Self-Defense Articles - USA Carry

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Governor Kevin Stitt signed HB 2818 into law on May 15, 2025, officially enacting a sweeping update to Oklahoma’s self-defense and firearms statutes. Authored by Rep. Jay Steagall, the measure passed both chambers with broad support — 73-16 in the House and 39-7 in the Senate.

The new law clarifies that pointing a firearm is not unlawful when done in lawful self-defense or in defense of one’s home or business. Prior to this bill, citizens who displayed or pointed a firearm — even without firing — risked criminal penalties, including misdemeanor or felony charges.

HB 2818 removes administrative fines and handgun license revocations previously tied to such acts when carried out in a defensive context. The law also formally recognizes the “defensive display” of a firearm, which includes verbal warnings, exposing the weapon, or placing a hand on it, provided there’s a reasonable belief of an immediate threat.

Significantly, the law strengthens Oklahoma’s Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine provisions. It expands the list of protected locations to include places of business and worship and presumes that the use of defensive force is justified during an unlawful and forcible entry or attempted forcible felony. It further provides immunity from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits for lawful defensive force.

The law still prohibits using force during unlawful activities or as provocation, and it emphasizes that immunity applies only when the use of force is legally justified.

HB 2818 reaffirms Oklahoma’s commitment to the rights of responsible gun owners. By clarifying legal boundaries and protecting defensive actions from prosecution, it provides essential peace of mind to citizens prepared to defend themselves or others in the face of imminent danger.

Read the original story: It’s Official: Oklahoma Law Now Protects Defensive Display of Firearms

Nobody wants to kill anyone. Taking a human life is a scary and traumatic thing that has moral and legal ramifications. These concerns may influence someone to fire a warning shot in the hopes it will scare the attacker away without the need to injure or kill another human being. But is firing a warning shot actually effective and a good idea?

Movies and TV shows frequently depict police and good guys firing a warning shot, then aiming at their adversary and saying something pithy like, “The next one goes in you.” This gives some people the idea that a warning shot will end the assault without them having to shoot anyone. That is a laudable outlook, but like the old gun culture folk tale that all you have to do is rack the slide on a pump action shotgun and the bad guy will run away, it is not always true. While there are certainly cases where a warning shot has stopped an assault or made the criminal run away, there are many more cases where they did not have the desired effect.

There are numerous solid reasons why police do not fire warning shots. While it is true that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) changed its stance on warning shots to endorse them in 2017, they still stated that “warning shots are inherently dangerous.” They go on to say:

“…warning shots must have a defined target and can be considered only when deadly force is justified and when the officer reasonably believes that the warning shot will reduce the possibility that deadly force will have to be used.” 

 Their position on the topic can be overruled by local law enforcement agencies, and most officers still will not fire a warning shot for several reasons.

When I was working in Iraq, it quickly became obvious that the locals loved to shoot their guns in the air. They shot them off for weddings, celebrations, when they were angry, or to intimidate potential opponents. There was constant gunfire in Baghdad, and anywhere else lots of armed locals gathered. As a result, there were a lot of bullets falling out of the sky. I heard them coming down when I was out at night, and we literally had spent bullets lying on the walkways and porches of the fortified villas I sometimes lived in. During my time there, spent bullets went through a truck hood, the roof of someone’s sleeping quarters right over his bed, and hit a client who was walking in the compound at Camp Victory, fortunately only in the top of his buttock.

The fourth rule of safe gun handling states, “Always be sure of your target and beyond.” Essentially, you are responsible for every bullet that leaves the muzzle of your gun, no matter the circumstances. How can you be sure you are shooting in a safe direction, especially if you are in a house or, worse, an apartment complex?

You are always reacting in a defensive situation because the bad guy has the initiative. Every shot you fire takes time, maybe not a lot, but it does take time. If your assailant is pointing a gun at you, harming someone else, or charging at you with a knife, shifting off target and firing a warning shot puts you even further behind the power curve than you already are. 

Firing a warning shot is intended to scare the attacker away or at least dissuade them from assaulting you out of fear for their own safety. Unfortunately, warning shots can have the opposite effect. For example, if you are not the intended victim of the assault, a warning shot could draw the attacker’s attention to you. Now you are the intended victim, and you are still faced with the decision to shoot or not. Another issue is that the attacker may be on drugs or mentally ill. In both cases, a warning shot may have no effect and may even make them angrier and more homicidal. Warning shots can also escalate the situation by making the bad guy feel threatened enough to pull the trigger on their own gun. Finally, firing a warning shot may make the attacker feel that you will not actually shoot them, encouraging them to continue their assault because they think you are too scared or uncertain to stop them.

There is a lot of emphasis put on ammunition capacity when selecting an EDC or home defense gun. Some give you as many as 17 or 19 rounds, while others are so compact they may only hold 6 or 7. Derringers, something I do not recommend for self-defense, only hold 2. Firing a warning shot expends one of those rounds, and while you may think you still have plenty left, you have no real idea of how the encounter is going to go, so why take the chance? Some statistics indicate that as many as 47% of defensive encounters involve more than one assailant.

Firing warning shots may have legal consequences you never even thought of. In some localities, a warning shot may be considered as the use of deadly force, even if no one was hit. This is especially problematic if the other guy did not fire a shot. Under those circumstances, you would be the only one to use a firearm, and if you had time to fire a warning shot, a jury might conclude that you were not under threat of imminent death or serious injury when you fired.

Even if you are not charged with the use of deadly force, you could be charged with illegally discharging a firearm. It may sound crazy, but it has happened. You could also face criminal charges and/or a civil action if your warning shot hits an unintended target, such as another person, someone’s vehicle, or something critical like a home or even a gas line. A warning shot may also be used against you in court if you are charged as a result of the encounter, with an anti-self-defense prosecutor using it to portray you as trigger-happy and looking for a fight. Does that sound far-fetched? It, too, has happened.

 People sometimes fire warning shots when the assailant is running away to scare them enough to keep running and never come back. This has even more problems than firing an initial warning shot. Along with all the issues already discussed, a person running away is no longer a threat, so you have no legal basis for continuing to shoot.

The second rule of safe gun handling is, “Never let the muzzle cover anything which you are not willing to destroy.” That being the case, you should not point your gun at a violent assailant unless you are willing to shoot to defend yourself or your family. If you are not, you may want to reconsider carrying a gun. Drawing a gun and holding it carelessly or pointing it at the ground or in the air tells a criminal that you are not committed to using it. On the other hand, drawing a gun and aiming with firm determination is often all that is necessary to induce the bad guy to retreat.

The 2021 National Firearms Survey found that 31.1% of all gun owners who responded to the survey said that they had used their firearm in self-defense at least once. Of those who had used a gun to defend themselves, no shots were fired 81.9% of the time. Of that percentage, displaying a gun caused the attacker to withdraw 50.9% of the time, and simply telling someone they had a gun ended the incident 31% of the time. To put that in perspective, most criminals will flee as soon as they know their intended victim is armed. If the bad guy sticks around even after they know you are armed, it’s a reasonably safe bet that they intend to do you harm. In that case, a warning shot is unlikely to make any difference.

The reasons why people fire a warning shot are well-intentioned. In most cases, they do not want to harm anyone, although in a few cases, they may lack the commitment to follow through. However, given the many issues that may arise from firing a warning shot and the fact that most armed defensive encounters end with no shots being fired, warning shots are not a good idea under the vast majority of circumstances. You may have no choice except to draw and fire quickly, and if you do have time for another option, it is better to present a determined attitude that clearly says you are prepared to defend yourself.

Read the original story: The Problem with Warning Shots

How confident are you that you will be able to shoot accurately and quickly stop an assailant who has surprised you and already has a gun in their hand? What if they are already shooting at you? How about if they are charging at you with a knife? What if there is a family member or other innocent person partially blocking your view of the bad guy? These are questions we should all ask before we sit back and tell ourselves our accuracy with our handgun is ‘good enough’ for defensive shootings.

According to statistics collected by the FBI, most police shootings occur at a range of three to six feet, consist of 2 to 3 shots fired, and last about 3 seconds. This gives many people the opinion that being able to draw and get off a couple of close-range shots that hit the bad guy is plenty good enough. But is it? In July 2022, Elisjsha Dicken saw a man open up with an AR rifle in a mall food court, immediately killing 3 people and wounding 2 more. Fifteen seconds after the shooter fired his first shot, Dicken drew and started shooting at a range of 40 yards with a Glock 19. He had to pause several times as panicked bystanders ran across his line of sight. He fired a total of 10 shots, striking the shooter 8 times and killing him. The shooter managed to return fire at Dicken once, missing him. The gunfight took around a minute and a half. That’s a long time when the lead is flying, believe me. It takes better than average accuracy to shoot a rifle-wielding psycho at 40 yards without hitting the screaming people running back and forth between you and him. “Most” is not “all,” and it is a mistake to assume your gunfight will fit some set of statistical averages.

The only safe assumption we should make is that we will be behind the power curve and forced to react to our assailant. We will not know for sure if there is an actual threat until after he acts. That means we must train for the worst-case scenario so we are prepared and do not get rattled when things go south. Go far beyond what you think is good enough. Here is some food for thought:

You have about an 85% chance of being hit if you are standing still, like you are when shooting on a static range. If you are moving, your chance of being hit goes down to around 47%. If you are using cover and returning fire, the chances of being shot drop to around 26%. Elisjsha Dicken took cover behind a pillar and rested his arms on the top of a tall trash receptacle as he engaged the mall shooter. Those numbers alone should tell you that being able to put five shots into the black ring at 7 yards on a static range is not good enough. 

Criminals do not follow any rules except to maximize everything in their favor. That means you may suddenly find yourself faced with some wild cards you did not anticipate, and that a day at the indoor range did not prepare you for.

The Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network reports that the ranges in civilian defensive situations are usually between 3 and 15 feet, especially in a home invasion or an assault in a store or gas station. But usually it is not the same as always, and averages are just that – an average. Ranges can vary from point blank to forty or fifty yards, and you should be training to be accurate at both ends of the spectrum, including while moving.

About 60% of civilian shootings occur during darkness, most often between the hours of 6 PM and 2 AM. Many of those involve people who are either looking for trouble, dealing drugs, or going to places they shouldn’t go to, so the figure for innocent citizens being assaulted could be lower. Nevertheless, it is safe to say there is probably a 50-50 chance that if you are assaulted by an armed criminal, it will be in conditions of poor visibility. 

Most people are shot with a 9mm, but there are all kinds of guns in the hands of criminals and crazies. Many of these shoot 5.56 NATO and 7.62×39, both of which have longer range than a handgun. Police began carrying rifles in their cars because they frequently found themselves outgunned by the criminals. An armed citizen could find themselves in the same situation, especially in the case of an active shooter.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey, about 20-25% of violent crimes (sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, etc.) involved multiple offenders. That means that if you are the victim of a violent crime, there is around a 25% chance you will be outnumbered. 

People get shot in gunfights. I have seen people who were shot, and even a noncritical wound in the arm or leg will impact your ability to fight back. A leg or hip wound could immobilize you, and an arm or shoulder wound could mean you must shoot one-handed, perhaps even with your off hand. Even minor scalp wounds bleed copiously, which could affect your vision.

To prepare to shoot accurately under adverse conditions, training must be varied and intense. Critical self-defense shooting skills closely match the IDPA competition classification qualifiers. For those who are not familiar with it, IDPA stands for International Defensive Pistol Association. These skills can be practiced at outdoor ranges that allow shooting from the draw, which I call a dynamic range, but will be difficult to practice on the usual indoor range that requires you to shoot down a lane while standing still. If you don’t have access to a dynamic range, you can practice in your home or yard using dry fire, laser trainers, or even airsoft pistols.

Unlike shooting on an indoor range, it is unlikely you will have your gun in your hand when you need it. You need to be able to instinctively clear your cover garment, get a good grip on your gun, and draw it cleanly from your holster.

This is getting the gun aligned with your target. That may mean extending your arms for targets beyond arm’s length or holding your gun more tightly against your body in a protected stance if your target is very close to you.

When we shoot on a range, we have plenty of time to stand still, get a good sight picture, and squeeze the trigger. That will not be the case in a defensive shooting. We will be rushed, and the other guy may already be shooting at us. Under these circumstances, it’s often better to focus on the target and not the sights, but that takes practice.

Since there is a chance there will be more than one bad guy, and they may all be armed, it is critical to be able to transition from one target to another quickly. Start with two and work your way up to three or four.

Shooting one-handed is very different from shooting with a solid two-handed grip. It takes practice, especially with your off-hand.

Everyone knows a stationary target is easier to hit than a moving one. Don’t give the bad guy any more of an advantage than he already has. Learn to shoot while moving.

You hear and read all kinds of things at ranges and on gun forums. Some, like ‘if you can’t do it with one shot, you can’t do it at all,’ are just hot air. Others, like people saying defensive encounters occur at three feet or that only three shots are fired, are true to a point, but they do not consider all the possibilities. Personally, I choose not to stake my life on something called the “average encounter.” I would rather do the extra work to ensure I beat the average.

Read the original story: How Accurate is Good Enough for Self-Defense?

NASHUA, NH – A bystander with a firearm intervened during a violent altercation involving a knife at a McDonald’s in Nashua, New Hampshire.

On Tuesday night, a fight broke out between two groups who police believe knew each other, and it quickly escalated when 22-year-old Jose Vasquez repeatedly stabbed a 32-year-old man multiple times in the face and abdomen.

Felix Marengo, a bystander eating in his car, witnessed the attack and intervened. He told WMUR reporter Maria Wilson, “A guy started getting stabbed. I got out of my car and took my handgun out. As soon as they saw that, the stabber started running behind Wendy.”

Vasquez surrendered to Nashua police the following day, and he was charged with first-degree assault. Vasquez’s attorney said the victim was the initial aggressor, so it will be interesting to see what the final charges will be.

If the person who got stabbed was the initial aggressor, there is a possibility the judge could determine Vasquez acted in self-defense.

Nashua police stated that additional charges may be filed, pending the outcome of their investigation.

This is a tricky situation for a concealed carry holder because unless you see an incident start, you don’t know who the real victim is and who the person who started it is.

Most news articles failed to mention that a bystander with a firearm stepped in to stop the altercation, and this is a perfect example of why cases of self-defense involving firearms are significantly underreported.

Read the original story: Bystander’s Armed Intervention Stops Stabbing Attack at New Hampshire McDonald’s

Welcome to Episode 12 of the USA Carry Podcast! This week, we’re joined by special guests Jay Allen, a country music singer and philanthropist, and Trevor Greer, a Marine veteran. In this episode, Jay shares a harrowing personal experience that pushed him to prioritize self-defense: being robbed at gunpoint in a Nashville grocery store.

Jay’s story sheds light on how quickly life can change and why being prepared is so important. Trevor, with his background in the Marine Corps, steps in as a mentor to guide Jay on his journey to becoming a responsible firearm owner.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

Watch the full episode above as we explore how personal experiences can inspire life-changing decisions. Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast for more real stories and practical advice on concealed carry and self-defense!

Read the original story: Country Music Star Jay Allen Embraces Concealed Carry After Life-Changing Event | E12 | USA Carry Podcast

Welcome back to the USA Carry Podcast! In Episode 11, we dive into the topic of lone wolf attacks—a type of violence that, while often unpredictable, poses a real threat that armed citizens should understand.

In this episode, we explore what defines a lone wolf attack and why these events can be especially challenging to detect or prevent. From real-life cases like the Pulse nightclub and San Bernardino attacks, we break down the characteristics that set these incidents apart from coordinated terror activities, offering insights into how lone wolf violence can impact individuals and communities.

But it’s not just about understanding the problem; it’s about equipping yourself with practical knowledge. We discuss strategies for staying vigilant as a concealed carrier, including situational awareness tips and mental preparedness for unpredictable scenarios.

Watch the full episode above, and be sure to catch the highlights:

We hope you find this discussion both eye-opening and useful. As always, subscribe to our podcast for more episodes on concealed carry insights, personal protection, and the latest in self-defense trends.

Read the original story: Understanding Lone Wolf Attacks: What Armed Citizens Should Know | E11 | USA Carry Podcast

Tune into this episode of the USA Carry Podcast where we welcome Tim Chandler, a seasoned firearm instructor from FPF Training, Justified Defensive Concepts and 360 Performance Shooting. This episode dives into effective strategies for home defense, emphasizing the use of shotguns and understanding the dynamics of home security. Tim brings his extensive experience and research into practical play, offering listeners expert advice on preparing for and neutralizing home invasion scenarios. Learn from a leading expert how to optimize your home defense setup and enhance your readiness for real-life threats. Whether you’re revisiting your defense plan or newly considering the importance of preparedness, this discussion with Tim will equip you with knowledge and techniques that could be life-saving.

Read the original story: Defending the Home Front Real World Tactics with Tim Chandler | E10 | USA Carry Podcast

Dive deep into the complex world of self-defense laws on this episode of the USA Carry Podcast. Hosts Sal and Luke explore the nuances of “Stand Your Ground,” duty to retreat, and the castle doctrine, using real-life incidents to illustrate how these laws apply in tense situations. Whether you’re a firearm enthusiast, new to concealed carry, or just curious about your rights and responsibilities, this episode offers a thorough analysis of these critical legal concepts, ensuring you’re well-informed and prepared for any situation.

Read the original story: Stand Your Ground: Unpacking Self-Defense Laws with Real-Life Scenarios | E8 | USA Carry Podcast

Join us on this intriguing episode of the USA Carry podcast as we explore the dynamic world of edged weapons with self-defense expert Phil Elmore. Dive deep into the nuances of using knives and other bladed tools for personal protection. Phil, a seasoned writer and martial artist, shares his extensive knowledge and insights, discussing everything from the legal aspects of carrying blades to practical tips for everyday carry. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a curious newcomer, this episode will sharpen your understanding of how edged weapons fit into modern self-defense strategies.

Read the original story: Cutting Edge Defense: A Deep Dive into Edged Weapons with Phil Elmore | E6 | USA Carry Podcast

In this episode of the USA Carry Podcast, host Sal goes solo to discuss the evolution of threats faced by concealed carriers. He provides a historical perspective on crime in the US, underscores the increased danger in recent years, and offers crucial insights into how concealed carriers can adapt to these emerging challenges.

Read the original story: Navigating Modern Threats – Insights for Concealed Carriers | E4 | USA Carry Podcast