Making the decision to carry a concealed firearm is not one to take lightly. Carrying a concealed firearm is not just a right of our U.S. Constitution, it is one of tremendous responsibility. Not only are you taking on the responsibility of safely carrying a firearm, you’re taking on the responsibility to deploy a firearm in a self-defense situation. But with this responsibility also comes a great deal of comfort knowing that you can protect yourself, those you love, and possibly other innocent people.
in a world that seems to grow ever more dangerous every day, a little preparation can go a long way in defending yourself and your loved ones. The FBI reported 1,197,704 violent crimes in the U.S. in 2015, the most current statistical year available. However, current research is pointing to the trend that violent crime is starting to decline and much of it can be traced to the fact that most states are now ‘shall issue’ states.
Most people realize that when seconds count, the police are minutes away. This is just a fact that there’s limited police with limited resources and police cannot be everywhere all the time. This is why many people take their own personal safety, and the safety of their loved ones as a personal responsibility and choose to carry a concealed firearm.
Those that choose to carry a concealed firearm for their personal safety are not vigilantes, they’re not wanna-be cops, and they’re not people who want to do others harm. They are people just like you and me who understand that life and family are worth protecting in a dangerous world, and they want to know they have a fighting chance should crime come their way.
Before 1987, when Florida laws began setting the standard for ‘shall-issue’ concealed carry guidelines, criminals knew it was unlikely that their victims would be armed or able to defend themselves properly. With most states now being shall-issue, and with more and more citizens carrying firearms for protection, criminals are becoming less confident about who might be carrying a concealed firearm and who is not. This deters crime and contributes to a decreasing rate in violent crimes nationally.
In the hands of a trained citizen, a firearm can be just as effective as in the hands of a trained police officer if a sudden attack were to occur. The difference is, the responsibly armed citizen has the firearm they need to protect themselves as the crime is taking place.
Facing the prospect of a violent crime many law abiding citizens to choose to arm themselves with firearms for the same reason as police officers: to protect themselves and others from deadly danger. There are certainly other forms of self-defense, many we offer here at Shoken Self-Defense that can be effective against criminal activity, but for some situations only a firearm is the proper tool for protection.
When facing a potentially lethal attack, the number one goal is the protection and survival of the innocent.
To help prepare you to safely and effectively carry a firearm for self-defense, we recommend taking courses such as our Firearms Safety Course or other firearms training. This will give you the knowledge you need to carry a firearm with confidence.
Until next time…..Be Safe, Be Smart, and Be Prepared,
Mark Roscoe
NRA Certified Instructor
COBRA Self-Defense Instructor
Master Black Belt
