If you’re a daily carrier, it’s just a matter of time before you’ll encounter a place you cannot walk inside with your pistol. For instance, a lot of employers have no problem with an employee locking up his or her firearm in the vehicle – so long as it’s not visible by any passersby.

In general, that’s a fantastic idea from the get-go. Never leave firearms visible to someone who passes by. Thieves, when they break in, go for the glove box, center console, and under the seats if they suspect a firearm to be in the vehicle. If they have time, they’ll check the trunk as well.

This leaves us in the unfortunate predicament of having to be creative in where we leave our firearms.

Ideal: Locked, Concealed Container Fixed To Interior

Companies like Conceal Pro (and others) specialize in custom design concealed compartments which are opened by mechanical means. This means, when closed, they appear no different than any other facet of the vehicle – giving thieves no outward idea that a firearm is stored inside.

The companies that specialize in this work generally work with the specific model of your vehicle to ensure that the compartment is flush with the other panels. These compartments are generally opened by a secret button or code. They’re not meant to store your concealed carry pistol while you’re driving – when you may need fast access. Quite literally – they’re for when you need to exit the vehicle and either legally or practically can’t take your firearm with you.

For long-term everyday carriers who plan on keeping their vehicle for a while, this option makes the most sense. It’s an investment in responsible storage.

Also Ideal: Locked Safe Box

If it’s not practical or possible to install a custom concealed compartment in the vehicle, it’s still affordable to install a vehicle-mounted gun safe perfect for storing a pistol or revolver, such as a Console Vault. While it could still be detected in the event your vehicle is broken into, the thief will consume an inordinate amount of time trying to get that safe out.

There’s also the convenience of knowing that when you go to a place where firearms are forbidden – such as a courthouse or a postal office – you’re able to store your pistol safely for that duration.

These compartments are also great for storing backup pistol magazines or quick-loaders for revolvers. While it’s generally suggested you always carry a backup pistol magazine for your daily carry concealed pistol, this compartment can also serve as the location for another backup.

Not Ideal: Locked Glovebox, Locked Trunk

The glovebox and trunk are not ideal. Both the glovebox and the trunk can be broken into rather easily. A crowbar should be sufficient, in most cases. We do not recommend leaving a gun in any of these places even if it is for a short period of time while you run into the bank, post office or other area that you cannot carry. I hear news reports every week about car robberies where the thieves ran off with someone firearm that was left in the car.

Vehicle firearm storage is not for the benefit of your draw or self-defense – it is for the safe, concealed storage of your firearm. If you are in the vehicle, you should have your firearm on you at all times. If you are exiting the vehicle, you should have a locked, secure container to place it inside.

The topic of whether or not a concealed carrier should get out an insurance policy to protect themselves in the event of a self-defense shooting is certainly a popular one.  And for good reason.  While the vast majority of all concealed carriers will likely never use a firearm to defend themselves – the possibility does exist and it is daunting.

As we’ve seen in the news on countless occasions, even if the courts find you innocent of all charges, you could still be liable for civil suits which can bankrupt you.  Additionally, there’s time out of work to consult with legal counsel, court dates, and appointments related to the case.

So, in an effort to cut through the haze, we’re looking at a few major concealed carry insurance policies to see how they stack up.  For each, we’re going with the middle option – not bare-bones and not platinum.  We’ll include links so you can investigate on your own and see if this is an option you want.

USCCA – Gold Plus Plan

* Offers up to $575,000 in protection

* Annual: $247 [link]

* Civil Suit Defense & Damages: $500,000

* Criminal Defense Protection & Instant Attorney Retainer: $75,000

* Bail Bond Fund: $5,000 (Bond Amount – $50,000)

* Compensation While In Court: $350/day

Added Features:

* Critical Response Team

* 24/7/365 Immediate Assistance

* Complete Attorney Coordination

* Local Referral Within 24 Hours

* Psychological Support

* Post-Incident Counseling

NRA Self-Defense Insurance (Lockton Affinity, LLC)

* Offers up to $250,000 combined single limit with a $50,000 criminal defense reimbursement sub-limit

* Annual: $254 [link]

This insurance plan covers all components of civil and criminal defense but does not cover little added bonuses like daily compensation or specific mention of bond funds.  Please note that this insurance policy only covers $50,000 in criminal defense reimbursement — so you’ll have to pay the immediate costs upfront.

Opinion:  For $254 a year, this plan seems to offer the base requirements to be reimbursed for the overwhelming fees associated with getting an attorney on retainer.  After acquiring legal counsel, your insurance plan would likely cap out in reimbursement – leaving you stuck with overwhelming court costs and lost time off work.

Second Call – Defender Plan (Lockton Affinity, LLC)

* Annual: $239 (+$60 spouse) [link]

* Civil Suit Damages Protection: $50,000

* Accidental Shooting Protection: $50,000

* Criminal Defense Protection: $50,000*

The member’s insurance policy reimburses the Second Amendment foundation upon a not guilty verdict or similar outcome with no criminal charges being made.

Added Features:

* Immediate Cash For Bond: $5,000 for bonds up to $50,000

* 24/7 Emergency Legal Hotline

* Personal Crisis Manager

* Nationwide Attorney Network Access

* Local Attorney Referral within 24 hours
...

When it comes to carrying a handgun, without a doubt a strong, high quality belt makes a major difference. Some even suggest that it is even more important than the holster. I believe that both are certainly important for effectively and safely carrying a handgun, especially concealed. So my goal is to use a high-quality gun belt that provides strong support and security for my handgun and which is comfortable to wear for a long time throughout the day. Also, I prefer the qualities of full grain and top grain leathers and do not want to pay over $80 for the gun belt.

Recently, I had a “leather experience” I want to share with you so you can learn from my mistake. About 3 years ago I purchased a very nice looking “leather” chair for my office from a reputable, national chain store at a very low steal of a price deal. (I forgot you usually get what you pay for and appearance is just one factor to consider.) The first year it looked great and worked well for my routine use and did not have any problems with wear and performance. The second year I started noticing a few slight imperfections began to appear. Well now three years later as I sit in it, the leather on one chair arm and the leather on the seat is deteriorating very badly with small rips. There is a noticeable sag in the seat and support has lessened. I should mention I do not practice cliff diving off the arms of my chair, nor do I stack 50 gallon drums on the seat. Really, below average use. Some parts of the chair were vinyl and not leather at all. This week I will replace it with a full grain or top grain leather chair, but it is going to cost me. Once a rip gets started, you cannot prevent it and the space grows larger, looks bad, and does not give you the required support. I mention this experience because it directly relates to selecting leather for your gun belt. I learned some lessons and have refined my criteria about leather. I want to share them to help you with your gun belt selection.

Basically, there are 4 types of leather. Full Grain is top-quality and one of the best leathers money can buy, comes from the top layer of the hide, lasts a long time, and costs more. It is tanned with high-grade oils and preservatives to keep it from being destroyed by dryness and moisture. Top Grain leather is very good, strong and durable, is usually split from the top layer, then sanded and refinished, and has many strong qualities and features with some of the grain left on the top after grain was sanded off to get rid of the scars and character. It is more reasonably priced for the features, but MAY not age as nicely with use as Full Grain. Genuine Leather comes from the bottom half of the hide, does not have any grain or very minimal, and while it generally looks good and the name sounds great, usually performs at an average (or sometimes below) acceptable level, but it is lower priced and absent certain qualities. Suede is an example of Genuine Leather. Bonded Leather (e.g. my office chair) is pressed or bonded together bits, pieces, shavings, and dust particles of leather glued and pressed together flat. A very low-quality pressed leather with not many durable and natural features. Genuine and Bonded leather is usually spray-painted to look good like Full or Top Grain Leather. The difference between high and low grade leather is like the difference between a Porsche 911 and a Dodge La Femme. Be careful and choose wisely.

So here are my criteria and then my evaluation of the USA Carry gun belt.

MY 10 CRITERIA, worth 10 maximum points each on my scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest value for each criterion. The total possible for all 10 criteria then is 100 points: 

* Minimizes Movement of my weapon; enhances stability and gun security;<...

PHOENIX, AZ – On the morning of September 22nd, 2015, around 10:20 AM, a Phoenix homeowner in his 60’s heard the sound of one of his windows being broken into. He retrieved his firearm and warned the intruder twice that he was armed before proceeding to shoot him.

“The homeowner reported perceiving a threat and fired at the subject, striking him,” police said in a statement.”

The wounded intruder got away on foot over the backyard fence but didn’t get to far. Emergency personnel found him lying in an alley about 5 houses away in extremely critical condition. He was then rushed to the hospital.

Read Also: Why You Should Always Be Carrying

Arizona is a state with a castle doctrine law:

“A. A person is justified in threatening or using both physical force and deadly physical force against another if and to the extent the person reasonably believes that physical force or deadly physical force is immediately necessary to prevent the other’s commission of arson of an occupied structure under section 13‑1704, burglary in the second or first degree under section 13‑1507 or 13‑1508, kidnapping under section 13‑1304, manslaughter under section 13‑1103, second or first degree murder under section 13‑1104 or 13‑1105, sexual conduct with a minor under section 13‑1405, sexual assault under section 13‑1406, child molestation under section 13‑1410, armed robbery under section 13‑1904, or aggravated assault under section 13‑1204, subsection A, paragraphs 1 and 2. B. There is no duty to retreat before threatening or using physical force or deadly physical force justified by subsection A of this section. C. A person is presumed to be acting reasonably for the purposes of this section if he the person is acting to prevent the commission of any of the offenses listed in subsection A of this section. D. This section is not limited to the use or threatened use of physical or deadly physical force in a person’s home, residence, place of business, land the person owns or leases, conveyance of any kind, or any other place in this state where a person has a right to be.”

Detroit, MI – A man in his 40’s pulled up to a popular BP gas station at 6:40 AM on Tuesday to pump up the tires in his green Buick. That’s when a man walked up and said to the owner of the car, “I’ll kill you”. A scuffle ensued then the carjacker hopped into the car and “attempted” to steal it.

What this carjacker didn’t realize is that the owner of the car had a valid CPL license on him along with a handgun.  Feeling that his life was in danger, the CPL holder fired into the car hitting the carjacker while he apparently backed the car up into a pole that was protecting the pump. The wounded man then walked off into the neighborhood.

The CPL holder stayed on scene and cooperated with police who were there reviewing security footage and trying to locate the wounded carjacker.

So for all of the people that say concealed carriers do not thwart attacks, here is another example to prove you wrong. This is just another reason of why you should always carry.

Read Also: How to Avoid Getting Attacked in Your Car

So you’ve decided to get your concealed carry permit and carry a gun for self defense. For those of you in states that require permits, you go through the required training, fill out the forms and pay the fees. You anxiously wait for your permit to arrive like Ralphie in The Christmas Story waiting for his secret decoder pin. Once it finally arrives you realize now you can finally carry concealed.

Some of you may head over to your favorite firearms forum and post that your permit arrived (like I’ve seen time and time again). I’ve also seen a lot of people post that they feel awkward or paranoid carrying concealed for the first time. While it can feel awkward carrying for the first time, it can be expected. Not to put driving a car and carrying a gun into the same category but I bet you also felt awkward driving at first after getting your drivers license. It takes time and practice getting used to new habits.

But two things to think about before getting your permit is:

* Would you actually be prepared to use your firearm if needed?

* Do you have the proper training to use your firearm in a self defense situation?

In a recent news story, a man was “getting rough” with a female friend of a 23 year old women. She decided to pull her handgun. The man then proceeded to take her gun, beat both women with the gun and shoot the 23 year old that pulled the gun twice in the chest.

While we do not know the exact circumstances of this situation, it does show that simply having a gun won’t keep you safe. If you are not prepared to use the gun when the situation arises, it is possible that the gun you purchased and carry for self defense could be taken from you and used against you.

From Massad Ayoob’s 10 Commandments Of Concealed Carry:

COMMANDMENT II:

Don’t Carry A Gun If You Aren’t Prepared To Use It

The gun is not a magic talisman that wards off evil. It is a special-purpose emergency rescue tool: no more, no less. History shows us that—for police and for armed citizens alike—the mere drawing of the gun ends the great majority of criminal threats, with the offender either surrendering or running away. However, you must always remember that criminals constitute an armed subculture themselves, living in an underworld awash with stolen, illegal weapons. They don’t fear the gun; they fear the resolutely armed man or woman pointing that gun at them. And, being predators, they are expert judges of what is prey and what is a creature more dangerous to them than what they had thought a moment ago was their prey. Thus, the great irony: the person who is prepared to kill if they must to stop a murderous transgression by a human predator is the person who is least likely to have to do so.

Training and practice is also a big part of the decision to carry concealed. My firearms training during and after being in the military imparted the idea that practicing helps build “muscle memory.” So once you are in the “fight or flight” mode, that “muscle memory” should kick in and help you in that situation. I’m not saying that your muscles will actually remember the training and practice you’ve went through but it should help your mind respond to that situation. I was always told by my instructors that you will resort to your training in a self defense situation.

I’ve read some arguments about whether or not this &#...

Do you have a Texas Concealed Handgun License?

Did you realize that it is now a valid form of identification?

House Bill 2739 (see the full text below) went into effect on September 1, 2015. What this does is amend the Business and Commerce Code which now requires Texas businesses to accept a Texas Concealed Handgun License as a valid form of personal identification for access to goods, services, or facilities.

Three things this House Bill does NOT affect are:

* Laws requiring a driver license to operate a motor vehicle.

* The existing requirement to present a driver license when renting a car.

* The type of identification required under federal law to access airport premises or to pass through airport security.

Now that you are able to use it as a form of identification, the question is, SHOULD YOU? Personally I wouldn’t use my concealed carry permit or license (depending on the state you are in) as a form of identification. To me this would be the same as telling someone I am carrying concealed. I prefer to carry concealed for just that reason, so no one knows I have a handgun on me. I don’t want to get into the open carry vs. concealed carry debate. This is just my own personal preference.

But it is good to know that as a last resort, if for some reason you didn’t have your driver’s license on you but did have your Texas Concealed Handgun License on you, then you could use it as a form of identification.

Click here for more information on obtaining a Texas Concealed Handgun License.

Less than a month after the attack in Chattanooga, Florida Senator Rand Paul introduced an amendment to the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, which would amend permit members of the armed forces to possess firearms on military installations in accordance with applicable state and local law.

“I find it ridiculous that the brave men and women serving in our armed forces are asked to defend us overseas but cannot protect themselves once they return home. My amendment ensures that our honorable service members are allowed to protect themselves while serving our nation at home,” Sen. Paul said.

Soon after that Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam made the decision to expedite all Florida concealed weapon or firearm license applications submitted by active military members and veterans.

From the Florida Concealed Weapon License Website:

Note to Military Members and Veterans

The department is now expediting all Florida concealed weapon or firearm license applications submitted by active military members and veterans.

Active military personnel who want to apply for a concealed weapon license should include a copy of their Common Access Card or other form of official military identification with their applications. The department will also accept a copy of service members’ current orders as proof of active duty status.

Honorably discharged veterans should submit a copy of their DD 214 long form with their applications.

And they definitely meant it. Within 60 days they approved 7,549 concealed weapon licenses for military personnel and vets. That’s a whopping pace of 125 licenses per day. Their normal processing time is within 90 days. The worked on a business model that would cut that turnaround time down to 30 days. Well, whatever they did worked because the average processing time right now is roughly 6 days.

So if you are in the military or you are a veteran and are interested in getting your Florida Concealed Weapons Permit, now is the time to apply. Including what is listed above, active-duty military personnel may submit copies of any of the following documents that confirm your experience with a firearm gained during your service:

* military orders including call to active-duty letter;

* a statement of military service signed by, or at the direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters which identifies you and provides your date of entry on your current active-duty period;

Former military personnel can submit a DD 214 long form reflecting honorable discharge from military service.

And Florida offers resident and non-resident permits.

For more information on how to obtain your Florida Concealed Weapons permit click here.

We always hope you enjoy coming to USA Carry to learn and discuss more about concealed carrying. However, there’s a lot of other opinions and ideas floating out there and we wanted to show you some that sure entertained us.

Mr. Colion Noir — Smart, Sensible Take On Gun Matters

Mr. Colion Noir quickly grew in popularity in the concealed carry community because he addressed the pressing issues facing us. Namely, how we can do more to prevent mass shootings, decypher the politics surrounding guns, and encourage people to act responsibly. He is also an NRA News Commentator and the host of NOIR. You can follow him on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and his own website, Mr. Colion Noir (coming soon).

Yankee Marshal — Quick-Witted Southern Take On Guns

Not everyone agrees with the Yankee Marshal. He’s opinionated, has prior law enforcement experience, and lives in Oregon — far from his Southern roots. While his politics tend to lean conservative, he has some surprisingly open-minded takes on the politics as it relates to the shooter and his responsibilities. Not every video you’ll agree with, but you’ll definitely see he takes safety seriously and the rest is up for laughs and good-hearted debate. You can follow the Yankee Marshal on Youtube, Facebook and Instagram.

Concealed Nation — Advocating For Responsible CCW

Concealed Nation has always stuck to their guns – no pun intended – in maintaining that concealed carriers have a responsibility to be knowledgeable about the law, train how they intend to fight, and maintaining constant situational awareness. One of the unique things about Concealed Nation is they’re extremely good at covering actual concealed carry events in the news and reporting them for their audience. This helps keep people aware that proper training and a good mindset will go a long way in staying safe. We like them so much, sometimes we share their articles. You can follow them at their website Concealed Nation,