Brad Fitzpatrick - Shooters bible guide to concealed carry : a beginners guide to armed defense

Copyright 2013, 2018 by Brad Fitzpatrick

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Cover design by Adam Bozarth

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-3602-3

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-3603-0

Printed in China

DISCLAIMER

Check your state and local laws before carrying a handgun, concealed or otherwise. Laws vary widely from state to state. Some states allow concealed carry without a permit, some require a permit, and some states do not allow concealed handgun carry at all. All states put restrictions on where and how handguns can be carried legally. In addition, several states outlaw particular modes of concealed carry. Your local law enforcement department or district attorneys office should know the details.

This book is not designed to take the place of a qualified and competent instructor; rather, it is a resource designed to supplement quality training.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

C oncealed carry is nothing new. People have been toting hideout guns since the 1850s to defend themselves and those dear to them from criminal attack. But what has changed, at least in the United States, is the sheer prevalence of concealed carry. Efforts by the National Rifle Association and state gun-rights groups have significantly expanded the number of states where its possible to carry concealed. The scope and pace of these efforts are impressive. In 1995, there were only about half a dozen states with a shall issue policy for concealed-carry permits whereby state law requires permit-issuing agenciestypically police departments and sheriffs officesto furnish a permit to any applicant who met the qualifications instead of having to show cause why he or she needed one.

By 2012, that number had climbed to thirty-seven. Four other states require no permitting process whatsoever; if youre legally allowed to own a handgun, youre legally allowed to carry concealed anywhere in the state where such carry is not prohibited. Only one state, Illinois, prohibits concealed carry outright, and at press time a federal circuit court had ruled that ban to be unconstitutional. If the ruling stands, all fifty U.S. states will permit concealed carry in some form.

Thats a big reason why today more and more people are availing themselves of the opportunity to defend themselves wherever they may be. Why a firearm? Because, for one, its the great equalizer. A gun gives a slight woman, an old man, a person with physical limitationseveryone, reallya fighting chance against a bigger, stronger attacker. Forget knives, baseball bats, martial arts training, and the like; the only real defense in a battle of unequals is a firearm. Not that a handgun is the end-all in any fight. There is no such thing as a handgun cartridge that will always stop every attack from every attacker instantly, but youre a heck of a lot better off with one than without one.

While the world may not be a whole lot more dangerous than its ever been, the police cant be everywhere. Even if you had the chance to call 911, if you get jumped in a parking lot at night or find yourself in the middle of a convenience store robbery thats going from bad to worse, theres almost no chance the cavalry is going to show up in time to save you. In the end, youre responsible for your own safety.

Infamous mass public shootings by deranged criminalssuch as recent high-profile incidents involving committed active shooters targeting innocent civilianswould give anyone pause as well. Incidents such as these certainly have moved some people to consider concealed carry who otherwise may not have given the practice any thought or perhaps were even opposed to it. Would a legally armed citizen on the scene have reduced the carnage in these and other instances? No one can say for sure. But ask yourself this: If you had been there, would you have felt more or less safe if youd had a gun? Its hard to see how the answer could be anything other than more.

On the flip side, cases such as the Florida incident involving Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman point to how any shootingeven one that may be held to be legally justifiablecan land the shooter in hot water. Theres an old saying, Its better to be judged by twelve than carried by six. Its hard to argue with that, but at the same time, the vagaries of the legal system and the very real possibility of criminal and civil repercussions of self-defense firearms use cant be dismissed.

What it boils down to is this: Carrying a concealed handgun involves much more than buying a gun, a holster, and some ammunition. While these are important, the biggest thing to remember is that concealed carry is not merely a practice; its a way of life. It affectsor should affectthe way you dress, the way you behave, the way you think. At the root of concealed carry is this maxim: No one is supposed to know you have a gun. No longer can you just throw on jeans and a shirt to go to the store or be careless about how you pick up something from the ground. No longer can you accept a hug from a casual acquaintance at a party. No longer can you go about your daily routine without being observant, vigilant.

Its a serious responsibility, this business of carrying a gun. And while Hollywood makes it seem oh so easy to get the drop on a bad guy and save the day, the fact isas any firearms expert will tell youyou will not rise to the occasion; you will default to your training. And if you havent taken the time to get any training, to diligently practice the skills involved in concealed carry, to understand the laws of your state and the laws of human behavior... well, good luck with that.

But since youre holding this book in your hands, whether you are ready to begin to carry concealed or are just considering it, youve already taken the first step. Brads done an excellent job of delivering the information you need to know to be a responsible gun-carrying citizen. This book builds a foundation for a lifetime of responsible gun ownership by teaching you how a gun works, how to handle it, and so much moremoving the first-time gun owner (or longtime gun possessor whose firearm has resided in a dresser drawer from Day One) from tentative newcomer to comfortable, competent gun handler.

Forget all the high-speed tactical stuff you see on TV. Its far more important simply to be able to load/reload, draw, and fire your gun surely and safely and to understand the common-sense practices necessary to keep your gun hidden, secure, and ready to use for defense.

By the time youre done reading Brads book, youll have the confidence not only to buy a gun but to shoot it regularly, maintain it, and carry it in a safe and responsible manner. But dont stop there. Whether youre a longtime gun person or new to firearms, you can never have enough training. One of the most knowledgeable defensive handgun experts I know, a man with decades of law enforcement experience and countless hours of training, still avails himself of every combat handgun class he can afford to attend. Because he knows that we should never stop learning and never believe were truly ready to face a life-or-death defensive situation.