Top 10 Reasons to Conceal Carry a Gun

Have you ever thought about getting your concealed carry license? Then you’ve come to the right place.

A concealed carry license allows you to legally carry a concealed weapon (usually a handgun) on your person in public.

Though some states have more restrictive concealed carry laws than others, all states permit some level of concealed carry.

If you’re on the edge about whether or not to get your concealed carry permit, here are ten reasons why you should:

1. It helps you protect yourself

The most obvious reason to get a concealed carry permit is that it helps you protect yourself.

Sure, there are many other self-defense methods, like martial arts, knives, and pepper spray, but few are as effective as a concealed gun. It can help you stop a violent crime in a matter of seconds.

In addition, concealed carry can help you make up for physical disadvantages. If you are elderly or female, for example, having a gun may be the only way you can stop a larger attacker.

2. It helps you protect your family and others

On top of protecting yourself, concealed carrying helps you protect your loved ones.

As a parent or spouse, you have a serious responsibility to protect your family from harm. You never know when an attacker will strike, and it’s best to be prepared for the worst by having a gun on you.

As a concealed carrier, you may also find yourself in situations where you are the only one in a position to protect others, including strangers. You become the sheepdog that protects the sheep (regular citizens) from the wolves (criminals).

3. Violent crime is a real threat

Though violent crime in the U.S. has been steadily falling since the 1990s, it’s still a real threat.

In 2019, over 1 million violent crimes were committed across the country. That’s an estimated 366.7 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.

The world can be a dangerous place. But by having a concealed firearm, you will be able to protect yourself and others in the event that you witness (or become victim to) violence.

4. You’ll be less dependent on the police

The average police response time to 911 calls varies by area and the type of crime, but generally, it can take up to 10 minutes for help to arrive.

In the meantime, you still need to protect yourself. And when it comes to violent crime, every second counts. A concealed firearm could be all that stands between you and death (or worse).

Besides, contrary to popular belief, the police don’t have a legal duty to protect you unless you are in their custody. Your safety is ultimately your own responsibility.

5. It helps deter violent crime

Criminals are less likely to commit crimes when they think there could be an armed citizen nearby.

By carrying a concealed weapon, you help deter crime anywhere you go. In some cases, showing your gun will be enough to stop the violence.

This is also part of the reason why the U.S. has never been invaded or subject to a tyrannical government—its citizens are armed.

6. It provides valuable training in firearm safety and self-defense

To earn your concealed carry license, you must take and pass a firearms course, which covers gun safety, rules, maintenance, and self-defense (among other things).

This is a great opportunity to gain valuable gun training. It will teach you how to properly handle your concealed firearm and how to use it in self-defense as a last resort.

And it won’t take much time. Most concealed carry classes are a one-time full-day event that you can knock out on a weekend.

7. It gives you a tactical advantage

When you conceal carry, you gain a tactical advantage against criminals. Since they don’t know that you’re carrying a gun, you can catch them off guard and leverage the element of surprise.

In contrast, when you open carry, criminals will see that you’re armed and may target you as a result.

8. It helps you save money and time on background checks

Whenever you buy a gun (perhaps with gun accessories) from a licensed firearm dealer, you are required to undergo a background check. This can take up to a few hours and cost you $25 to $50 every time you buy a new gun.

But if you have your concealed carry license, it shows that you’ve already passed a background check. So you can just show it to the dealer to have the background check requirement waived.

9. It teaches you to increase your situational awareness

Concealed carrying will help you improve your situational awareness. How? By instilling in you more responsibility toward others. You’ll learn to stay vigilant against potential threats and crimes so you can react quickly and properly.

10. It’s your second amendment right

Lastly, carrying a firearm is your constitutional right. The second amendment gives you the right to “keep and bear arms.”

That’s reason enough to conceal carry. Just make sure you also respect the serious responsibilities that come with carrying a gun.

The bottom line

At the end of the day, the choice to get your concealed carry license or not is up to you. It’s a huge responsibility, but also one that could potentially save your life and the lives of others.

Many states will also honor conceal carry permits from other states (aka reciprocity), allowing you to carry while traveling across the country.

Research your state’s conceal carry laws and then do what’s best for you and your family.