Conceal Carry Commandment's

For many carrying a concealed firearm is new to them. If they are properly trained then they understand the great responsibility and standard of higher care that they are held to. They know that there is a lot to this, that goes rather deep and a whole lot to know. There is a great many things that one should know and do, below I offer these, I know not if they are carved in stone or not, but they should be carved into the brain. The following is based on my own experiances, as well as, from my mentor and living legend Massad Ayoob. Mr. Ayoob first wrote these back in 2009 and appeared as "Ten Commandments of Concealed Carry" in Harris publications. I had the honor and privedge of discussing these with Massad after I attended his MAG20 class (I strongly urge everyone who carry's legally to attend this class).

1- If you choose to carry, always carry, as much as possible. If the need comes you will have to defend yourself or those under your care, do you think it will be when you choose? Criminal's attack when the prey least expect it as do other vile critters. They have the luxury of picking and choosing their chosen prey and when to pounce. Could that "quick" run to the store be the time? Could just poping in for a quick burger with family be the time a disgrentled employee show's up? Is it possible that sitting with family enjoying a movie at a theater be the time a person who has no care for life decides to take it away? I am not trying to scare you, just reality of the world we live in, we must choose not to be a victim. Along with this, you want to carry as much as possible so you can "fine" tune and adjust it to your lifestyle. You will find that once you do, that you will feel "naked" without it. Imagine the first time you got a cell phone, at first it was a nuisance, in a short time, you stopped and looked till you found it before you left the home.

2- If your not prepared to use it, don't carry it. This is of course something that you must consider and decide long before you carry. There is nothing that you can put on to keep evil away, there is no magic, untill force field technology gets perfected. It doesn't matter if it is a knife, firearm, stun gun or hammer, you must have come to terms with the possible use of this rescue tool if the time comes. If properly trained, then you understand what will follow once you have to use the tool. Not just the legal aftermath, but the psychological and social as well. You must remember, criminal's do not fear the firearm or tool. They have their own and are familiar with them. What they truly fear is the potential prey who has come to terms with these issue's and have commited that if it comes, they will do what is necassary. We hope and pray we never have to be in the situation, but if it does come, we must have the decision of action already dealt with.

3- Do not allow the firearm to make you reckless. "with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail" is an old saying. Just because you have the firearm does not make you superman/superwoman. As already stated, those who carry legally are held to a higher standard of care". You are expected to know the law and the narrow scope of applying the rescue tool justifiably. This does not give you any special power, you are not a deputized law enforcement officer. Everything that you do will be measured by a magnifing glass, so make sure that you conduct yourself accordingly. Carrying a firearm is the last resort, and should be also the "brake" that should always be present in your mind before you go and get into the mix of a situation, it should always be present in the thought process.

4- Carry Legally. You are a lawabiding citizen, who has taken the time and responsiblity of seeking training and taking the time to obtain your license. You need to ask yourself this, "why did I find the need to get my conceal carry license and/or why do I feel the need to carry a firearm?". It will be different for everyone, but I would assume that you want the ability to protect yourself and those under your care if the need arised. Now, I want you to stop and think what you would do if a greater power took that away, forever! This is what will happen if you do not carry Legally, many times I have stated that we will be held to a higher standard of care and breaking the law is not what reasonable, prudent people do. The very law's of our great nation, give us the right to do this, unlike so many other countries. The law is not a serpent out slithering around looking and tempting you to become a felon. It is you who make the decision to give up this right by becoming a felon.

5- Know what you are doing. This applies just not with applying marksmanship skills, nor just carrying method. But goes along with understanding the law's that will be applied to you. You need to know the narrow scope of the law that you will be measured to if the situation ever transpires. There is all kinds of myth's out there that range from "just drag them inside" to "just say you was in fear of your life", it is not that simple. If someone tell's you this, are you willing to take their advice which will decide where you will sleep the next 20 years of your life? You have to know not only how to carry and use the rescue tool's, but you can justifiably use them. Would you give someone CPR who had a cut on their finger? Apply what is appropriate for the time. Having this knowledge and applying it comes with research and training. Study intently and understand why this person went to prison, yet this one did not. Your training should be not just in how to shoot, but when to shoot as well. FYI, I recommend first aid training as well, because you may have to render aid to yourself and/or your loved one. Having a guitar doesn't make you a rockstar, just as having a firearm doesn't make you prepared. Train!

6- Concealed means hidden from view. Remember just as you have a right to have the firearm, other citizens have the equal right not to see or be threatened by it. You want to keep it concealed for various reasons. Legally, most states have a "brandishing" or "threatening" laws, to protect all of us from such acts. So we want to ensure that someone doesn't feel this way and we become charged with breaking law (see #5 above). Tactically, we want to have the firearm concealed to keep this advantage in our favor. Picture if you will, you are in a convienant store, a criminal comes in to rob it, as you reach for something on top shelf they see your firearm. Who do you think they will eliminate first? We do not want anyone to know we are carrying. I also look at it as the first step in keeping it from unauthorized people. I do not want someon to be tempted to reach for it.

7- Be familiar with firearms. You have decided to carry a firearm for your protection and/or that of the ones you love. You want to know deeply how to manipulate it safely. If the time comes that you will need it, it will be within seconds. You want it to be second nature and extention of yourself. You want to know it intimately, how to load, unload, clear malfunction, how to fire it. I strongly urge that after you become familiar with your firearm, that you seek out being familiar with some different ones also. Have a working knowledge of single and double action revolvers, remember you may be in a situation to where you may have to pick one of those up too.

8- Study the fine points. Like signing a contract or buying something you need to read the fine print before you commit to something (see #5). Take sometime and understand the finer points of the laws in your area. Understanding them will help with other places that it is different. This will help you stay legal and comprehend what is just. The principle "ignorance of the law is no excuse", should be branded in your brain.

9- The firearm you carry should be adequate. The firearm/ammunition you carry should have a "track record" for stopping a threat. Remember, if you are ever in a situation to where you shoot a person, you will have to articulate why you did what you did, as well as, why you used what you did. If chosen carry method is not used by law enforcement then you might want to rethink it.

10- Make sure common sense is "Common". Use sound reasoning, logic and ethics as you would do at all times. Carrying a firearm you have the power of what? You literally have the power at your side of life and death. Why do you think that you have to get training and apply for a license to carry? Because this grave power belongs only in the hand of responsible people that understand the consequences of it. A person who values life and the safety of others. At all times use common sense.

I hope that this might give you some insight and guidance in carrying. Once again I want to thank Mr. Ayoob for putting this in an important article back in 2009, as well as, all his hard ground breaking work. My friend stay safe, train well and be aware.

Grip- It's just not for hands anymore

The Grip is often overlooked when it comes to the presentation and shooting of the pistol. A great many people just grab and pick up the pistol, then apply the other hand and begin to shoot, then wonder often why the impacts are not getting better. I often state in my basic pistol classes, that the pistol is the hardest firearm to shoot well. There is a great many reason's for this and one of them is that unlike others, you are only connected to the pistol with your hands with no other support, (Hovering out in front of the body). So, the better we can make our grip on the pistol the more it will help with consistency, as well as, manage recoil for a follow up shot.


I will address shooting a semi-automatic in my view, because this is the most common pistol used today, (I will follow this up with picture's, once I get a new camera). Note, that understanding this is critical, especially for a new shooter, befor they spend there hard earned money on a pistol that is not correct for them. Just because it is easy to conceal does not mean it can be shot well. As, always the firearm rules will apply. First, with an uloaded firearm (only you know that it is unloaded after you check), point in safe direction, then feel your grip with the strong hand. Does it fit in the palm of your hand? Does your hand sit high against the "tang" of the pistol? Is there room for your support hand?


Now lift the pistol up with a one hand grip, and obtain good sight alignment, now look down at how the pistol sit's in your hand, is it in the "V" or off to one side? The rule of thumb is, that it should line up with the "V", for good support, the real trick is, how does it line up with the Ulna and Radius of the arm? In essence you want your wrist locked, and the bones supporting the pistol. Then you have good structure, which in turn will give your consitency. Now, this is the "perfect" way, however we are all built differently, with different hands and build, but we will disuss this in a second. I don't want you to change anything, I want you to feel how it fits in your hand now. Next, only after you of course ensure that it is unloaded. I want you to put your trigger finger on the trigger, and apply slight take up (tension), don't shoot it, just put tension on the trigger. As, you apply pressure, is there any added pressue on your front strap fingers? Look at your trigger finger on how it address's the frame of the pistol. Does it make contact with it? Do you really have to reach for the trigger? Do you have to "fight" to draw your finger into the trigger for the sweet spot? Does your overall strong hand stay in contact with the pistol front/back strap? Next, as long as can be done safely, dry fire the pistol. Nice and slow, press the trigger to the rear till it breaks, then hold it. How does it feel, is your finger "cramped to make it go off? Look at all the same, remember we want the shot to break with out changing anything and this is where it all begins, the grip. All the above is sizing, can you make any pistol shoot well, sure. But, with the correct pistol you will shoot great and appear easily, why struggle?


One of the biggest issue's I see people have, is when they grip the pistol, they "torque" on left grip panel, with the tips of there fingers (they shoot low/left). We want the pressure of our strong hand to press the front strap of the pistol back into the back strap into the palm of the hand, STRAIGHT back. You want the hand high, create a bubble of skin under the "tang". Now, take your thumb and point it up. This will open the void that needs filled. Take your support hand, where the ball of your thumb meets hand and lay that high on the grip, then point the thumb toward the target, along the slide. This will cause the support hand to cant foward, and lock the support wrist. Now the support hand fingers should wrap around the strong hand fingers, and grip more of a side to side. Apply tight grip, just as you would if swinging a hammer. I find that if you concentrate on applying more "pinky" pressure it helps tighten the grip. I do not advocate placing the support hand index finger on the trigger guard, the reason why, is because unless your get trained properly, you will be steering the pistol off target, then you are compensating for a problem that shouldn't be there anyway.


The hands can only do so much, so let us bring in some help. I find that if you press the pistol out all the way, you have more of a tendancy to "rock" in your grip. But, if your just slightly break it back toward your chest, your grip will tighten (try it with a piece of paper and have someone pull it out). This is called a chest press, and brings in the pectoral muscles and the deltoid muscles. Which gives us even more control, especially with recoil management. next time on the range, Shoot three rounds like normal. Then apply the chest press principles for 3 shot's. You will find that you will have more control over the pistol and shoot a tighter group.


The next thing to do to help with the grip, is improve your stance. What many people do not realize is that if you really want to focus on something, human being bend over a little, (watch people and you will see it is true). This increase's our focus. So, if we bend into the shot, get our chest just ahead of our belly button (push butt out), we are getting more of our body behind the pistol (mass weight), and we increase our focus which means better front sight control. This will assist you in managing recoil, as well as, increase balance, which in turn tightens your grip on the pistol.


Stay alert, articulate well, train often.

A.C.T. Mindset

Armed Citizen Tactical mindset (A.C.T. mindset) this is something I coined about a decade ago, I am sure I am not the only instructor who has stated something along these lines. This is the armed citizen using the training tool's that they should of learned and continually improving situation's to there advantage. As we have discussed in several articles the most important tool's that a person can have in their defensive arsenal are: Awareness, time and distance. With out these your chances of defending yourself and/or your family drop dramatically. As well as, the ability to increase your mantle of innocense, by articulating the actions you took to avoid the situation. I hesitate to use the word "tactical", because in todays world it bring's up people in black duty gear charging into room's doing dynamic actions. But in reality everything that you do, to avoid a armed incident is a tactic. From using a shopping cart as a barricade, to changing the direction you are taking to a vehicle, when your awareness tell's you something is starting to fall into place. The key is to learn how to see things starting to happen and realize what item are around and to use them into your favor. One aspect of this mindset that I try and get across to students, especially in advanced class's, is to use the greatest tool you have, your brain. The best defense is a strong offense. Unfortanately, this creates some legal issues. But that doesn't mean we can not take an offensive mindest and start to plan for a situation. Having a plan, which must always be flexible is crucial. When things start to materialize you have a basis to springboard off of. A good example that I relate in one training segment, is how would you handle a situation in a restraunt if you was sitting in a booth, verse's a chair? Think about it, this creates a little different tactic. Would you be better off leaning over and "springing" out from the side? What if you have company sitting next to you? How would you communicate this with the group/spouse you are with? As you can see this alone, hold's it own set of tactics that must be worked out ahead of time. As many of you know the human brain does not act the same in times of duress as it does normally. A discussion on this alone could and does fill volume's of book's. What we need to understand is that we loose fine motor skill's and the a momentary pause of rationalizing. This happens because we must "switch on" from being passive to becomine reactive and aggresive. As an armed citizen you will be reacting to a situation, instead of having the time to act. This is where planning and training comes into play. You will expericance fear and panic. This is natural, and why we must do this. This is why professional's train till they fail or make a mistake, and amatuers train till they get it right. A professional know's that when it happen's time is against him/her and that having a plan and acting upon it, accepting and dealing with the stress and panic in training, is what will keep the field level. What I advise is pick one thing you do in your everyday life and make a log. Then spend some time (a week) pondering and developing a good plan. Then seek training or advice and train on it. A classic example, besides, the ones above, that I get back from students is: You are sitting at a table in a restraunt with your family, a situation begin's to start, what will you do? Initially, you will come up with a quick plan and think it works. But, stop and look at it from all angles and you will find (while you have the time) you forgot about the backstop if the bullet over penetrates, what if you are holding your child on your strong holster side? There will always be a dynamic, and that is why you need to look at it now and get a idea worked out. I go as far as drawing diagrams for the situation. Most of this comes from my military background, but it is a very usefull tool, especially when everything in your life is at stake. The A.C.T. mindset is as with all things conceal carry a lifestyle change. This will help you overcome some of the issues that comes with it. You can start by applying the following to a situation you pick-out: 1. What am I triggering on? 2. What is my immediate response of others under my care? 3. What will be my response of action? 4. Can I articulate why I took this action? 5. Where will my impact's go in I miss or over penetrate? 6. What tool's can become cover/concealment? 7. What obstacles can I use to buy time and distance? Stay safe, plan right, train properly

Learning, shouldn't be in the moment!

Waiting untill you need to do something is not the time to learn how to do it! Ever heard someone say "I will do it when I have too?" Well, as some people find out in life the hard (bad) way, when you need something you don't have time for trial and error. A good example is all the reality survival show's on TV. These people come to the show and do not know how to make FIRE! Now if you had an idea that you was going to be in a situation where you would have to make fire out of nothing, would you not take the time and learn how to do it NOW? I mean we are not talking about just for comfort, but for actually living! As I have said many times, we live in a great country, where we have so much that we don't have to worry about, but many take too much for granted. We live in a society now where people want things now. Without any thought of what it takes and or took to create and make it happen. Personal Protection is not a game of chance, it is a reality of life and death. We need to learn how to survive if and/or when the situation takes place. Taking the time to not only be responsible and take training and initiative to train continually is a great start. But, there is more to it, the biggest aspect to me is the thought process that should go into tactics and training. Taking the time to train and take realistic training to put you within a controled environment so you can experiance the dynamics of what is going to happen, will go a long way. In the next few blog's I am going to break things down that should help shed some light on things to ponder or implement. I am not going to make you an expert, that only comes with proper training and practice. Just as learning to read as a child, you didn't do it once, but over multitude of repetition's. Through perfect practice. I will post on this blog things that in my opinion have made it better for me and my students. Things like: ACT mindset Perfect Practice In the Study Me Log Are just a few I will share with you, to hopefully give you some knowledge. I want everyone to be prepared, in the event something was to happen. Remember it can happen to anyone, if you accept that and plan accordingly then when it does, you will be prepared. You don't want to be in a situation where you or your family life is on the line and you are "now I have to do this to do.." RRRRRRRR, too late. I want to share a example that has been with me since I read about it in Mr. Heston's Biography. It was during the Rodney King Riots in L.A., I don't have to remind you that this is a very anti-gun state. It was during this time, that many people was scared. Several wealthy people called Mr. Heston and asked "Hey Chuck it is getting crazy out there you have any extra guns we can borrow?" Mr. Heston then said, "Yes it is crazy out there, didn't you vote to keep the guns from peoples hands".

Off Body carry

Off Body Carry By Todd R. Mendenhall At a local Mall, I sat sipping a cup of coffee, as my wife did some shopping. Being a student of human behavior, I enjoy watching people in there daily activities. Soon, an older lady sat down at a table in front of me and placed her bag on top of the table. We exchanged smiles and greetings and she checked her phone. I noticed that her bag had a special side zipper compartment, which to me screamed “conceal carry”. Soon, she took a sip of her beverage and realized she forgot something for it. She stood, walked 15 feet over to the condiment counter, and “dressed” her drink, which took a minute then on her way back stopped and talked with an acquaintance for about 8 minutes. The whole time between there laughs, I would glance back at the unattended bag. She finally, came back to the bag and her phone of which she proceeded to scroll through it. The birth of the article was started on Off-carry there. When I say “off-carry” what am I talking about? Off-Carry is the carrying of a concealed firearm in a place that is not directly on your person/body. It is usually associated with ladies carrying in a purse; however, it is often used by gentleman as well, in form of laptop bags, Note bags, briefcases and other forms. There may be times that off-carry is the only true option one has. As with all forms of “carry” there are things that must be adhered to. This article is not going to make you an “expert” nor will it substitute training from an instructor. Carrying off the body brings with it some special things to consider. Following are some things to think about. Safety- Is the “bag” your going to carry the firearm in, built for it? Just taking a firearm and throwing it in a “bag” for personal protection is an accident waiting to happen. Your conceal carry course should of included the need to carry in a holster. The “bag” is the same way. The firearm trigger housing should be secure to keep unwanted things from getting into that area. As well as, keeping the firearm oriented in a consistent place in the need for access. Access- The “bag” should be designed so you can quickly and effectively access the firearm if the need arises. It should be pointed out, that accessing an off-carry firearm takes longer than various on-carry options. So awareness should be higher, we will touch on that little later. As part of one of my instructor courses we was trained and had to “qualify” drawing and engaging with a conceal carry purse. Yes, there is a certain technique to use, so it can be done safely and quickly. On an off-carry bag, there is a need to secure it closed, do to the nature of carry. I see zippers as the biggest means of doing this. As explained in one of our courses, if an incident a rises, the human body looses the use of fine motor skills. So, one should train to minimize the use of these. For the zipper access, I suggest a “lanyard”, can be of Para cord or other material be attached to the clip of the zipper. This will give you more control and quicker access if your awareness warrants it. Awareness- As with any situation this is critical, as again is pointed out in one of our courses. You need to have time to gain access to your firearm in need arises. It will take longer to gain access to an off-carry firearm than it will one that is on your person. So you should be aware and have time on your side. Instead of just pulling a garment open or up, to access your firearm. You have to orient the “bag”, open the compartment, to gain access. This as will all things in self defense must be practiced. So, you can see, especially when carrying in this mode, you need to be able to actually use tactics to ensure a favorable outcome. Security- “You have a responsibility to keep firearms from unauthorized people”! Ever heard this before? This is YOUR responsibility if you carry! You must keep anyone from not only taking your firearm (bag), but keep others from gaining access to it. As I finish this article on 12-30-2014 there was an unfortunate example of this. As a lady was looking at some item in a big box store, her child accessed her pistol in her purse and shot her. This should drive home the responsibility you have in off-carry. Though the “bag” is on a table, floor, cart, passenger seat it is still your responsibility whatever happens. I have seen some “bags” with locks on them, to keep others from accessing them. This is a personal choice that must be weighed. It is my opinion that these are not a good option. One, if you are carrying a firearm for protection, you just limited your reaction time if the need arises, not good. Two, it clouds your sense of responsibility. What I mean by this, is you will start to believe it is okay to leave it in there alone, no one will get into it (like putting a loaded firearm on the top shelf thinking “kids” can’t get to it, we know better right). In my opinion, putting a lock on an off-carry bag is the same as having a trigger lock on an on-carry firearm. The only true way to ensure security, to maintain presence of access of the firearm at all times. Carry- “What is the best way to carry it?” There are a few differences of opinion on what the best way to carry is, let’s look at both options for a bag. Across the body- this gives more security of the bag and anything within it. If someone wants the bag, they will have to “rip” the strap (a good CCL bag will have a cable in the strap), and/or pull you to the ground. On the Shoulder- This is more comfortable carry which provides easier access to material inside however is “stripped” from the body easier, with less chance of being drug to the ground. You must decide for yourself what way will work for you. If you do carry over a shoulder, I do suggest you have a hand on the actual handbag at all times. I have come across a new design of conceal carry purse, that is innovative and helps eliminate some of the above which is displayed below by Warrior-Creek with there permission. They also have other options which might be worth looking at. Hopefully, you have gained some sense of awareness that comes with this form of carry. There is more to it than just throwing a firearm into a bag or purse and going on your business. I suggest doing what we teach with regular on-carry before going out the door and practice few times. There is a lot of information out there, some good, but don’t just take “you tube” video training or another persons word for it. Do some research, take a course that will address, as well as instruct you in the “how and why”. Be safe, keep training and always aware. Todd R. Mendenhall Instructor I.S.C.A.P.E.

Revolver: coming full circle

Standing on the firing line, some of the students was becoming impatient. They have had there semi-automatic pistols loaded and made ready for a full 20 seconds (to them and hour). I could see the anticipation of there breathing as they was awaiting the commands. Once the other student was ready, and the line was ready the shooting began. After all the string's of fire was complete and the range was clear and cold, the students began to gather their gear and go back to the classroom. As I passed one table, one student looked at the "slower" one and said, "you should really upgrade to the 21st century", half joking. The other student kind of smiled and kept at the task. I then decided and impromtu discussion should take place here, for the benefit of the students. I stopped them all and had them come into a school circle on the range. I then asked, "what is the most reliable pistol they have ever shot?". The class was made up of mainly younger men, and two ladies, one was closer to my age (that young). While they was stating a few "name brand" pistol's, I began to clear and lay out a few different models on the table. After they was done,I said "which one would you put in a new person hand and have them defend your life, of the ones on the table?" There was a look of confusion, then one asked "which would you?" I reached over and picked up the open cylinder revolver, raised it to my chest and said "this one". The looks of doubt was all about. I then began to fill the students in as to why this was my personal opinion of the choice. I pointed out a few key things for them to thing about; 1) For well over a hundred years, the double action revolver has in essence been unchanged. That is because it works! 2) The Double action revolver is the most reliable pistol, (you could see some defensive looks, almost feel some chest raise as they was ready to defend there brands). This is the only pistol that you can load, set in safe area, come back months or years, pick it up and it will fire! There is no spring of the magazine to get week, or lack of lubrication ont he slide to dry out. 3) I pointed out that with this design you can place it in "single action", to acquire a more precise shot on a small target. Instead of having just one set trigger. 4) The double action revovler has a fixed barrel. You don't have to be a gunsmith or designer, to grasp that a fixed barrel will be more accurate than one that moves. 5) The mechanics of the revolver are a whole lot simpler that those of a semi-automatic. 6) The manipulation of the pistol is far easier. All that is needed is to be able to open the cylinder, insert cartridges, close and shoot. 7) Being manipulation is simpler, those with small hands, or arthritis find it a joy. 8) A person will have better muzzle control,as there is no "fighting" of the slide to lock back. 9) There is no safety on the pistol, as well as, no doubt if loaded or not. Pop open cylinder and can see, at same time makes the pistol clear. 10) If you experiance a malfuction there is one simple immediate action drill, press the trigger again. After I was done, you could see the light bulbs burning bright on the new found information of the old "wheel gun". I told them I am just giving you information to think about. That there is no free lunch as that the revolver does have a few limitions. One being that if you experiance a "squib load" or if it does lock up, you now have a club. Many cite that the revolver is limited on capacity, and a great many of them agreed with that statement. I then said "what is quicker performing a reload on a semi-automatic or grabbing a "pre-loaded" pistol?" Majority said the reload was the quickest. I then gave them a demonstration of both since I normally carry a semi-automatic with spare magazine and a snub nose revolver. We did not run any timer, but I did a reload and then went to the other pistol 3 times. Afterward, they all said that giong to other pistol was quicker and they was stunned. We live in the golden age of personal protection pistols. A person has there choice of sights, trigger, magazine, grip designs made by hundreds of fine manufactures. You can buy a inexspensive pistol and it will for the most part be reliable, accurate and if maintained last to be handed down to your children. But in this age of "poly", do not overlook the revolver option (you can even get one of those in poly too). It served our military and law enforcement a long time and saved many of there lives. If someone is struggling with a semi-automatic, educate then on the Revolver option. Stay aware, train right

Training is good gear test?

Ever ask yourself, am I using the right gear or am I just using what I have? There is a world differance especially when it comes to conceal carry. When it comes to this one size does not fit all. This is the nice part of it, you can customize it to your physical ability and disadvantages. But a great many people do not. They settle for what they purchased or what a "friend" told them. You have to take that with a grain of salt, because we are unique in our own way. Size, Shape, clothing options, sex (men and ladies are built differently), all come into play. Then there is the simple fact of how can you effectively tell if the firearm and/or gear is correct for you. Yes, you can and should do safe drill's are home (applying the 4 firearms safety rules, you remember them?). You can go to the range and do drill's and training. But the question is this, are you training to the standard of your ability or the limitation of your gear? Taking training class is a great way to find all this out! I inform people who are very limited in firearm knowledge for conceal carry, take a class before you purchase a pistol. If is cheaper to take a $100.00 class and become educated, then spending $500.00 or more on a pistol that you find out is not right for you. I have had a lot of students who, say "I wish I would of known that before I bought the pistol". Besides the obvious education knowledge you will get, you get a chance to test gear and firearms. I always have time after the "official" class range time, so students can try other holsters, pistols and ammunition. It is amazing how friendly the community is, just about everyone is like "here, shoot it". You get a chance that firearm stores and ranges cannot offer, do to overhead and limitations. During training the instructor will ensure you are meeting the standard and skill set. You will find the flaw's of a certian firearm, or gear. Perhaps a simple change is all that is needed, or that you become educated why it will or will not work for you. Have had many cases in some classes where students thought they had the best holster for them, but when doing training, the holster came off the belt, or the belt broke. Far better to find it out now than when it really matters. Many times, people find that a slight adjustment in a certain technique was all that was needed (one's that somehow get missed in video learning). One occasion had a student that could not hit the target effectively, upon investigation, it was found that the ammunition that was being used was not as accurate as other ammunition (wonder how long and how much that would of cost on their own to find out?). One a few other occasions the students found out that their gear was great standing, but when put in common position, was the worst for it. The key is that an Instructor should not just tell you, but mentor you in training so you make the discovery yourself, which really drives it home. Taking training once a year can not only discover the weakness in your system of protection. But, it can also at the same time vindicate it. It will dust off the cobb webs and build your confidence on the things that are working great. If it is, don't change a thing, ask the Instructor what can I do to make the weakness stronger. You are paying a professional, they should and are more than happy to help and guide you to success. Stay aware, train properly and be viligant. Todd