Six Things You Should Know Before Carrying a Gun

So you took a basic gun safety class, now what else do you need to know?

1. Know Your Local Self-Defense Laws
   • Consider these your “Rules of Engagement”
   • Read Andrew Branca’s “The Law of Self-Defense”
2. Know How to Spot Trouble Before it Happens
   • Know the “3 Stupids Rule”
     • Stupid Things
     • Stupid Places
     • Stupid People
   • Read material from Craig Douglas (SouthNarc)
   • Read Defensive Living by Ed Lovette
   • Watch videos of muggings on YouTube
     • Take a close look at the body language of the assailants prior to them striking their victims
   • Read Street Smarts, Firearms, and Personal Security by Kelly McCann
3. Know How to Draw Your Gun Efficiently From Concealment While under Stress
   • This means not using a cheap nylon holster.
   • This means practicing your draw at home
4. Know How to Deploy a Less Lethal Weapon Efficiently
   • Not every problem is a gun problem…
   • If you are carrying pepper gas, where is it right now?
5. Know some Unarmed Combatives
   • Be able to fight off an ambush assault and respond accordingly.
   • Watch, Study, and Practice the material from Jim Grover’s Combatives
6. Know some Basic Tactical Medicine
   • Greg Ellifritz of Active Response Training  puts on an excellent tactical medicine course.