Beretta Blog

One of the biggest questions I get from new shooters attending one of my courses is whether they’re prepared for it with the right gear. This is understandable.  Nobody wants to pay hard earned money for a course and then not be able to get the most out of it just because they didn’t bring the correct items with them.

With the passage of Illinois’ concealed carry law, all fifty states now offer their citizens some sort of opportunity to legally carry a concealed firearm. The intent of these laws is to allow citizens to protect themselves in life-threatening situations. Illinois’ law requires sixteen hours of training and/or approved experience to secure this right to self-defense through concealed carry. Having prepared curriculum for this training, I find there is one component of self-defense that is negligibly covered: articulation.

There are words and ideas that pass right through our brains like truthful reporting zips past the network news. In the shooting world, one of those words is “training.” Lots of respectable people talk about the importance of training. In response, we nod our heads and think “Yes! I need to get some professional training! I’ll get right on that!” But the moment passes, we go back to our daily life, and the next thing you know, we’re back to the normal routine - visiting the range once a month and perforating paper targets with great enthusiasm and vigor.

I was outside of town last weekend, bicycling on an old railroad bed that’s been turned into a trail. It was just about dusk when I rode up on a young woman standing in the middle of the trail. Her back was to me. Though she had her headphones on, I could hear her music. She was too busy texting to see me coming. I could tell by how little she was wearing that she wasn’t concealing a handgun. When she did finally notice me, she almost fell over with fright.

There is much to know and understand before making the choice to carry a concealed handgun. Here are some of the basics to assist you in making this important decision and to help keep you responsible and safe.

A small gun like a Beretta Tomcat is easy to carry, but a large gun, like this 92FS is oh-so-nice to shoot!

Got big guns? I do.

Because I like big guns and I cannot lie. While liking big guns may sounds like a macho thing, it’s really the opposite. Two of my favorite big guns, the Beretta 92FS and the Px4 Storm, are the same caliber as plenty of smaller guns chambered in 9mm and .40 S&W respectively. They’re just larger. And that’s where the reverse macho element comes into play.

Many prospective and current gun owners have run into problems bringing a new firearm into the house.  Many have failed.  Buying a new gun can pose financial and emotional difficulties if your spouse doesn’t share your interest in firearms. So how do you do it? You can get that new gun. I call it CPR but it is not cardio pulmonary resuscitation.  Let me explain.

There are really only two ways to talk to your spouse about guns.  You can be honest about it or deceptive.  As an old married guy and pastor that has been in the gun community for a few decades, let me share.  I believe in honesty. Honesty lasts longer, is less stressful, and is a win-win scenario for everyone.  It is also the safest way.  Undercover gun owners are often responsible for children or unwanted guests finding “hidden” firearms that “accidently” go off.

Plus: buying a firearm together can be fun.  

I was at a gun show in Utah the other day and was amazed at the different types of holster designs that people seem to come up with. If you think about it, we can carry guns inside the waistband, outside the waistband, on our ankles, in t-shirts, in purses, briefcases, cell phone pouches, and dozens of other places.

Back in January, another active shooter incident occurred at a mall in Columbia, MD. The shooter was a 19-year old male who killed two others and then turned the gun on himself. He used a shotgun for the killings and police found two homemade bombs in a backpack that he left behind.

I’ve been to this particular mall several times.  It’s not too far from where I grew up. It’s in a nice area of town.  When people were interviewed after the shooting, many commented along the lines of, “this is such a nice and safe place, I can’t believe something like this could happen here.”

The first part of preparing for self defense against an active shooter is to realize that an active shooting can occur

It seems men are more interested than ever in getting the ladies in their lives involved in shooting sports and self-defense. In their eagerness, they don’t always consider the fit, size, and function of guns, much less the tastes of their siginificant others. Here is what some women may have to say to their husbands regarding their expert choice of side-arms.

Dear husband,

I’ve tried and tried to explain to you that I need to go choose and purchase a concealed carry gun. For some reason, you aren’t hearing my plea. I’m certain you understand the need to defend myself and our family. I’m not sure you recognize other facets that go along with my need to choose my own gun.

I am a better shot than you, even with that over-sized, heavy gun you chose for me. Thanks to it, I now