What it means to be SAFE, SKILLED and SECURE.
Our mission here at Confident Carry is to make people Safe, Skilled and Secure. I believe those three words should be synonymous with all gun owners. But what exactly do those three words mean? I’m gonna break down for you what they mean and why they are so vitally important if you own a gun.
I know it may sound like I’m beating the dead horse with this one but gun safety is the single most important factor in gun ownership. You may think this is so basic you don’t need to read this, but not everyone shoots competition, has grown up around firearms or has been taught proper gun handling. It doesn’t matter if you carry every single day, keep a gun in your vehicle or keep on the top shelf of your closet for home defense. Gun safety must be hardwired into your brain and these points are super straightforward. My 4 main points of gun safety are:
1) Never point your firearm at anything you don’t intend to shoot/keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction. I’ve seen it time and time again, someone at the range, flagging everyone one with their muzzle. It makes me cringe and I do not ever hesitate to call them out, then try and help them not ever do it again. Most people do not realize they are doing it and will make a conscience effort to not do it again once they realize what they did.
2) Never put your finger on the trigger till you are ready to shoot. Simple enough right?
3) Know your target and what’s behind it. Randomly shooting with no back stop is not a good idea. Know where you rounds will end up once they exit your barrel.
4) Know your firearm. You should know intimately how your firearm operates. Is it a striker fired semi-auto, a double action semi auto, a single action semi auto, a double/single semi auto, a revolver? Know how to safely load, unload, clear a jam, deal with a malfunction and understand all safety features associated with your firearm.
There are more rules of course. One I hear a lot and is taught at many instructor courses is to keep your firearm unloaded until you are ready to use it. In my opinion this principle applies only to the range and practice time, don’t load your gun until you get up to the firing line and are ready to shoot. I do not preach this one because if you are carrying or have a gun for personal protection, an unloaded gun will do you no good. A person wanting to do harm to you or your family will not wait for you to load your gun. However, it is your responsibility to keep your loaded or unloaded firearm out of the hands of children or unauthorized people.
When you decide to own a firearm, you have a duty to yourself, your loved ones and the general public to attain a certain level of skill with your gun. I’m not saying you need to be a USPSA Grand Master, but you need to practice and be proficient. You need to understand the basics of marksmanship and be able to put rounds accurately down range. If you buy a gun and never shoot it, then you will not be prepared if you ever had to use it.
Make it a point to practice as much as you can. If you are having trouble with making accurate shots then work with an instructor who can teach you. Sight alignment and trigger control are not complicated tasks, but they do require practice and proper training. Set aside some time on your calendar to practice. You may find that you thoroughly enjoy your practice sessions. Sign up for a match if you want to take your practice to another level. GLOCK, Steel Challenge, USPSA and IDPA are just a few organizations you can research to find matches near you. They will definitely make you more skilled.
This is more of a state of mind than anything else. A feeling of security that a firearm can provide is a powerful thing. Firearms in the hands of someone who is safe and skilled is the ultimate equalizer. Knowing you have the ability to defend what is precious to you is profound.
You are not a sheep. You are a law abiding citizen of the United States of America who has the right to bear arms. However, do not let this sense of security override your ability to pay attention and be aware of your surroundings. The combination of security and situational awareness is what you want to achieve.
In the end, firearms are simply tools. We were given the right to own them by our forefathers. They had a vision way beyond their time. The right of the individual to keep and bear arms is the pillar of a truly free country. With that right comes the individual responsibility to be SAFE, SKILLED AND SECURE.