On the Responsibility of Concealed Carry

I apologize for yet another lapse in my own time line, I hope the quality of this post makes up for making my rabid (?) fans wait.

One of the questions most asked of me, after what guns I prefer to use, is why I choose to carry one on a nearly day to day basis. It would be a daily occurrence, however, federal law currently prohibits firearms on military installations. The question is a good question to be asked from time to time. Carrying a gun is inconvenient, as I cannot bring it into certain places, like the post office, and certain every-day tasks become more complex. Grocery shopping? Better hope nothing you need is on the very top shelf (making your reach pull your shirt up too far) or on the very bottom shelf (your gun can become visible quite easily from bending over, and while squatting alleviates this to a degree, quite often the blocky outline of a Glock 9mm prints on your shirt). Going to the restroom? Better figure out a way to retain your pistol while you handle your business in the stall. You are out to dinner and you feel like having a drink? NOPE. Think again, before you accidentally run afoul of the law.

If it makes some of the simpler things in life more complex, why carry a gun? Why would I choose to put myself through the hassle in the admittedly infinitesimally small chance that I actually have to use the gun to protect myself or those around me?

The question (and it’s many, many permutations) of why I choose to carry a gun is actually fairly simple. I do not have an inferiority complex, I am not especially paranoid, I am not looking for confrontation, nor do I think it is a likely possibility. I carry a gun out of a sense of responsibility. I am a member of the United States Military, and as such, took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

That is not to say, however, that only US Military or Law Enforcement should be allowed to carry firearms for protection of themselves or others, and I refuse to turn this Blog into a political soapbox, so I will just say that I believe that all citizens have the right to protect themselves, and we’ll leave that for another time.

I think that the mental exercise to justify (not that it is needed) my choice to conceal a weapon does not take much effort. This is not, however, what this post is really about, yet it does set the stage. This post is about the responsibility carrying a gun carries with it.

So I carry a firearm out of a sense of responsibility. Simple enough to understand, I think. But what does it take to carry a firearm responsibly? That’s the question that, if you get it wrong, could land you in jail and/or on the national news. Responsibly carrying a gun is more than putting holes in paper. At it’s core, it is about internalizing a few concepts that I will outline, and you are free to refer to as the “Jacobson Protocol.”

1. Knowing the law. Many Concealed Carry permits have reciprocity with other states. My Texas permit is recognized in most states, including my home in Minnesota. It was not, however, recognized in Colorado. Before you travel anywhere, it is important to know which states you can and cannot legally carry a firearm in. There are several resources available to simplify this process, so do your Google research and you should be fine.

More than that, knowing the law means knowing what legal restrictions and procedures you must follow in certain circumstances. If you have been pulled over by Law Enforcement for speeding, you should hand over your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and concealed carry permit. The officer will most likely ask where the firearm is located, and you should most definitely tell them. Failure to do so can result in severe penalties, even suspension or revocation of your permit. There are many more situations you could find yourself in, and you should at least familiarize yourself with them, if not memorize them, in order to stay out of trouble. Any concealed carry class should be teaching you this stuff anyway. As a disclaimer, I am not an attorney, nor am I proficient in any sort of law, so you really shouldn’t cite me as “legal counsel” for any reason. Stay out of trouble.

2. Proper Training. Yes, if the time comes to use your firearm in defense of yourself or others, judicious marksmanship will save your life. However, carrying a firearm is more than being able to put holes in paper. In addition, you must be able to identify whether or not your life is truly in danger. Honestly, if you work on your situational awareness, you probably will be able to avoid confrontation altogether, which really is the better option. You might be able to shoot the wings off of a fly at 50 meters at the range, but these situations are different. Your heart rate climbs, your vision tunnels in on the perceived threat, your fine motor skills deteriorate. Do you know how you’re going to handle a confrontation within arm’s length? 5, 10, or 15 meters? You are accountable for every bullet that leaves your gun, so do you know how to position yourself to prevent injuries to innocent bystanders? After the shots have been fired, now what do you do? Have you received any medical training to treat yourself or others in the likely event someone has been injured?

All this training sounds intimidating, but if you are interested in carrying a gun, you really need to seek out some training. It could save your life or the life of someone around you. Not every problem you face should be solved with a drawn weapon.

3. Finally, respect and understanding of those around you. This is one that ends up in the news recently. People carrying AR15s, shotguns, and other long guns into Chipotle, Starbucks, and other places of business to demonstrate their “open carry” rights. Personally, I think that sends the wrong message. Carrying a rifle into a McDonald’s is more likely to incite a panic than send any positive message, and you just end up looking like an ass on national TV. If you’re going to carry a firearm, carry concealed. If that’s not an option (for whatever reason, I can’t even imagine) then carry your handgun. Not a rifle, a handgun. And go about your business. No matter what method of carry you use (open or concealed, with concealed being preferable), remember that you are now acting as a de facto ambassador of goodwill to the non-gun carrying public. Being rude or confrontational will only make you, and by extension, us, look like massive imbeciles.

If you conceal carry, like you should, obviously there is a much smaller likelihood that anyone is even going to notice. Most people don’t know what they are looking at when they see a slight bulge on the hip, so you are probably not going to be asked to leave a restaurant or something. Just remember that not everyone is as gun friendly, and being a jerk only makes people like Dianne Feinstein (D-California) seem correct. And that is the last thing any responsible gun owner wants.

In short, if you want to carry a firearm for protection, great! If the idea of owning it a gun responsibly freaks you out, you probably shouldn’t have children, or even pets. It’s not that difficult in reality, as any of the training I recommended can be attained fairly easily. You don’t have to do it all at once, and you don’t have to spend a ton of money on it either, but you should get training. Carrying a firearm for protection is a pretty unique right afforded to us by the constitution, don’t squander it by carrying irresponsibly.

Shoot safe, stay safe,

-Spencer