Tag: USCCA

Bland, Basic, Boring and Black

Posted on by USCCA

By Beth Alcazar  // 02/27/2018

Not too long ago, I was working with a group of USCCA Instructor candidates, watching them, as they endeavored to pass their shooting qualification. My teammate noticed that one of the students had an image of the Punisher on the base plates of her magazines. Of course, to those who enjoy firearms (and perhaps a bit of gun collecting), this would not be a big deal. What firearms enthusiast or competitive shooter doesn’t enjoy some modification or personalization? It’s kind of a natural progression to go from out-of-the-box to customized and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Whether it’s the addition of an aftermarket Crimson Trace laser or an American flag Cerakote finish, owners can gain a lot of extra usefulness and enjoyment from a firearm that’s been modified beyond its original configuration. But these customized magazines happened to go with her everyday carry gun. Her self-defense gun. And that’s where things can get a bit tricky.

I’m far from an expert on legal issues, but in a litigious society filled with anti-gun nuttery, a firearm that’s been modified can mean trouble, especially if the owner has modified the action (changed the trigger so it’s smoother or lighter). To an eager prosecutor, that can translate to a gun owner who’s looking for a fight, hoping to shoot someone and wanting to kill. Of course, we in the gun community know that’s not true in the slightest. But it is something to consider. While a mass-produced firearm follows designs and specifications that can be replicated and supported, an altered firearm could potentially be labeled “unsafe,” “dangerous” or even “more lethal.”

Click on the illustration/link above for membership information to join the USCCA.

If you are ever involved in a self-defense shooting, your gun will be seized as evidence. Firearms experts will study the ammunition used and will inspect the gun (along with magazines and accessories) to make sure it functions properly, the safeties work and the trigger pull meets factory specifications. Any distinctive features or anomalies, possibly caused by modifications, will be noted. So … how would it look if your carry gun had a purple Holoflake glitter finish … or had the Punisher (a fictional vigilante who employs murder, kidnapping, extortion, coercion and violence in his campaign against crime) emblazoned on the magazines? Would a jury look favorably on that? At this point, you may be wishing your gun was bland, basic, boring and black.

Undoubtedly, whether or not you modify your concealed carry handgun is a very personal decision. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t change the grip on a firearm to fit their hands. But if you can’t articulate exactly why you put that whiz-bang trigger in your Glock 19, then don’t put it in. However, if you can explain it and justify it, go ahead and have it professionally installed by a competent gunsmith (with verifiable credentials) if you don’t have an armorer certification. And be able to explain why the original plastic sights were exchanged for better ones or why that Surefire X300 is on there. If the modifications were done to increase accuracy and reliability, then you’re increasing the safety of yourself and others …which is why we carry a self-defense gun in the first place.

All in all, always be cautious and consider leaving your self-defense gun and magazines exactly the way they came out of the box. When it comes to everyday carry, you don’t want your firearm to look unique, function differently or grab attention. Always keep safety at the forefront. Save those bells and whistles for the competition gun! And when in doubt, just remember to think: bland, basic, boring and black.

About the USCCA:  The USCCA (United States Concealed Carry Association) is a membership organization that provides education, training and the insurance-backed Self-Defense SHIELD to responsibly armed Americans like you.  Since its inception in 2003, and together with its flagship publication Concealed Carry Magazine, the USCCA has proudly supported a community of hundreds of thousands of patriots from all around the country. It’s our mission to arm our loyal members with the tools they need to safely and confidently protect themselves and their loved ones with the utmost peace of mind. 

Our USCCA Team is dedicated to providing you with an unprecedented experience. In an ever-changing, fast-paced world, our team still believes in good, old-fashioned American customer service. When you call our award-winning team, whether in an emergency or even just to say hi, you’ll be graciously greeted by a friendly voice—and a warm, Midwestern accent! You’ll never be passed through an unhelpful phone tree or be put on hold with the insurance company.

Questions? Contact us by phone at: 1-855-388-4077 (Central Time), Monday-Friday 8am-10pm, Saturday 9am-2pm, or online at: https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/contact/.

Guns, Freedom & the American Dream

Posted on by Forrest Fisher

timschmidt_bookAmerica is changing. For many sportsmen, the reasons are more obvious than for many folks not associated with the outdoors, hunting, shooting and conservation. The lifestyle and demands of daily life do not allow many citizens to learn about safe use of firearms, especially when they are living in countries where personal freedom is taken for granted.

Many big city resident folks are not able to learn more about firearms because they are limited by laws where they live. Different types of firearms are simply not allowed in some cities, it is illegal. Reasons why are varied and many. As we all know after the last six or seven years in the United States, firearm laws are written for many reasons, as was the Constitution of the United States. Therein lies the occasional great divide.

There are among us, courageous men and women working to lessen that divide and to provide a clear understanding of American freedom and the responsibility of firearm ownership for lawful Americans. Tim Schmidt, founder of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), the first and largest, member-owned association designed to educate, train, and insure responsibly armed Americans, who has released his first book, an autobiography entitled “Guns, Freedom & the American Dream,” is one of those men.

Schmidt shares his trials and tribulations behind the formation of the United States Concealed Carry Association and Delta Defense. The inspirational book he wrote, many agree, has helped change the way America views responsibly armed citizens. As of November 2015, copies of “Guns, Freedom & the American Dream are available for $22 on the USCCA web site: https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/offers/?id=Nov2015BookPromo&sid=PR. Consumers who order the book on-line will also receive a free copy of the Emmy nominated DVD: “It’s Up To Me,” where Tim shares his personal and professional journey to form an organization that backs those who believe enough to take on the responsibility of defending their loved ones.

uscca_logoMore about the USCCA: The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) is the first and largest, member-owned association designed to educate, train, and insure responsibly armed Americans. USCCA members receive access to a wealth of industry information and insurance protection through its Self-Defense SHIELD program. The USCCA also provides expert advice, product information, and the latest news centered around the concealed carry lifestyle via email, social media, Concealed Carry Magazine, and their nationally syndicated radio program Armed American Radio.

Guns, Freedom & the American Dream

Posted on by Forrest Fisher

timschmidt_bookAmerica is changing. For many sportsmen, the reasons are more obvious than for many folks not associated with the outdoors, hunting, shooting and conservation. The lifestyle and demands of daily life do not allow many citizens to learn about safe use of firearms, especially when they are living in countries where personal freedom is taken for granted.

Many big city resident folks are not able to learn more about firearms because they are limited by laws where they live. Different types of firearms are simply not allowed in some cities, it is illegal. Reasons why are varied and many. As we all know after the last six or seven years in the United States, firearm laws are written for many reasons, as was the Constitution of the United States. Therein lies the occasional great divide.

There are among us, courageous men and women working to lessen that divide and to provide a clear understanding of American freedom and the responsibility of firearm ownership for lawful Americans. Tim Schmidt, founder of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), the first and largest, member-owned association designed to educate, train, and insure responsibly armed Americans, who has released his first book, an autobiography entitled “Guns, Freedom & the American Dream,” is one of those men.

Schmidt shares his trials and tribulations behind the formation of the United States Concealed Carry Association and Delta Defense. The inspirational book he wrote, many agree, has helped change the way America views responsibly armed citizens. As of November 2015, copies of “Guns, Freedom & the American Dream are available for $22 on the USCCA web site: https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/offers/?id=Nov2015BookPromo&sid=PR. Consumers who order the book on-line will also receive a free copy of the Emmy nominated DVD: “It’s Up To Me,” where Tim shares his personal and professional journey to form an organization that backs those who believe enough to take on the responsibility of defending their loved ones.

uscca_logoMore about the USCCA: The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) is the first and largest, member-owned association designed to educate, train, and insure responsibly armed Americans. USCCA members receive access to a wealth of industry information and insurance protection through its Self-Defense SHIELD program. The USCCA also provides expert advice, product information, and the latest news centered around the concealed carry lifestyle via email, social media, Concealed Carry Magazine, and their nationally syndicated radio program Armed American Radio.