​You signed up for your first self-defense class. It is easy to get overwhelmed by all the new ideas. Here is a review of what you'll learn, and what you'll need to unlearn.

Safety
You thought safety was for beginners. Firearms safety is a lifelong skill for both beginners and professionals. We simply hold the professionals to a higher standard of performance.

Preparation
You thought a gun might keep you safe. Like a life jacket keeps a sailor from drowning, your gun is only a tool. It works best if you don't blindly walk into the deep end.

Equipment
Your gun seemed to fit your hand perfectly when you held it in the gun store. Your all-day class will show you every place your gun rubs your hand the wrong way. Experienced gun owners bring bandages.

Physical habits
You thought that the first thing you'd learn in a defensive handgun course would be to shoot quickly. It turns out that most of your attention is focused on getting the gun out of your holster without shooting yourself. Even the simple things take practice.

Avoidance
There isn't much macho about carrying a gun. Having to use your gun means you failed to avoid the problem in the first place.

Dangerous Places
Your super-ninja self-defense instructor still parks her car under a streetlight. She wants you to do that too.

Simple steps
Your instructor would rather you carry a flashlight before you carry a spare magazine for your gun.

Home safety
Motion activated lights are better than door locks. Door locks are better than alarms. Alarms are better than being an armed homeowner surprised by an intruder.

You win the fight you avoid
Your instructor would rather you run fast than shoot fast. If you can't avoid the fight, at least you are a moving target.

First responders
A serious instructor wants you to keep your friends and family safe. You're more likely to use your first aid training than a gun. Have both.

A costly solution
Your gun can save your life. And it can drag you into legal trouble. You realize you have to learn the moral and legal issues of self-defense.
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A lot to think about
If your self-defense course lasts only a few hours, or if it is as long as a few weeks, you are sure to leave with homework. Now is the time to think about what you will do when there isn't time to think. Your imagination today will save your life tomorrow.

Before I was a concealed carry permit holder, I used to wonder what it took to be able to legally carry a concealed firearm — it can seem daunting to someone just starting out.

Here are a few things to think about as you go on your journey from disarmed citizen to armed self-protector.

The first step is to determine if you are legally qualified to carry a gun. If you are a legal citizen of the United States and can answer questions 11.a. through 12 on ATF Form 4473 appropriately, and have the funds, you can buy the firearm of your choice from a federally licensed firearms dealer; or in some circumstances, another private party.

After making sure that you are legally qualified, the next step is to check the laws in your state of residence. While there are federal firearms laws that apply in all 50 states, each state also has its own patchwork quilt of firearms laws. The best resource for checking on your state and local laws is the NRA website. State government websites will often have a page detailing that state's laws related to firearms purchase and concealed carry.

The states of Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Wyoming and West Virginia allow for any legally qualified gun owner to carry concealed handguns without a permit (so-called "constitutional carry"). There are laws and restrictions on where you may carry in these states, so it is your responsibility to study the laws of your state to understand them as they apply to you.

The remaining forty-two states have some sort of "Shall Issue" or "May Issue" laws regarding concealed carry permits. Put simply, "Shall Issue" means the state will issue a license or permit to any person who meets certain criteria, usually legal qualification and some form of training. "May Issue" states add a further restriction by requiring the applicant to "prove" they need a handgun for self-defense.

The second step is to select a handgun for concealed carry. There is no "one-size-fits-all" answer here, because everybody is different — different sizes, body shapes, clothing choices, hand sizes, comfort with various calibers and platforms, and other factors. A larger framed man may feel perfectly comfortable carrying a full-size .45 caliber 1911 pistol inside the waistband. A smaller framed woman may prefer a .380 Glock in her purse. The potential concealed carry holder should shoot several different guns before deciding on one for carrying purposes.

Next, whether your state requires it or not, taking a concealed carry training course is a great idea. During this class you will review the legal ramifications of concealed carry, discuss tactical considerations and in many states will participate in a live-fire exercise. Many instructors who teach these classes also offer additional advanced classes for even more skill building.

Once you have completed your class, you will go to your appropriate state agency to apply for the permit (in my home state of Ohio, for example, county sheriffs are the issuing authority). You will be fingerprinted and a background check will be performed. It could take a period of days or weeks to finally get your permit, but once you do, you are legally sanctioned to become an armed defender.
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The last step in the process is to determine what you will do in a defensive shooting scenario, including what you will say when you call 911. Being involved in a defensive shooting is not something most of us anticipate, and having made the decision to carry a firearm, it is something we all must be prepared for.

Carrying a concealed firearm is a great responsibility, and there are plenty of reasons why someone would not want to carry one.  But there are a great many reasons why you should carry everyday. It is a huge commitment and you need to make the decision for yourself.

Here are just a three reasons that may help to persuade you to start to carry everyday, not in any particular order.

It’s Your Right as a Citizen of the United States

The Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights guarantees protection of the right to keep and bear arms for self protection. The Supreme Court has upheld this concept. Just by being a citizen of this great nation, you have the right to carry a concealed firearm.

The World is a Bad Place

As much as we wish it wasn’t, the world we know today is not the same one we knew years ago. There is more crime and violence than in other historical periods. You just never know when or where something bad will happen.

To Protect Your Family

The most important asset in our lives are our families, and we need to protect them anyway we can. A concealed firearm is one of the best ways to protect them from the world we discussed above.

To Protect Yourself

We all want to come home to our families every night. I know I do. This is another tool to ensure we will make it home to hug our loved ones.

Reap the Benefits of Training

Some people just like to be able to train and learn, and by carrying their firearm, they are able to put that training to use.

Better Situational Awareness

Some people say that when they carry, they are more on edge and are better aware of their surroundings. When I carry, my senses are on high alert and I tend to know more of what is going on around me. Having a gun means I have to know what is happening to avoid a bad situation.

Everyone’s reasons for carry differ from person to person and place to place. However, it boils down to making a commitment to be a responsibly armed person not only for ourselves, but our families and friends.

What is your number one reason to carry? I would like to hear from you in the comments below.

At one time or another, just about every human being has given serious thought to the unthinkable—about what it might be like to be the victim of a home invasion. Those of us who regularly carry guns in public also understand that we may have to defend ourselves at home. Even hunters will admit to having considered how they might have to use their duck gun or deer rifle to protect themselves or their loved ones.

But while having a gun in your home is certainly a good idea, it is (or should be) only one element in your personal protection plan. You DO have a plan, don’t you? Not anything “set in stone”—just some basic steps that you and/or any member of your household understand and follow. After all, as the old military saying goes, “No battle plan survives the first ten seconds of contact with the enemy.”

Where to start? First of all, consider the kinds of simple basic steps that can be done long before an actual confrontation. Burglar alarms are getting more sophisticated and less expensive. Whether you choose the simple motion-activated units that only notify the homeowner, or the more advanced systems that automatically call 911, having some form of warning system is almost a no-brainer.

By the way, as astonishing as it sounds, in a disturbing number of home invasions, police discovered that doors and/or windows weren’t even locked. In warm weather areas, windows and patio doors often have nothing but screens to stop attackers.

Dogs can be very helpful. Even in an apartment or condo (if allowed), a small dog can yelp up a storm, alerting you to the presence of an unwanted guest. As a bonus, they can also act as a deterrent to burglars when you are not at home. Criminals of all stripes prefer to avoid dogs.

But what if you don’t, or can’t (due to allergies or other issues), own a dog? No problem. If you live in a single-family home or townhouse where it is possible, just buy a big dog watering dish and place it conspicuously in the back yard. A “Beware of Dog” sign (or an “I Love my Pit Bull” sticker at the front door) can have the same effect.

Educate yourself, and everyone else in the household, about the wide variety of threats that can materialize. Contrary to the typical “guy in a ski-mask with a tire iron” shown on TV, home invaders can strike at any hour of the day, not just in the middle of the night. Many rapists purposely target at-home women during daytime hours.

By the way, taking the above steps can also help you legally, should you ever have to defend yourself or your loved ones. Your preventive steps can be effectively used by your defense attorney to convince a jury that you were acting as a conscientious and responsible citizen. Conversely, I have sat in trials where a prosecutor attacked a homeowner for their lack of defensive measures. In one such case, the state’s attorney accusingly asked the defendant, “So, Mr. Jones, you could spend $600 on a gun, but not $6 for a dog dish to deter a potential attacker?”
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The bottom line is that preparation and deterrence can prevent an attack in the first place, which is always preferable to defending ourselves in court.

At one time or another, just about every human being has given serious thought to the unthinkable—about what it might be like to be the victim of a home invasion. Those of us who regularly carry guns in public also understand that we may have to defend ourselves at home. Even hunters will admit to having considered how they might have to use their duck gun or deer rifle to protect themselves or their loved ones.

But while having a gun in your home is certainly a good idea, it is (or should be) only one element in your personal protection plan. You DO have a plan, don’t you? Not anything “set in stone”—just some basic steps that you and/or any member of your household understand and follow. After all, as the old military saying goes, “No battle plan survives the first ten seconds of contact with the enemy.”

Where to start? First of all, consider the kinds of simple basic steps that can be done long before an actual confrontation. Burglar alarms are getting more sophisticated and less expensive. Whether you choose the simple motion-activated units that only notify the homeowner, or the more advanced systems that automatically call 911, having some form of warning system is almost a no-brainer.

By the way, as astonishing as it sounds, in a disturbing number of home invasions, police discovered that doors and/or windows weren’t even locked. In warm weather areas, windows and patio doors often have nothing but screens to stop attackers.

Dogs can be very helpful. Even in an apartment or condo (if allowed), a small dog can yelp up a storm, alerting you to the presence of an unwanted guest. As a bonus, they can also act as a deterrent to burglars when you are not at home. Criminals of all stripes prefer to avoid dogs.

But what if you don’t, or can’t (due to allergies or other issues), own a dog? No problem. If you live in a single-family home or townhouse where it is possible, just buy a big dog watering dish and place it conspicuously in the back yard. A “Beware of Dog” sign (or an “I Love my Pit Bull” sticker at the front door) can have the same effect.

Educate yourself, and everyone else in the household, about the wide variety of threats that can materialize. Contrary to the typical “guy in a ski-mask with a tire iron” shown on TV, home invaders can strike at any hour of the day, not just in the middle of the night. Many rapists purposely target at-home women during daytime hours.

By the way, taking the above steps can also help you legally, should you ever have to defend yourself or your loved ones. Your preventive steps can be effectively used by your defense attorney to convince a jury that you were acting as a conscientious and responsible citizen. Conversely, prosecutor may attacked a homeowner for their lack of defensive measures.

The bottom line is that preparation and deterrence can prevent an attack in the first place, which is always preferable to defending ourselves in court.

You’re reading. You’re ready for bed, but you heard it…the bump of a chair against the table downstairs. Could it have been the dog? Why take a chance?

What’s the first thing you’re going to do?

Turn out the reading light.
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Then you take your carry pistol from the drawer (or shotgun from under the bed). Softly rack a round if one is not already chambered. Be still and let your eyes adjust. If it is possible to silently move so that anyone coming up the stairs will be backlit, you want to do that.
You know by now that it wasn’t the dog, and so you worry. If you are prepared, I would argue that you should wait before calling 9-1-1. Circumstances are impossible to forecast. Situations are volumetric in number and proportion. But one size—one answer—does not fit all.
Unless you are absolutely caught unawares, the odds are in your favor. You know the layout of your house or office. You know just how the coffee table juts into the living room aisle, how chairs are positioned around the table. Your knowledge of your surroundings is your first, best defense. The intruder is feeling his way in the dark or semi-dark.

Even if he has visited your home before—as a guest or even burglarizing it earlier—he’s going to bump, break, scratch. You’re going to hear him, know exactly where he is, and you can almost hear his heavy breathing as he fumbles in the darkness.
There’s an intruder. You find your concealed carry protection and turn out the light…right?
Now, the question…
Should you turn on a diversionary light? Unless you can flip a switch remotely or have installed some motion-activated burglar alarm, the answer is probably no. Moving around—even crawling—makes noise and informs the intruder of your position. That means movement is going to cause the plywood-covered joists to squeak, even if you worm your way across the carpet like a turtle. An aggressive or frightened intruder might fire up through the ceiling and floor if he believes you are tracking him, ready to ambush him—and, of course, you are.
Large caliber handgun bullets are not stopped by residential floors or walls (cement, sure). This could be a problem when you unleash your .45 at the shadow stalking up the stairs of the apartment. Some of those bullets may hit, but some will cause your neighbors to—the scientific term is “freak out.”
I believe the best solution is to take a ready position with the lights out. Allow your vision, and especially your peripheral vision, to work for you. Your first job is to be safe and safeguard your family. Keep the lights out. Do not try to move and call 911. 
Be alert. You are armed; you are dangerous—and the person who has broken into your house in the dark should be afraid, very afraid.

I have a lot of friends who don’t have firearms. In some cases, they are interested in learning how to shoot, but they’re still wary about the unknowns. A lot of people bring up the question of what to do about guns and non-carrying friends. Specifically, they ask whether or not it’s okay to carry a firearm into someone else’s home. (What do the etiquette experts say about that, I wonder?)

There are some social and ethical (and possibly legal) elements at play with this dilemma. But here’s the deal: You have some choices. And while I can’t make the call for you, there are some things to consider.

One option is that you can simply and openly mention to your non-carrying friend that you have a personal protection firearm, just to see what they thinks. A few different things could happen. Who knows? This person may actually carry, as well, and then you’ve just discovered a new friend…and a host of new things to discuss.
Maybe you will find out that this person does not carry, but they may be just fine with your gun, as long as he doesn’t have to see it (out of sight, out of mind, right?).

Or, you may find that your friend is uncomfortable; they may start to wonder about her safety or about the safety of their family. (I find that this happens a lot with people who don’t understand guns.) This could be a great conversation starter, an ideal time for you to explain how safe your concealed-carry option is…and how important personal protection is to you.

Of course, if you discover that your friend absolutely hates guns, they may insist that you do not bring a firearm into there home. This can present a sticky situation. Most responsibly armed people I know don’t remove their guns and don’t go anywhere without them. So, in this case, I would suggest that you meet up with your friend somewhere else. Choose your own home, or find a gun-friendly location. You don’t have to avoid this person, but you might want to avoid there home.

Another option is to simply say nothing at all about your gun. Is that allowed? I’d recommend finding out what the law in your state says. It’s your right to carry your firearm, but it is their private property. If it is legal, then it’s not required that you announce your firearm. And as a responsibly armed person, you are not going to cause any problems or draw any attention to yourself or to your gun. Perhaps ignorance is bliss in this case? Just think about how many times we are out and about, mixing and mingling with who knows how many other concealed-carry gun owners and gun haters alike.

Oftentimes, I don’t say a word to my friends about my personal protection handgun because I simply don’t think about it in that way. Carrying a gun is a completely normal way of life for me. It’s nothing out of the ordinary, so I wouldn’t think to bring it up to anyone under these normal, everyday circumstances.

Whatever the case, make sure that if you’re in another person’s home, and there are other people (kids or adults) present, keep your gun on you at all times. This is not a good situation for off-body carry, as you may not be in control of your  bag at all times. As well, remember to be sensitive and responsive to your non-carrying friends. Be ready to answer questions and possibly dispel myths. And be a good example of what a responsible gun owner should be.

by Greg Ellifritz

Note: The author works in Ohio as a police officer. The laws in Ohio regarding self defense and matters related to Castle Doctrine may differ from those in your state.

Let’s talk a little bit about “Castle Doctrine.” In this case, the homeowner shot an intruder who was unarmed and may not have been a true lethal force threat. Despite the shooting of an unarmed man, the homeowner will likely not be criminally charged.

Here’s how it works:
In general, in order to shoot someone (regardless of location), you need to have a reasonable belief that your attacker is going to kill you or cause you very serious injury. Each state abides by these basic guidelines, but every state generally has a different term for “serious injury.” In Ohio, serious injury is called “serious physical harm.” Other states call it: grievous body injury, grievous bodily harm, or grave physical danger. All of them have separate legal definitions, but they mean pretty much the same thing. An injury that causes maiming, disfigurement, broken bones, or is likely to land you in the hospital would most likely qualify.

Furthermore, “reasonable belief” doesn’t mean “it could happen.” In order to employ deadly force, you have to believe “more likely than not” that your attacker will kill you or cause you serious injury. The factors that go into this decision include: ability (can the attacker do the damage?), opportunity (is the attacker within range to employ his ability?), and jeopardy (also called “intent," just because an attacker has the ability and opportunity to kill you, he has to have the intent to do so, placing you in “jeopardy”).

Some other folks add the idea of “preclusion.” That means that you didn’t have any other available options (like escape) before shooting. In Ohio, preclusion is expressed in the legal doctrine of “duty to retreat.” When outside your home or car, you have the duty to escape a lethal force confrontation before shooting IF ESCAPE IS FEASIBLE. Many times it will not be feasible to escape without placing yourself in undue danger.

So, to summarize all this, you must have a reasonable belief that your attacker will seriously injure or kill you (using the ability, opportunity, jeopardy tests) before shooting. If you are outside your house or car, you must make an effort to escape before shooting if that is possible. Pretty easy guidelines to follow, but how does “Castle Doctrine” change all this?

Castle Doctrine changes things in two ways for people in Ohio. First, if you are in your house or car and a person illegally enters one of those sites, you do not have a duty to retreat. You may stand your ground and shoot your attacker without retreating.

Second, if a person illegally enters your house or car (with you inside), the burden of proof of establishing the intent to cause “serious physical harm or death” falls on your attacker rather than you. It doesn’t give you a license to kill everyone who enters your house, but it does make your attacker prove that he WASN’T trying to kill or seriously injure you. You don’t have to prove that he WAS trying to kill or injure you. It makes it easier for you to win in court.

An easy way to think about this is that if a person is illegally in your house or car, you can assume that he is there to hurt or kill you, UNLESS YOU HAVE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY! Castle Doctrine doesn’t mean that you can shoot anyone for any reason. It only means that the burden of proof is shifted from the homeowner to the bad guy. If you saw someone heading out your door with your TV in his hands and shot him in the back, you would still be prosecuted even with Castle Doctrine.

And one other thing to mention, even if it is legally justifiable to shoot, set your ego aside and think about other options. In the long run, you will be much happier if you don’t shoot someone, even if you are justified to do so. Castle Doctrine helps prevent being charged criminally, but doesn’t get rid of the civil lawsuit, confiscation of your weapon, cleanup costs, and the way you will be treated by other people for the rest of your life.

If you can get out of your house and avoid shooting, DO IT! If you can get the criminal to leave without having to shoot, DO IT! It will save you a lot of future headaches, even if you are legally justified in shooting the criminal in your house.

Greg Ellifritz is the full time firearms and defensive tactics training officer for a central Ohio police department. He holds instructor or master instructor certifications in more than 75 different weapon systems, defensive tactics programs and police specialty areas. Greg has a master's degree in Public Policy and Management and is an instructor for both the Ohio Peace Officer's Training Academy and the Tactical Defense Institute.

I have always been somewhat skeptical when I've heard stories of rounds detonating in the ejection port — no longer. In the past, a common response to the slide of a pistol failing to go into battery was striking the rear of the slide. However, as we see in the following case, that may not be a good idea and indeed could be dangerous.
I was conducting our monthly Short Range Match at Cedar Ridge Range in San Antonio, Texas, when I heard a loud pop instead of a bang as a competitor was completing a stage. I looked up and saw the safety officer walking toward me with the shooter who was holding his left hand with blood pouring through his fingers. His pistol was lying on the ground where it had fallen from his hand.
The shooter's pistol had failed to go into battery, and the shooter had aggressively hit the back of the slide with his left palm in an attempt to clear the stoppage. As he did this, the fingers of his left hand went forward over the top of the slide just as the round detonated in the open ejection port.
Fragments of brass severely cut his left index and middle fingers. After examining the shooter's injured left hand, a doctor at the scene determined he was not seriously injured and only had some bloody, but not serious cuts.
When we retrieved and examined the pistol, we realized the remains of the detonated round were still in the ejection port. It was apparent that the round had nosedived into the feed ramp and, in doing so, it literally positioned the primer exactly over the extractor. When the shooter slammed the slide forward with his left hand, the extractor crushed the primer causing the 9mm round to detonate.

If you look at photo No. 1 above, you can get an idea of the quantity of brass fragments that struck the shooter's hand. In photo No. 2 you can see where the extractor crushed the primer. This particular gentleman is very forceful when he manipulates his pistol. Photo No. 3 shows where the force of the detonation forced the bullet into the feed ramp. Photo No. 4 provides another view.
In my classes, I teach the proper response to a click instead of a bang is to tap the magazine and rack the slide — tap rack. This will often clear the malfunction. If it does not, the proper response is to lock the slide back, aggressively strip the magazine out, then reload the pistol.
If it does not fire after reloading, you probably have a broken pistol that's not going to be fixed easily on the spot. If you are under fire, the proper response at that point is to aggressively depart the area or take other necessary action.

Off-body carry is simply defined as carrying a gun in a conveyance that is not attached to your clothing. Examples of off-body carry options include purses, man-purses, satchels, day planners, backpacks, brief cases, and basically anything else that allows you to hide a gun.

The Pros

The benefits of off-body carry include comfort, convenience, concealment, and capacity.
A gun in a bag, backpack, or briefcase doesn’t dig into your hip or bang on the arms of your chair when you sit down or stand up. You won’t have a backache from leaning away from your gun side while you sit and you won’t be constantly adjusting because you made the belt tight enough to support the gun but so tight you can’t get comfortable.
Securing a gun in an off-body container is simple. Most such packs come with internal “holsters” that attach with Velcro. Several companies are making kydex and leather holsters backed with Velcro that allow you to simply stick the holster in place, insert the gun, and go about your daily business.

There are some rules you need to remember if you’re going to utilize an off-body carry method. First up, use some sort of internal holster that covers the trigger guard. Do not simply let that pistol bounce around in the bag. This is not only a safety issue, but an access issue, too. Secondly, the pocket or location you choose for your gun should be exclusively for your gun. Do not be putting keys, pens, or anything else in there. Any such items can impede your grip and draw or they could hang up in the trigger, causing a negligent discharge.

You can also carry “more gun” in most off-body options. If you really want a full-sized gun, but you can’t hide it on your hip, a briefcase or satchel works wonders.

The Cons

It is very true that you can’t get something for nothing. All those benefits come with some downsides; namely access and acquisition.

On the access side of things, off-body carry is not a quick-draw proposition. You have zippers, flaps, and straps getting in the way of your draw. You will likely have to reposition—or better yet, pre-position—the bag for the draw. All this takes time, but someone with good situational awareness will use those skills to his or her advantage. You also have to be aware that if you have a gun in an off-body carrier, you could potentially set that container down and walk away. Or you could put your bag on the floor as you eat lunch. If you carry off-body, you MUST keep control of the item that contains your firearm at all times. 

Acquisition is not about your ability to acquire the gun. It is about someone else’s ability to end up in possession of your firearm. Think about it: there is a whole class of criminal behavior centered on grabbing bags from unsuspecting victims. If someone grabs your bag in hopes of getting your computer, tablet, smart phone, or wallet and they end up with a bonus firearm, well, that’s just doubly bad for you.

To avoid this, I suggest slinging the bag not just on one shoulder, but instead completely across your chest. This is not a surefire deterrent, but bag snatchers will likely look for an easier target if they feel they can’t quickly separate you from your bag.

Off-body carry is an option. I’m not saying it is the best option, but for places where you really don’t want people to know you have a gun, carrying off-body provides some great benefits