Many people often think I am crazy for always carrying my Beretta with me. I take it literally everywhere (that is legal, of course), and when a firearm is not allowed, I generally have some other type of deterrent with me. While some people find this excessive, over the top, irresponsible, crazy, “right wing”, and even laughable, I always refer them to stories like the ones below.
http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2013/02/02/10-stories-that-prove-guns-save-lives-n1503549/page/full#!
It turns out that people in these stories find little humor when they put on their Glock 45’s 38 specials before they start their day.
Protecting yourself and your loved ones is not difficult, nor does it have to be expensive. If you are unfamiliar with where to start, or just need a friendly reminder, follow a few very general, basic steps below.
First and foremost, always stay legal. Follow this link and click on your state to be sure you are not breaking any state or local laws. http://www.handgunlaw.us/ Often times people do not realize that having a concealed license in Ohio does not mean you can travel with your weapon in Illinois unless it is unloaded, locked in a case, separate from the ammo, in the trunk or backseat of your automobile not easily accessible.
Secondly, find a gun that is a good fit for you. I cannot express how angry I get when a gun advocate suggests the tiny 9mm or .380 smaller than my hand to a woman when she has never fired a pistol. In fact, the smaller guns generally have less surface area to grip, less weight to absorb recoil, are actually harder to fire. You simply won’t know until you shoot the weapon for yourself. While the Beretta M9 is large, bulky, and slightly overweight for the average concealed carrier to comfortably wear, I find that the reduced recoil, ease of operation, and safety features make it perfect for me. Others would find the opposite, wanting the small .380, like the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard that can be worn on the belt inside a pouch that looks like a beeper.
Finally, make sure you practice. One cannot simply buy a firearm, fire it once (or never), and expect to have a good outcome should the day ever arise when your life relies upon it. If you are worried about ammo being unavailable or too expensive, you can always practice dry firing to initiate muscle memory. (Yes, always check with the manufacturer before doing so, but most modern firearms will not be harmed by this, and actually require it to do a proper function check.) ***NOTE*** ALWAYS ENSURE YOUR FIREARM IS UNLOADED BEFORE PRACTICING DRY FIRE.
Remember, if you follow the weapon safety rules, you will never encounter a firearm accident:
Treat every weapon as it it were loaded.
Never point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you’re ready to fire.
Keep the weapon on safe until you intend to fire.