RESPONSIBILITIES AS A PERMIT HOLDER
Obtaining a permit to carry concealed is a decision with ramifications that go far beyond the application and process of obtaining the permit. FAR BEYOND!!! The moment that you exercise your right to carry a firearm, you have a continuing obligation to yourself, your family, your neighborhood, and the public, and to do so responsibly. And, don't be misled, this obligation continues as long as you exercise your permit rights.
Responsible concealed carry does not end with issuance of your permit. Responsible concealed carry merely begins with the issuance of your permit, and MUST include the need to learn safety, the need to learn how to legally engage in self defense, the need to practice, the need to legally protect yourself against legal entanglements, and a whole bunch more.
INSURANCE
Sad as it is to say, we live in a society that is lawsuit happy, and, as a permit holder, you could easily become a defendant. It is no secret that there are jurisdictions in these great United States which are run by prosecutors who harbor a not-so-secret dislike of citizens who carry concealed firearms, whether legally or not.
Whether you face a civil action or criminal prosecution for the use of your legally concealed firearm, the results of defending yourself can be financially devastating. Times change and you need to adapt if you expect to survive. Protecting yourself with adequate insurance is a financially wise decision, just as it is with your car, your home, your motorcycle, or your health.
The significant increase in the number of concealed permit holders has created a growing market for insurance coverage. This is indeed an area where you need to do your homework, especially because the coverage and policy costs offered by these companies differ in some important ways, and which is best will not be the same for everyone. And, by the way, most of these companies will cover the use of firearms in your home as well as when you carry concealed.
For those who are willing to do their homework, there is an excellent article by Pew Pew Tactical that reviews the top 5 concealed carry companies. As it turns out, one of the "top 5" is the NRA, who has withdrawn from the market, so, it's really a review of the top 4, see:
https://www.pewpewtactical.com/conceale ... son-chart/) Putting that aside, the review is well done, and offers some excellent information, all of which which should get you on your way to selecting the best insurance for you.
Here are the the biggest players in the market:
See individual review here: https://www.pewpewtactical.com/uscca-review/
See individual review of CCW Safe here: https://www.pewpewtactical.com/ccw-safe-review/
Check out these other "best of" sites:
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
A good way to begin this discussion is to acknowledge that there is a great deal of information available to concealed permit holders which will keep you well informed, or educated. Neither time nor space allow a full discussion of the sources of this information, so we will only mention one - the USCCA. This is not intended as an endorsement or a recommendation, but rather an introduction to a good source of information. Keep in mind that there are others, and they likewise offer good information.
In addition to insurance, the USCCA offers its members a wealth of useful information, regardless of where you live. Part of your membership includes a subscription to their Concealed Carry magazine. Here is what they say (from their website:)
Your subscription gives you access to the latest techniques and concepts for both live-fire and dry-fire shooting practice. From laser-training units to the “drill of the month,” Concealed Carry Magazine delivers the finest in defensive and counter-offensive handgunning, home defense and empty-hand techniques for all kinds of firearms.
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In addition to their video presentations, they also offer information on ranges and programs where actual practice is available, in your area. While the links below are not complete, they give a good view of what the USCCA makes available to their members.
SAFETY
This post will only focus on one area of safety - re-holstering your firearm.
For perspective however, a little history is in order. Over many decades, the long standing practice, especially with exposed hammer fired guns (such as double action revolvers and semi autos), has been to re-holster the firearm with a thumb on the hammer. Any movement of the hammer while holstering would be felt and the process would be stopped, thus preventing an AD (accidental discharge.) Kind of an additional safety net. That was great for exposed hammer pistols, but today, with the huge number of striker fired pistols, there is no hammer.
The absence of an exposed hammer, in no way, changes the need to know if something is about to cause the gun to fire. Nor does it mean that gun owners should abandon the standard and safe practice re-holstering your firearm.
Recently the Tao Dev Group (TGD) designed a device that gives shooters with striker fired pistols the same input, previously available to revolver shooters, that could be used to prevent an AD. The device is commonly referred to as the gadget, but it is technically and actually known as the, "Striker Control Device" (SCD), which is also a description of what is does. At this time Tao only makes the SCD for Glock guns. With the SCD installed on a Glock (a striker fired gun) the practice of using the thumb on the back of the pistol will now offer that same additional safety net.
Before getting to a description of how it works, it is probably best to offer a generalization of what it is. In the simplest terms, it is a "safety-type device." In the words of Mas Ayoob, in reference to the SCD, he said this:
If over four decades of work in the officer survival field have taught me anything, it's that the engineer's mindset applies. The more safety nets in place, the better.
A more in depth explanation of the SCD can be found on on the manufacturer's website (
https://taudevgroup.myshopify.com/produ ... rol-device) and in an article authored by Mas Ayoob in American Hand Gunner in the July/August 2017 issue. Both are highly recommended.
The safety value of the SCD applies only when re-holstering your Glock. While the discussion on the net will fill in many of the details of its function, the quick explanation is that the SCD prevents the accidental discharge of your firearm when holstering it due to an object getting into the trigger guard, such as a clothing item, hoodie string, a finger, etc.
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