legally carry a concealed weapon does not make us police officers nor vigilantes. We should not have a macho, emotional, killer instinctive reaction, but rather avoid trouble, use non-emotional judgment, and de-escalate confrontations. The same holds true for situations where deadly force would be justified. Just because we can legally shoot does not mean we must or should ALWAYS shoot. It may seem like commonsense, but you have to remember that you will not be able to carry a concealed weapon into places like courthouses or courtrooms, police or sheriff stations, jails or prisons, bars, nor schools and colleges. Forgetting you have a gun on your belt or in your purse when you’re running late to an appointment, could get you arrested, with the loss of your concealed carry weapons license. You must know legally when you can and cannot shoot, when to use deadly force, where you can and cannot carry concealed, how to relate to the police if there is a shooting, and what to do after a shooting, etc.

You should train, carry, and shoot with specific goals, priorities, and purposes in mind. You should not waste your time, ammo, and effort training and shooting haphazardly just to fire a certain number of rounds. Rather, manage your shooting by planning the specific techniques, fundamentals, and skills you want to learn and improve upon while training. While there are similarities, you will train somewhat differently for concealed carry, competitive, combat, and Range shooting. Every training repetition you do builds and reinforces the particular technique and muscle memory for each unique action. When a technique or movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems. Examples of muscle memory are found in many everyday activities that become automatic and improve with practice, such as riding a bicycle, dancing the waltz, and typing on a keyboard. However, if the training drills and repetitions you do in your training are incorrect, you will train this poor technique or incorrect fundamental into your subconscious memory. When you need the skill in a future critical, life-or-death situation, for example, where you are under stress and must react quickly as you have trained, your brain will draw from what it knows from your muscle memory. So, if you have trained with an incorrect fundamental or with poor technique, you will automatically and subconsciously perform it improperly. So you don’t know what you don’t know. Your training drills and techniques should be planned with specific goals, purposes, and prioritized based on the results you want to achieve in various scenarios. Simply putting rounds downrange and hoping you are learning the right skills are a waste of your effort and resources. To correct this, plan by listing the skills and techniques you will likely need in specific situations and then prioritize them. Then develop some unique Training Drills that will work on each of those skills and strictly use them during your training sessions. See my “5-Shot-Touch Group Shooting Drill” article.

Range Live Fire Training

Mistake #2 – INITIALLY NOT GETTING SUFFICIENT FUNDAMENTALS CLASSROOM AND RANGE LIVE-FIRE TRAINING

This mistake will get you or a family member killed. Even if you don’t take your Florida Concealed Carry Weapons License training from me, please do your research and avoid an abbreviated, one-round fired gun show, 45-minutes, or “quickie course”. You are harming yourself by getting minimal training that often overlooks several fundamentals and improved techniques necessary to protect your life and your loved ones. Frequently there is minimal Range hands-on firing without personal guidance nor private, customized instruction to improve your current skill set. Also, just because 5 years ago or so you received a solid basics course, techniques and methods improve and change, so you can learn something by attending a new fundamentals course.

Mistake #3 – NOT REGULARLY GETTING REFRESHER FIREARMS’ FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING AND LEGAL UPDATES FOR YOUR STATE OF RESIDENCE

The training to get your concealed carry license is usually minimal, non-personalized in large classes, and not in-depth enough to effectively train you to defend yourself or your family in critical situations. You need to regularly seek out additional one-on-one training from qualified instructors in the classroom and on the Range and then practice and practice again the fundamentals they teach you on your own or with a shooting buddy. This is true just as you exercise to maintain your health. Consider that at the very minimum most police officers have to qualify with their firearms once or twice a year. Also, firearms and concealed carry laws change and improved techniques and philosophies emerge. So I believe you should practice fundamentals of shooting for accuracy with your holster, gear and accessories once a month (or at least 8 times a year) and attend at least one firearms training course per year if possible. Don’t take a chance on missing or forgetting proper techniques and relearning bad habits. Some think because they were raised with a gun, shot tin cans, and went squirrel hunting a lot, that they already have the best firearms knowledge and techniques. The proper grip, stance, sight alignment, sight picture, trigger, breath, and hold controls, and follow-through techniques should be learned and committed to muscle memory from a certified instructor who has updated methods and improved basics, without a need to think about what needs to be done. This may mean unlearning some bad techniques and learning proper ones. This comes with practice, practice, and more practice. Lives may depend on your accuracy, current knowledge, and refined techniques.

Mistake #4 – NOT REGULARLY PRACTICING

Shooting fundamentals and skills are perishable and they deteriorate if not practiced. So, you must practice on a regular basis. Although dry-fire practice drills are useful, there is no substitute for live fire. You can run dry practice drills to practice presenting your handgun, aligning your sights, getting your firearm on target, exercising your trigger press and reset, and performing emergency reloads, tactical reloads, and malfunction clearances. However, dry-fire practice does not give you the experience of controlling your trigger and your firearm under recoil. If you cannot devote some time on a regular basis to shooting practice, your shooting skills and performance under the stress of a deadly-force encounter will suffer. Unfortunately, our deadly-force encounter shooting skills do not increase under the stress of pumping adrenaline. Our shooting skills and accuracy during a real-life encounter do not come close to our worse day of accurate shooting at the Range, but actually decrease. Your body is going to dump massive amounts of adrenaline into your bloodstream which will make you temporarily stronger and faster, but it adversely affects fine motor coordination such as your ability to focus on the front sight and press the trigger without disrupting the sight alignment. As a result, you will tend to be about half as good in a real encounter as you are on your best Range day. Regular practice definitely helps. Aim for a monthly Range shooting session, but try to go at least every 7 to 8 weeks at minimum. Certainly not once a year.

Mistake #5 – SELECTING AND BUYING THE WRONG FIREARM

Many new shooters with concealed carry licenses hurry and buy a large caliber and/or full sized handgun for concealed carry without thinking of their purpose, criteria, and lifestyle. While large caliber big guns can be concealed with some considerations and trade-offs, shooters may find they are too heavy, over-sized, hold too few rounds, with too much recoil for them to be consistently accurate and safe… or too bulky and easily print for their style of dress. So they don’t carry it or shoot it.

Some may fall victim to a slick sales pitch by a salesperson at a gun show or store who seems to think that bigger is always better. It may be true for them because bigger guns usually mean larger sales commissions. Others are influenced by their Range buddy who knows what works for him and tries to get you to select and buy the gun and caliber that he uses. Selecting a firearm is a very personal and subjective process based on individual preferences, purposes, goals, priorities, criteria, use, and resources. There is no one best firearm or caliber. Try before you buy and remember ACCURACY is more important than equipment.

I believe, but the evidence is mixed, that there really is not enough average ballistic (velocity, energy, and bullet weight) differences between a 9MM, 38 Special, .40, and even a .45 when it comes to getting shot. Also, I believe that there really is not enough difference between a .380, 9mm, 38 Special, .40, and even a .45 when it comes to potential damage. All calibers can be deadly and kill with the right shot placement! Recognize that Senator Robert Kennedy was killed with one shot from a .22 just below his right ear and that President Reagan was shot with a .22 in an assassination attempt.

Recognize that if you buy a firearm that you leave in your gun safe because it’s too heavy, has too much recoil, or you don’t like shooting it, you bought the wrong gun for concealed carry. A .380 in your pocket or purse is much more effective than the .45 in your gun safe if someone tries to rob or attack you at an ATM. Hitting the target with a 9 mm is more effective than missing with a .357 Magnum.
The main point again is that you must hit what you aim at… ACCURACY is top priority. Recognize the importance of TRAINING over equipment and even caliber.

Mistake #6 – USING THE WRONG HOLSTER AND/OR CONCEALED CARRY METHOD

Once you have a concealed carry firearm selected, think about how you will carry and use it and the best type of holster. Is this only for concealed carry? Is it a primary weapon or a back-up that needs to be carried in a secondary position? The type of holster you select affects not only your draw time and presentation of your gun, but also your safety. What are your goals and priorities: deep concealment of your gun, maximum security retention, something with all-day comfort or comfort for just a few hours, quick access and draw, durability in all kinds of weather, top quality material, easy on-easy off, inside or outside the pants, for the Range or competition, etc. Yes, it would be nice to find a holster that would accomplish all or many functions and meet all criteria, but realistically there is rarely a one-type that meets all needs holster. You probably will need several holsters. So prioritize your needs and decide what will be your primary use of your main weapon and holster and where that holster should go, given your wardrobe, dress style, and preferences. Do you want something to clip on to a gun belt or to a jeans pocket or to the inside of your pants? Do you want something to conceal with a suit coat or t-shirt? Would you like the fashion look of a CSI Miami-style shoulder holster? Do you want an easy-on-off paddle type? Maybe an ankle holster, though many don’t prefer them because they are more difficult to get to and greatly reduce your draw time. Do you want a thumb snap or higher level of extra retention, a screw retention adjustment, or passive retention rather than active retention? Maybe you prefer to have an open-top passive retention belt holster for quicker draw, relying on your safety discipline.

You will probably need to choose from one of the following holster materials: Leather; Thermoplastics (Kydex); or Nylon. Each material has it’s own pros and cons. Leather is the most popular, looks quality, generally costs more, and makes a great holster. As a material, Kydex has some great properties that could really be beneficial to you in certain situations. For example, if you live in Florida or a very humid or hot climate, Kydex is durable and completely waterproof, whereas leather isn’t waterproof. Kydex is a fast draw type of slick material. Recognize that there can be gun wear from rubbing on the Kydex. Nylon is the least expensive of the three, but really won’t mold or form fit like leather or Kydex. Here are some holster options.

Belt Holsters – Belt holster are designed to worn threaded through the belt. They can’t be worn without a belt, and are sometimes called outside the waistband (OWB) holsters. Belt holsters have a number of applications and can be used for the concealment (certain models), general Range use, competition, and/or general carry (field use). Belt holsters tend to be the most popular, most comfortable, but for some dress styles the least concealable. Belt holsters won’t work unless you can wear an un-tucked shirt or jacket all day. OWBs are typically worn on the strongside (same side as the shooting hand). A paddle holster is a type of OWB holster and rides closest to the body, since the paddle backing curves over the belt and pants to sit inside your waistband. It is easy-on and easy-off, since the belt is not removed.

Inside the Waistband Holsters- Also called IWB holsters, inside the waistband are designed pretty much for concealment only. The holster is worn inside the waistband so most all the weapon rides inside the waistband, with only the butt being exposed above the belt line. IWB holsters are probably the most used concealment holsters, but some say they are uncomfortable, depending on your size, weight, and build. Some buy an extra size of pants to help. There are IWB designs that will work with a tucked-in shirt.

Crossdraw Holster – Crossdraw holsters are a variation of the belt holster that is worn on the weak side of you body. With those holster, you move across your body to draw the weapon, so this could present a safety hazard due to sweeping others.

Small of the Back Holster – Also called an SOB holster, small of the back models are designed to be worn right on the small of the back. SOB holsters can be either belt models or IWB models. Some say they are difficult to get to quickly.

Pocket Holster – Only made for small revolvers and semi-automatic handguns, pocket holsters are produced in designs that can be worn in either a front pocket or a back pocket. You must practice the pocket draw to perfect it. Recognize the hazard of possibly shooting yourself when you accidentally stick a pen or something in your gun pocket.

Ankle Holster – Ankle holsters are generally made for small revolvers and semi-automatic handguns and are designed to be worn on the ankle of the strong side leg. For example, if you shoot right handed, an ankle holster would ride on the outside of your right leg. There are complaints about difficulty accessing from the ankle and being uncomfortable.

Shoulder Holster – Shoulder holsters consist of a single or double loop harness system that fits over the shoulders. The holster itself typically either rides horizontally or vertically under the weak side arm. So if you right handed, the holster would ride under your left armpit comfortably and well-balanced. They are well-suited to jackets and suit coats, but may be difficult to conceal for certain dress styles. The major drawback is that the cover garment cannot be removed without exposing the gun.

Purse Holster – These are good options for ladies that carry concealed because of their high degree of concealability. However, if you carry one of those large purses filled with many things, you may not be able to find or access your gun in a hurry. Worse, your lipstick or eyeliner tube may accidentally discharge the trigger of your gun and shoot someone or yourself. Also, don’t accidentally leave your purse someplace or expose it to children because it has your gun in it.

Mistake #7 – NOT CONSIDERING PROPER CLOTHING, DRESS, AND ACTIVITIES FOR CONCEALED CARRY & SHOOTING

Recognize that your job and expected work attire, the type of sports and recreational activities you are involved in, your usual dress style, your weight, height, and size, and the climate where you live all affect your choice of the best way for you to carry concealed.

High-fashion, tapered and slimming clothing and concealed firearm carry do not usually mix well. You will have to start dressing in a manner that allows you to conceal your handgun, but also gives you fast access to it in the event of a critical incident. This may mean buying your pants or shirts a size larger to effectively cover up and conceal your gun in comfort. You may be wearing more camp-style, loose-fitting Hawaiian shirts. However, concealed carry clothing designed for fit is available now. Also, darker-colored clothing with designs and patterns in the area where your gun and/or holster will be kept will help conceal your firearm. All shooters should wear a baseball cap or wide-brimmed hat to protect from ejected casings, gunpowder residue, the sun, and dirt and sand from the wind.

If the job is a place where concealed carry is a wise choice for you and allowed, then the method of carry must be adapted to the daily work routine. A person sitting at a desk or driving a vehicle daily would find it hard to access a firearm carried in the front pocket. Seated workers often find that appendix carry in a quality OWB holster to be a good option. However, those who are overweight cannot usually carry in the appendix position comfortably. It is not impossible to get used to a good inside the waistband or belt holster even if one is seated most of the day. Your weight, height, and size affect your carry options.

If you participate in sports and recreational activities, you have to be aware of the considerations. You don’t want to play flag football, tennis, or run and kick the soccer ball with a gun strapped on or in your pocket. Playing golf is different. Many who jog believe in being armed, so a fanny pack around the waist with a gun inside is a convenient option. It can be worn on the waist without it moving downward while jogging. Others find it works better slung over the shoulder. So, investigate the options and decide for yourself.

It is important to try out the different holster options while sitting and standing. Just because the movie cops carry their guns in a cool-looking shoulder holster does not mean you have too. Also, understand that you must CONCEAL your carry gun, because it is required by law and for the license. Ensure you are not “printing”; does anything stick out, bulge, or show the shape of the gun? See if your gun becomes visible while reaching for something up high on a shelf or bending over to pick something up off the floor. Is it comfortable with your usual dress attire, work clothes, and when you participate in sports activities? Can you quickly access and draw your weapon? Is it easily concealable? Is the material durable and functional for your primary use? Do you need the thumb snap or break or other retention?

Many considerations and decisions for you, so take the time up front to analyze them for your long-run benefits.

Summary

Concealed carry and shooting bring much responsibility requiring a proper mindset and much training and practice. They require much time, effort, and money for training and acquiring the best firearm for your use and the proper equipment, holster, and gear. They require you to think ahead and not make the seven most common mistakes made by new concealed carry licensees and shooters. With planning and proper decision making, you will be confident knowing that you’re properly trained and equipped to carry concealed, shoot, and to defend yourself and your family.

* This personal opinion article is meant for general information & educational purposes only and the author strongly recommends that you seek counsel from an attorney for legal advice and your own personal certified weapons trainer for proper guidance about shooting & using YOUR firearms, self-defense and concealed carry matters. It should not be relied upon as accurate for all shooters & the author assumes no responsibility for anyone’s use of the information and shall not be liable for any improper or incorrect use of the information or any damages or injuries incurred whatsoever.

http://www.usacarry.com/7-common-mistakes-concealed-carry/