I’ve carried a concealed weapon for more than 20 years. I made up my mind that very first day that I would kill rather than allow myself to be killed. I also accepted the fact that I would willingly die to protect my family.
Over the years, I took training classes from nationally recognized experts in handguns, self-defense, shotguns for home defense, urban carbine, tactical medicine, and the legalities of using lethal force. I also studied martial arts. I honed my shooting skills at in competition like IDPA, USPSA/IPSC, and three-gun matches. There were years where I fired more than 10,000 rounds.
Over time, the gear has changed. I’ve switched out guns and holsters as technology evolved. I’ve upgraded tactical flashlights as LEDs got brighter. I changed ammo and calibers to use that best meet the changing FBI criteria. I’ve carried .38s, 9mm, .40, and .45, sometimes two at once. I own body armor, both concealed kevlar armor and rifle plates in an external carrier. I’ve got a shotgun by my bed, and once AR pistols with arm braces became legal, I upgraded my car carry to an AR pistol.
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