The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 01 The Story of a Man ... Armed Citizen Solution - Part 01 The Story of a Man Who Woke Up... by Tim Schmidt Dear USCCA, I am writing to express my

© 2003-2007 U.S. Concealed Carry Association Learn more at: www.USConcealedCarry.com

Armed Citizen Solution Part

- � -

The Story of a Man Who Woke Up...

What you’re about to read, MAY change your life.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty details of armed self-defense, I’d like to share a story with you. This is the story of how U.S. Concealed Carry came to be.

You see, U.S. Concealed Carry and Concealed Carry Magazine were not started by a high-falootin consortium of big-time, gun industry muckity-mucks. It was started by me, Tim Schmidt. I’m just an every day guy. I’ve been married for �3 years to a great wife. I’ve got three, fantastic little kids. But my garage is a mess and sometimes I sleep through church on Sunday mornings.

Are you going to like this story?... I sure hope you do. This story means a lot to me... I still get goose-bumps when I tell it. I hope it will inspire you to at least consider the life of the armed citizen.

My Awakening

It all started for me in the fall of 2002. It was a cool, sunny October morning. I was sitting on an airplane reading an article called, The Con-stitutional Right and Social Obligation to Carry a Gun, by Robert Boatman.

A good friend of mine had given me the article and said, “Tim, you just have to read this!”

I wish you could have been there with me. I couldn’t believe some of the things that I was reading. This Boatman guy had written words that were going straight to what matters most to me.

His words were inspiring to say the least.

01

You see, I was a new father at the time and the responsibility of taking care of my wife and children were weighing heavily on me. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair as I continued to read.

Boatman wrote, “Carrying a gun is a social responsibility.”

A social responsibility? Come on. I always thought that only cops were supposed to carry guns. Heck, I grew up around guns. My Dad had me shooting his .357 Magnum when I was �0... but carrying one everyday? Now that seemed a little intense.

Well, I kept on reading.

“A citizen who shirks his duty to contribute to the security of his community is little better than the criminal who threatens it.”

Wow. What he was saying was astounding. I had never really thought that carrying a gun was really that important. And now this guy was telling me that I am “shirking my duty” if I’m not willing to arm myself?

Hold on for just one second...

Could It Be True?

No one had ever told me I wasn’t responsible. Could it be? Was it possible that Boatman was pulling my head out of the sand?

Heck, I live in a small town with almost no crime. We sometimes forget to lock our front door! The article went on to cite many inter-esting statistics regarding the effects of “good guys” carrying concealed guns.

“Even though most people do not carry guns, the mere possibility that an intended victim could be armed with a handgun eliminates mil-

Welcome to “The Armed Citizen Solution”. This is a 12-part “E-Course” and “PDF Booklet” that is being provided to you free-of-charge from U.S. Concealed Carry. Feel free to print each of these chapters out, as they contain some very valuable information. I also encourage you to share this information with your loved ones and friends! For more information about U.S. Concealed Carry and Concealed Carry Magazine, just visit www.USConcealedCarry.com.

The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 01 The Story of a Man Who Woke Up...by Tim Schmidt

Dear USCCA,

I am writing to express my complete satisfac-tion with U.S. Concealed Carry.

I find your no-nonsense, real world focus, to be a refreshing change from other gun publications. I found the CCM Profiles to be especially good. It was good to see oth-er concerned citizens speaking out on CCW mat-ters.

It makes the rest of us feel less like “gun nuts” and more like a community of concerned and squared away citi-zens.

Keith RobbCuyahoga Falls, OH

(Continued...)

Here is a cover of Concealed Carry Magazine. As a member of USCCA, you’ll get 8 issues per year delivered to your door in a discreet and private wrapper.


U.S. Concealed Carry Armed Citizen Solution

- 2 -

Part 01

lions of crimes every year.”

“According to the FBI, states with “shall-issue” right-to-carry laws have a 26 percent lower total violent crime rate, a 20 percent lower homicide rate, a 39 percent lower robbery rate and a 22 percent lower aggravated assault rate than those states that do not allow their citizens to legally carry guns.”

“Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University, Gary Kleck, in “Point Blank: Gun Violence in America” found that ‘robbery and assault victims who used a gun to resist were less likely to be attacked or to suffer an injury than those who used any other method of self protection or those who did not resist at all.’”

I sat in my chair utterly dumbfounded.

The harsh words from Boatman, coupled with the mind-blowing statistics, had really opened my eyes.

I’d always been fond of saying, “You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.”

It was pretty clear to me what side I was on.

Back on the airplane, the person in front of me had put their seat back. I’m 6’4” and I normally hate it when that happens! However, I was so absorbed in my reading that I hardly even noticed.

...Nobody’s Personal Bodyguards.

I continued to read this life-changing article.

“Policemen are nobody’s personal bodyguards. Their jobs are to find and arrest people who have committed crimes, not to prevent such po-tential crimes from happening in the first place. Clearly, the responsibility for victim-prevention lies with the victim-to-be.”

Incredible. Now that my mind had been opened up a bit, it was making more and more sense. Boatman was on to something. I was coming to the realization that being armed was a responsi-bility that I had to accept.

If something ever happened to my wife and kids and I wasn’t able to protect them... well, I don’t think I’d be able to live with myself.

The article ended with this:

“Carrying a loaded gun with the ability and will to use it is not a casual fling meant to bring

some excitement into your boring life. It is an all-embracing lifestyle and must take prece-dence over your respect for law, your fear of social criticism, your love of humanity, your wardrobe and your drinking habits.”

“’Liberty or death,’ the meaning of which is clear and absolute, is but a trivial phrase if you do not carry a gun. For freedom-loving Americans, the five most important words in the English language are, and always have been - from my cold dead hands.”

I sat staring at these last two paragraphs for a few minutes.

I re-read the article two more times.

I came to the obvious conclusion. I needed to do whatever it took to protect my loved ones. And if that meant carrying a gun, well then I had better start learning how to do just that...

U.S. Concealed Carry

So I began my search...

I had a hard time finding any good informa-tion on people carrying concealed handguns. Sure, there were all sorts of gun books and gun magazines that talked about every gun and holster under the sun.

But there was nothing out there that talked about the actual PEOPLE who were making the responsible decision to always be armed.

I thought, “Wow, there are over 4 million U.S. citizens who have concealed carry permits. There must be something out there!”

Everything in the “mainstream media” made it sound like people who carried concealed guns were a bunch of paranoid red-necks.

So...

I decided to start the U.S. Concealed Carry As-sociation and Concealed Carry Magazine. I have been working extremely hard since the summer of 2003 to put this thing together and let me tell you something...

U.S. Concealed Carry and Concealed Carry Magazine have become something bigger than I EVER imagined. I have been completely over-whelmed at the response we have received from Americans just like you!

The people who have joined U.S. Concealed

(Continued...)

Dear USCCA,

Just a quick note to let you know that I really appreciate what you are doing and the courage it has taken for you to be “just a regular guy” who cares enough to do some-thing worth doing!

You are to be congrat-ulated for your com-mitment and your con-victions. Both have motivated me to do all I can to “spread the word” and to “protect our rights.”

Rev. Dr. Richard J. WagnerCanal Winchester, OH

Our flagship publication, Concealed Carry Magazine usually features a cover picture of one of our members! Concealed Carry Magazine and USCCA are truly the “Ultimate Resource for the Armed Citizen”.



- 3 -

Part 01

Carry over these past few years are people just like you and me. They are people who are self-reliant, people who believe in their natural born right to self-defense, people who will do whatever it takes to protect their loved ones... people who I respect.

Now you know my story and the story of U.S. Concealed Carry. I love sharing this story, and I hoped you enjoyed it.

Armed Citizen Solution: Course Summary

Okay, here we go! This is a quick summary of what we’re going to discuss during this course. Here is an overview of each of the twelve parts.

The Story of a Man Who Woke Up! Safety, Mindset & the Decision to Carry Awareness Gun Selection Holster Selection Tactics & Training Shooting Mechanics Advanced Concealment Self-Defense: A Natural Born Right The Firearms & Self-Defense Community 2nd & 3rd Lines of Defense Surviving An Armed Confrontation

Keeping the Family Safe - A USCCA Success Story!

I would like to share ONE more story with you...

This is taken directly from a recent U.S. Con-cealed Carry ‘Members Forum’ post. I’ll keep the poster anonymous to protect his privacy.

Dear USCCA,

The responsibility of providing for the welfare of my family has always been my #� priority. I’ve had three separate life in-surance policies for the past 30 years and good health insurance since before that. We insure our vehicles to the max, except for the old clunkers that I’ve owned, which were covered for liability. I live in a constant state of safety awareness, always surveying for anything in my immediate environment that has the potential for becoming an accident. Smoke detectors throughout the house, fire extinguisher, regular inspection of all electrical appli-ances for worn cords, etc. Get the picture? I’m a fanatic, but I have all the bases covered. At least I thought I did.

My son, who spent his childhood soaking

�.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.�0.��.�2.

up my attitude of preparedness, has devel-oped an even keener awareness toward safety. He’s a corporate pilot, the kind that puts your mind at ease if you watch how he prepares for each flight. He’s also an inactive Marine and has been well trained in hand to hand combat and firearms. It is his attitude that has suggested to me that his mother and I should consider getting our Concealed Carry licenses. He turned me on to U.S. Concealed Carry, where I have become a member, and it has opened my eyes to my own stupid-ity. I have always been well prepared for emergency situations, but I now realize how vulnerable we are to a violent attack by those who would harm us for whatever reason. In this case I am totally unpre-pared.

I have never liked guns. Two near misses on separate occasions when I was a young man has kept me clear of the desire to own guns. The fear that I have suppressed for so many years of being victimized in a violent crime has now given way to the confidence that I can protect my family. I have always believed that it is my God-giv-en right and responsibility to do all that I can to ensure their safety and well-being. I now see that there is a way to increase the coverage to include protection from a violent criminal encounter.

Our son took us to my neighbor’s pas-ture where he practices with his firearms. My wife and I both fired his carry pistol, a 9mm subcompact, to see if we could handle a similar model. First, we practiced how to shoot; a solid stance, a very firm grip high on the handle, concentrating on the front sight and then smoothly squeez-ing the trigger. I was able to put �4 out of 20 rounds in an eight inch circle and never missed the entire target. We shot from 5 yards and 8 yards. My wife did better, putting most of her shots within a 6 inch circle. This is the first time I’ve shot a firearm of any kind in over 30 years. We came home that afternoon knowing that we could do this.

Now we will prepare. I wrote to the state law enforcement agency, which mailed us the application for the licenses and a booklet with the defensive handgun laws. We are studying that now. I purchased a small combination safe with enough room to store all our practice ammo and pistol accessories, plus room to spare for

(Continued...)

Dear Tim,

U.S. Concealed Carry ad-dresses absolutely ev-ery self-defense issue of concern to intelli-gent Americans today! USCCA provides vital information regarding products, services and organizations relevant to concealed carry and communicates critical self-defense informa-tion.

Thanks for being here for us!

William M. Splawn Irmo, SC

Concealed Carry Magazine is not avail-able on newsstands! It is only avail-able to USCCA members. To start your membership to USCCA, just visit www.USConcealedCarry.com today!



- 4 -

Part 01

important documents. It is installed in our walk-in bedroom closet. I also bought two personal GunVaults so that we can store our handguns safely away from all the grandchildren who roam the house, and still have the pistols very accessible during sleeping hours. Both of the GunVaults are lag-screwed down tight. My wife and I both chose the Springfield XD SubCom-pact 9mm for our carry pistol. I like the XD safety features, better than any other pistols that I’ve researched.

I’ve read a few of Massad Ayoob’s books and watched his “StressFire Series Hand-gun” video over and over. We will train physically and prepare ourselves mentally to deal with any future violent criminal as-sault. We are not gun nuts. We don’t want to shoot anybody. But we feel we must be prepared to defend ourselves from death or grave bodily harm from an aggressor. We want to be able to stop an attacker.

Thank you, US Concealed Carry, for open-ing my eyes. And thank you, our son, for being so responsible.

Posted by a new U.S. Concealed Carry Member

Wow. I got goose-bumps when I first read this letter!

I can only hope that my story and this guys story were able to make some sort of connec-tion with you!

Well, that is it for Part � of “The Armed Citizen Solution”. In Part 2 we will start to dig into the real meat and potatoes!

I wish you safety, security and happiness.

All the best,

Tim Schmidt - FounderU.S. Concealed Carry

P.S. - The last page of each part of “The Armed Citizen Solution” highlights some of the many benefits you’ll enjoy as a USCCA member!

P.P.S - Here is a FREE Bonus for you. If you’re viewing this document on a computer, you can click on the link below to read the Robert Boat-man article.http://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/83.cfm

Dear USCCA,

“Your website and maga-zine have many helpful articles and most impor-tantly, an opportunity to hear from like-mind-ed people who take self protection seriously.

For many of us that car-ry, it has been both an “evolution” from think-ing about carrying to a full-time commitment and a “revelation” that we can enjoy freedom to protect our loved ones from attack.

Thank you for everything you do!

Norbert QuenzerDelmar, NY

When you join USCCA as a full mem-ber, you’ll be able to instantly down-load .PDF versions of ALL our back is-sues of Concealed Carry Magazine. Of course, you can also buy some of the “hard copy” back issues as well!

© 2003-2007 U.S. Concealed Carry Association Join USCCA Today! www.USConcealedCarry.com


- 5 -

Part

Each issue of Concealed Carry Magazine is jam-packed with gun & gear reviews, trainer interviews, training tips, CCM Profiles, and a whole lot more. Check out the table of contents below. This is from the issue you see on the left.

When you join USCCA, your issue of Concealed Carry Magazine will be delivered to your door in a dis-creet and private wrap! You won’t have to worry about any “nosey-parkers” reading your magazine!

Concealed Carry MagazineUSCCA Websitehttp://www.USConcealedCarry.com

You simply won’t believe just how much information you’ll have at your fingertips when you log-in to the USCCA membership website.

01

www.usconcealedcarry.comVolume 3 - November/December 2006 �Concealed Carry Magazine

The Ultimate Resource for the Armed Citizen

�Concealed Carry Magazine

Fresh Content Every Week!

USCCA Discussion Forum

The USCCA website is updated weekly with brand new content. Every week you’ll find articles, product reviews, audio interviews and a whole lot more.

The USCCA discussion forum is one of the most respected forums on the internet. Got a question about concealed carry or self-defense? You’re certain to find your answer right here.



- � -

Safety, Mindset & the Decision to Carry...

SAFETYA firearm is a tool. It is a very effective tool that can be used to destroy an object or another person. Because of this effectiveness, you MUST follow the four golden rules of firearms safety. In case you’re not familiar with these rules, here they are:

Treat every gun as if it were loaded at ALL times. Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot. Never point the muzzle of your fire-arm at anything you are not willing to destroy. Know your target and what is be-hind your target.

The best part about these four simple rules is that if you ALWAYS follow them, it will be IMPOSSIBLE for you to have an accident! This is great news, because when you are involved in an accident with a firearm, there are usually some very serious consequences.

As you progress in your quest to be an effective-ly armed citizen, you will undoubtedly engage in “dry-fire” training. This involves practicing all sorts of techniques with a completely unloaded gun. Even when you’re doing this type of train-ing, you MUST observe the 4 golden rules of firearms safety? Why? Well, the last thing you want to do is develop bad habits during your “dry-fire” training.

If you’re reading this thinking, “Geez! Relax, Tim! I don’t plan on shooting myself!”, I want you to read an article about a guy who had a negligent discharge. This happened to a guy who was a U.S. Marshal and had been shooting

1.

2.

3.

4.

02

for many years. All it took was a split second lapse of discipline. This guy will have a per-manent reminder of just how important it is to follow the 4 golden rules. If you are viewing this document on your computer, you can click on the link below to read the entire story of what happened to this guy.

http://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/457.cfm

Now as you might imagine, there are quite a few additional “second level” safety rules and guidelines that will really help you in remain-ing a safe gun handler. Knowing these “insider” safety tips will not only keep you safe, but it will help you fit in at the gun shop and the gun range.

Here is a sample of one of these tips:

Tim’s “Insider” Firearm Handling Tip #1Chamber Clearing ProcedureIf you are at a gun shop, at a friends house or just at the range, whenever you receive a semi-auto pistol from someone, you should immedi-ately check to see that the gun is unloaded and the chamber is clear. Here is how you do this:

Remove the magazine. Point the gun towards the ground and pull the slide back. Using the thumb of your strong side hand, push the slide lock lever up. Gently release the slide so that it will remain open. Now, use your pinky finger from your weak hand to sweep the magazine well to confirm that, in fact, the magazine is not in the firearm. Now quickly stick your pinky into the chamber to confirm that it is EMPTY.

I know, I know, this sounds incredibly compli-cated... but with a little practice you’ll be able to execute this procedure in a matter of seconds.

�.2.

3.

4.

5.

6.


The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 02 Safety, Mindset & the Decision to Carry...by Tim Schmidt

Dear USCCA,

First, thank you for all of the wonderful hard work you put into this worthwhile organiza-tion. I am a proud mem-ber & plan on renewing my membership for many years to come. The new web site looks awesome!

Thanks again for every-thing you do to help Americans stay protect-ed!

David BinderLoganville, GADekalb County GA911 Sr. Dispatcher

(Continued...)




- 2 -

Part 02

MINDSETYou will need to develop a different mindset when you decide to carry a firearm. What do I mean by this? Well, along with the self-defense benefits of carrying a firearm comes a tremen-dous amount of responsibility.

You will need to develop a mindset of constant awareness. You will also have to develop the mentality that no matter what, you will survive. But don’t worry, these are all skills that are not difficult to learn and they’re very beneficial skills to have!

The mindset of the armed citizen is one of responsibility, discipline and respect. These are qualities we should ALL be striving for whether we carry or not!

THE DECISION TO CARRYOnce you make the decision to carry a firearm, your life will never be the same again. You are now able to truly protect yourself and your loved ones. You are no longer a potential victim, you are a criminal’s worst nightmare. Congratu-lations, my friend, you’ve made a decision that few have the guts to make.

Yes, your decision comes with serious respon-sibilities. But all important things come with responsibilities. Getting married, having chil-dren and supporting a family are all things that you’ve done or will do that require you to be a responsible, good person.

Well, that is it for Part 2 of “The Armed Citizen Solution”. I hope you picked up some more solid information here.


All the best,



P.P.S - Here is a FREE Bonus for you. If you’re viewing this document on a computer, you can click on the link below to read a related article on the USCCA website.

The Importance of Carrying 100% of the Timehttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/189.cfm

Dear USCCA,

For years, I searched for a type of magazine like yours and have sub-scribed to several other publications completely unsatisfied with the lack of information about carrying concealed fire-arms, until I found yours.

After reading just one issue of Concealed Carry Magazine, I’ve become more knowledgeable in carrying my firearms con-cealed and concealment holsters than I have in 6 years worth of reading other firearm magazine publications.

As a new subscriber, I’m very excited and looking forward to many years of valuable information from Concealed Carry.

Michael DrakeHudson, FL




- 3 -

Part





02

www.usconcealedcarry.comVolume 3 - October 2006 �Concealed Carry Magazine



Fresh Content Every Week!

Monthly Sweepstakes!

The USCCA website is updated weekly with brand new content. Every week you’ll find articles, product reviews, audio interviews and a whole lot more.

Every month we hold a sweepstakes draw-ing that is open to all new and existing mem-bers! We’ve given away all sorts of valuable self-defense gear.



- � -

Awareness

AWARENESSIn the last chapter, we talked about mindset and the decision to carry. Awareness goes hand-in-hand with these last two topics.

The best way to explain this is using Jeff Coo-per’s color codes! Here is the color code system along with my own personal explanations.

WHITE - “La-La Land”When you are in the white awareness level, you are totally oblivious to your surroundings. You are a sitting duck! You are a prime, crime tar-get! You NEVER want to be at awareness level white. Unfortunately, most people spend the majority of their day here. Have you ever been driving down the road and all of a sudden you realize you can’t even remember the last few miles of your trip? Well, my friend, you were in condition white. You were in la-la land.

YELLOW - “Heightened Awareness”The yellow awareness level is where the respon-sibly armed citizen should be at all times. Now, don’t get me wrong... you don’t have to turn into a “head-twitching”, paranoid, worry-wart. You just need to be aware of your surround-ings! Once you make a conscious effort to keep yourself in the “yellow” awareness level for 30 days, it will become second nature and you won’t even have to think about it any longer. Being in a state of “heightened awareness” will allow you to anticipate potential problems. This anticipation will buy you the extra few seconds you need to escape or even prevent a danger-ous situation.

ORANGE - “Fight or Flight Preparation”The orange awareness level means that you have observed a potential dangerous situa-tion and are in the process of deciding what to do about it. You are preparing for a “Fight”

03

or a “Flight”. If you find yourself in an orange state of awareness, it most likely means you had just been in the yellow zone and had been alert enough to pick up on a potential danger. The orange awareness level is usually a luxury afforded to people smart enough to live in a yellow awareness level. The orange level is where you’ve bought yourself the extra few seconds to decide what to do. It will help if you’ve pre-thought your response to different scenarios, as your body will start to experience Adrenal Stress Response (A.S.R). This is where your body executes a large adrenaline dump in anticipation of the fight or flight. Your vision will narrow, your pulse will quicken and your fine motor skills will diminish. By having pre-thought your scenario responses, you will react quicker and “outsmart” the A.S.R.

RED - “Full-Blown Fight or Flight”Okay, now you’re either running for your life or fighting for your life. If some “real trouble” finds the person who lives their life in “condi-tion white”, they will find themselves in “condi-tion red” awfully fast. So fast, that they won’t even know what happened. The Adrenal Stress Response will be in full force and you most likely will be capable of things you didn’t think you could do. It is critical to have a “survival” mind-set if you ever find yourself in condition red. The best way to ensure this “survival” mindset is to sit down and think through the reasons why you MUST survive a dangerous encounter. You obvi-ously can’t do this when you are in condition red. You must do this right now! Think about your spouse, your kids, and all the people who love and depend on you. This may sound a little crazy, but if you think about this in advance, it will help cement that “survival” mindset that will help you survive.

I truly hope you NEVER find yourself in condi-tion red. But if you do, spending as much time in condition yellow and orange will drastically improve your chances of survival!


The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 03 Awarenessby Tim Schmidt

Dear USCCA,

Outstanding magazine you have put together. I have read the first three issues from 2004 and I rate them as some of the best magazines I’ve ever read.

It’s simple... when guns are outlawed only out-laws will have guns. The class of being that lives off of others will get guns and don’t care that it’s not legal.

Keep up the good work!

James RushVon Ormy, TX

(Continued...)




- 2 -

Part 03

The armed citizen subconsciously lives their life in condition yellow. They are always aware of their surroundings and they pick up on potential dangers before most people even have a clue that there may be a problem.

The armed citizen develops a survival mindset and has already thought about what they would or would-not do in certain situations.

The armed citizen is a survivor, not a victim.


All the best,




Awareness Games & Self Traininghttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/28�.cfm

Dear USCCA,

I just finished reading my first issue of Con-cealed Carry Magazine, and it was fantastic! I really enjoyed the arti-cle, “Armed Senior Citi-zen” by Bruce Eimer.

Even though I am not a senior citizen (I am 48), I could relate to a recent run-in on my property at 2:30 a.m.. I was able to evaluate my performance and lessons learned after reading the article.

I thought all the ar-ticles were great and informative. I can not wait until my next is-sue.

David BensonBakersfield, CA




- 3 -

Part





03

www.usconcealedcarry.comVolume 3 - Aug/Sept 2006 �Concealed Carry Magazine

34U.S. Concealed Carry - MOUTH MARKETING - NEW! MINNESOTA PISTOL CLASS SPONSORS CRUISE, FOBUS HOLSTERS

18

33

40Gear Review -Todd Burgreen - Guest EditorXS SIGHT SYSTEMS

18Gun Review - George Hill - Contributing EditorNORTH AMERICAN ARMS .22LR MINI REvOLvER

22“Street Tactics: Reality-Based Gun & Knife Fighting”Column by: Gabriel SuarezOUTdRAwING THE dRAwN PISTOL


Official Publication of:

02Publisher’s Comments

04CCM “Profile” - Neva LiTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. Harris

03 Letters to the Editor

08CCM True Stories - Compiled by Sten Jackson

12Gear Review - Timothy J. Schmidt - Publisher/EditorHIGH NOON HEAvEN, COvERT CARRIER, A BETTER HOLSTER

35“Armed Senior Citizen” Column by: Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.dSAFETY AwARENESS: YOUR FIRST PRIORITY

21“The Ordinary Guy” Column by: Mark A. waltersA STORY OF ABdUCTION

25Course Review - Gary Hoff - Guest EditorTdI LEvEL vI: INTENSIvE GUN ANd LIGHT TRAINING

AUG/SEPT. 2006 ISSUEAUGUST 23Rd, 2006

04

29“Bob Childers: On The Front Lines” Column by:Robert ChildersdO THE MATH

15“Cocked & Locked” Column by: Robert H. BoatmanBLOOd YOUR CARRY GUN

FEATURES

COLUMNS

dEPARTMENTS

14“Grassroots: In The Spotlight” PATRICk BENNER

COVER STORY - Jerrod S. Smelker - Guest EditorTHE FAMILY SAFETY & SECURITY PLAN...AkA, THE LIFE SAvING PLAN 10

COvER STORY

22


332nd Amendment - Boris karpa - Contributing EditorTHE NEXT STEP

44IN THE NEWSwATCH OUT, dENvER!

30“Real World Carry Gear” Column by: duane A. daikerSNUBBY GEAR

11 Heckler & Koch, Inc.: Hell Raiser Response

Membership Image GalleryWith the USCCA membership image gallery, you’ll be able to post and share pictures of your favorite holster, handgun or maybe even a target that you’re proud of! Members can rate and comment on any image.



- � -

Gun Selection

Selecting a gun for concealed carry can be simple or incredibly complex. I’ll try to give you a few tips so we can keep it on the simple side! The three keys to selecting a good carry gun are reliability, conceal-ability and stopping power. Now remember, you’ll have to give careful con-sideration to each of these three factors before you make your final decision.

RELIABILITYThe most important factor you need to consider when choosing a “carry gun” is reliability. You’ll want to be �00% certain that when you pull the trigger, the gun will fire. The two biggest factors that come into play in terms of reliability are one, the overall quality of the gun and two, how well you take care of your gun.

Overall QualityFor your first carry gun you can address the “overall quality” issue by buying a firearm from a major manufacturer. Ask someone you know and trust to recommend a brand. (I’ll tell you my personal recommendations in a little bit.)

CareTo ensure reliability you MUST take proper care of your gun. In order to take proper care of your gun, you MUST completely understand how it works. There are two main classes of handguns that work VERY differently. These two classes are the revolver and the semi-auto pistol. So the first thing we’re going to do is compare the two classes to help you decide which type of handgun you’ll be able to keep in good working condition.

Revolver vs. Semi-Auto PistolI’ll try to make this an easy decision for you with some comparison tables.

04

You’ll want a gun whose manual of arms (this means the way it works) is something you can completely learn and understand. If you are not a “gun-person” and are not very mechanically inclined, you might want to choose a revolver.

If you ARE mechanically inclined then maybe a semi-auto pistol would be the best choice for you.

If you want a reliable gun you’ll need to buy a good quality gun and then take good care of it. Yes, you have to do both!

Now that you’ve chosen the type of gun you’ll carry, you’ll want to find an un-biased source to recommend a good brand that fits your budget. Me? Well, if I was buying a revolver, I’d buy a Smith & Wesson or a Taurus. If I was buying a pistol, I’d buy a Sig, Glock, Beretta or Kimber. There are a LOT MORE good quality gun manu-facturers... these are just the ones that I like.


The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 04 Gun Selectionby Tim Schmidt

Dear USCCA,

I consider your publi-cation the most infor-mative and focused on the issue of concealed carry. Having it in my house has allowed me to address several indi-viduals’ questions about concealed carry and what their responsibilities are as citizens.

Most importantly, my wife’s opinion about carrying for herself has been turned around to-tally, such that now she is scheduled to take a CCW class after the hol-idays, and she has begun going to the range with me to practice.

I attribute this change in her attitude entire-ly to U.S. Concealed Carry.

Thanks for everything!

Scott MeadorRichmond, TX

(Continued...)


Revolver Pros Revolver Cons

Mechanically simple. Comparatively lower ammo capacity.

Requires less mainte-nance and attention.

Comparatively slower re-loads.

Revolver Pros & Cons

Semi-Auto Pros Semi-Auto Cons

Comparatively faster re-loads.

Mechanically complex.

Comparatively higher ammo capacity.

Requires more maintenance and attention.

Semi-Auto Pros & Cons



- 2 -

Part 04

CONCEALABILITYA carry gun is not supposed to be comfortable... it’s supposed to be comforting. That being said, you better have a good plan to carry your gun in a way that works for you. You’ll have to consider your job, your wardrobe and your body type. The best thing to do here is to do a lot of read-ing on concealed carry holster comparisons. The more you read and learn, the smaller your “box of holsters” will be!

Yes, I said “box of holsters”! No matter how much research you do, you’ll probably end up with the proverbial “box of holsters”, in an effort to find the “perfect” concealed carry holster. But now I am getting ahead of myself! Holster selection is the NEXT chapter. Here are a few simple guidelines that may help you decide on the exact model of gun that you’ll conceal.

It is easier to conceal a longer barrel than a longer grip. The thinner the gun the better. Don’t forget about reloads. You’ll want to have a plan to conceal at least one full “speed-loader” or loaded magazine.

STOPPING POWERThis one is simple, carry the largest caliber that you can successfully shoot. For some people, this is 9mm. For others it may be .45 ACP. Just make a decision and stick with it!

Here is a comparison chart of very common handgun ammo that I put together to help you

�.

2.3.

make your decision. All of the numbers are ap-proximate as exact performance characteristics vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

I realize that in the beginning of the article I said that selecting a gun could be simple. Well, it may not seem so simple any more! At least now you’ve got a lot more information than you had before and you’ll be able to make an informed decision!

Good luck.


All the best,




Choosing A Concealed Carry Gunhttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/�87.cfm

Dear USCCA,

Let me say, your magazine is one of 14 subscrip-tions that I receive. Obviously, I like to read anything and every-thing I can get my hands on. I will not renew some of my other maga-zine subscriptions, but CCM is a definite keeper. I love it and everything about it. Your columns are informative and to the point.

I received my magazine yesterday and read it twice already because it’s that good! And, the covers are perfect. Or-dinary people for the ordinary person Most of us don’t want the “hub-bub.” We want down to earth people with down to earth facts and you deliver. Thanks to ev-eryone for a great job.

Cindy LaudicoRochester, NY


Cartridge Gun Type Typical Bullet Weight (grs.)

Typical Muzzle Velocity (fps)

Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs)

Avg. Cost Per Round

.38 Special Revolver �25 �050 306 $ 0.30

.357 Magnum Revolver �25 �500 625 $ 0.35

9mm Semi-Auto Pistol ��5 ��50 336 $ 0.�8

.40 S&W Semi-Auto Pistol �55 ��50 450 $ 0.36

.45 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol 230 950 460 $ 0.24

Tim’s Simplified Ammo Comparison Chart



- 3 -

Part





04

www.concealedcarrymag.comVolume 3 - May/June 2006 �Concealed Carry Magazine



The USCCA StoreYou’ll find a fantastic collection of USCCA logo products and training/education prod-ucts at the website store. We also have some deeply discounted packages in case you’d like to buy more than one product!



- � -

Holster Selection

Like I mentioned in the last chapter, holster selection is pretty darn important. Your holster has two jobs.

Your holster keeps your handgun securely hid-den on your body. Your holster effectively covers the trigger and trigger guard of your handgun making it impos-sible to fire when in the holster. That is pretty much it. Sound simple?... Remem-ber how complicated the whole “gun selection” thing got? Well, for almost EVERY gun that is made there are at least a dozen holsters made for that ONE gun. I will again attempt to simplify this decision.

There are three main characteristics you’ll need to consider when choosing a holster for your firearm. Here they are.

Holster Material: What is the holster made of? Most holsters are made of either leather or Kydex®. Most leather holsters are made of either cowhide or horsehide. Leather holsters are often custom-made and molded to exact gun profiles. Some leather holsters are practically works of art! A lot of folks claim that leather holsters are the most comfortable holsters available. Kydex on the other hand is an extremely durable extruded thermoplastic alloy that is thermo-formed to fit the exact profile of the gun it was designed for. Kydex holsters come in a variety of colors, but are usually black. Holster material is really a subjective thing. You just have to take a look at both and decide which one you like the best. They are both excellent choices.

Custom or Generic: A good piece of advice would be to avoid a generic holster

1.

2.

05

that is designed to fit a wide variety of handguns. Holsters like this will have an “okay” fit for lots of guns and a “great” fit for none! A high quality holster that is cus-tom-made for your exact gun will cost you less than $75. That is a small price to pay for a holster that was specifically designed to carry your exact handgun.

Holster Position: Where will the holster reside on your body? Oh boy... I could write about holster position for an entire week. There are holsters made to go around your ankle, around your thigh, inside your belt, outside your belt, around your belly, in the small of your back, under your armpit, in your front pocket, in your back pocket and across your chest. Which one will be best for you? Well, you just have to try them out! The holster that works best for you will have a lot to do with the style and fit of clothes you wear, your body type, and the speed at which you wish to access your firearm.

Tim! How do I find my perfect holster?Well, the good news is that there are a TON of small holster manufacturers out there. The bad news is that they are rather difficult to find. Some of the BEST holsters are made by a guy hand-making each holster in his basement! Unfortunately, this guy doesn’t have much of a marketing budget! Heck, he doesn’t need one, he keeps himself plenty busy with “word-of-mouth” marketing.

For what it is worth, here is a list of some of my favorite holster manufacturers and distributors:

www.gunnersalley.com - These guys sell G-Code Holsters. They are my favorite Kydex holster.

www.kdholsters.com - This guys hand makes great holsters. I’ve got a really neat front pocket holster for my Taurus 6�7.

3.


The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 05 Holster Selectionby Tim Schmidt

(Continued...)


Dear USCCA,

I am writing to express my complete satisfac-tion with U.S. Concealed Carry.

I find your no-nonsense, real world focus, to be a refreshing change from other gun publications. I found the CCM Profiles to be especially good. It was good to see oth-er concerned citizens speaking out on CCW mat-ters.

It makes the rest of us feel less like “gun nuts” and more like a community of concerned and squared away citi-zens.

Keith RobbCuyahoga Falls, OH



- 2 -

Part 05

www.highnoonholsters.com - Here is one of my favorite “small holster guys”. They’re a really nice husband and wife team in Florida. They make “super-high-quality” horse and cowhide custom holsters.

www.usgalco.com - I certainly own a few Galco holsters.

www.smartcarry.com - Talk about a hidden gem! This holster may look funny, but it is the one I wear the most!

Well, I wish I could whisper in your ear the se-cret to finding the perfect holster. Unfortunately, that secret can only be discovered after a fair amount of research and at least a little trial and error!

However, I wish you the best as you embark on the creation of your very own box of holsters!


All the best,




A Concise Primer on Concealment Holstershttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/�77.cfm


Dear USCCA,






- 3 -

Part





05

www.concealedcarrymag.comVolume 3 - April 2006 �Concealed Carry Magazine

16

20Gun Review - George Hill - Contributing EditorTHE WILSON COMBAT SDS

24“Street Tactics: Reality-Based Gun & Knife Fighting” Column by: Gabriel SuarezSHOTGUN GUNFIGHTING CONCEPTS

34Gear Review - Kevin Michalowski - Contributing EditorOFF-BODy CArry—HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT



04CCM “Profile” - Robert Fowler Timothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. Harris


10CCM True Stories Compiled by Sten Jackson

26Gear Review - Charles Ellis - Contributing EditorFOLDING KNIFE rEvIEW

38“Armed Senior Citizen” Column by: Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.DHOLD ON TO yOUr GUN! WEAPON rETENTION MEANS SUrvIvAL

23“The Ordinary Guy” Column by: Mark A. WaltersArE THErE ANy WEAPONS IN THE vEHICLE?

06CCM “Profile” - Sherry DicksonTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. Harris

30A Woman’s Perspective - Kathy Jackson - Contributing EditorSTrAIGHT TALK ABOUT CUrvES

42Event Review - George Hill - Contributing EditorSHOT SHOW 2006

APRiL 2006 iSSuEAPRiL 7Th, 2006

26

29“Bob Childers: On The Front Lines” Column by:robert ChildersKIDS AND GUNS

16“Cocked & Locked” Column by: robert H. BoatmanTHE DEADLy CHArM OF THE LITTLEST rEvOLvEr

42

34

FEATUrES

COLUMNS

DEPArTMENTS

15“Grassroots: in the Spotlight” Written by: Helen JaquessTHE CONCEALMENT SHOP

COVER STORY ONE - D. Keith Lamb - Guest EditorWHEN IT TUrNS UGLy 11

COvEr STOry

COVER STORY TWO - DeWayne Burhenn - Guest EditorrEAL LIFE ENCOUNTEr 13

BLOGs for the armed citizen.The USCCA website is home to two of the best pro self-defense web-logs on the in-ternet. You’ll have �00% full access to read these blogs whenever you like!



- � -

Tactics & Training

Both tactics and training fall under the broader category of education. No matter how experi-enced or inexperienced you may be, it is critical that you never stop training and learning new tactics. Carrying a gun without proper training is not only irresponsible, it is plain old dumb!

And if you’ve been to a hundred training schools and think you know everything, well then you know more than me! I ALWAYS pick up some-thing new at every class I attend!

The bottom line is that there are a LOT of very knowledgeable people out there who are willing to share their experiences and expertise with you for usually very reasonable fees. I am talk-ing about learning the kinds of skills that can save your life!

I like to group my training into three main cat-egories. There is “dry” self-training, “live” self-training and what I like to call “event training”. Here is the breakdown of each.

“DRY” SELF TRAININGThis is the kind of training you do by yourself, in your basement. You use an “unloaded” gun to practice things like drawing from concealment, trigger control, and presenting from different positions. (Don’t forget to continue to follow the 4 golden rules of firearms safety!) This type of training is extremely important. Your objective is to start with proper fundamentals and then practice them over and over until you create muscle memory. When these fundamentals are committed to muscle memory you won’t have to think about doing them... you just will.

“LIVE” SELF TRAININGThis training is often done at an outdoor range with or without a friend. It is helpful to have a shooting timer so that you can measure your

06

progress. A shooting timer is a simple device that emits a loud beep telling you it is time to start your course of fire. When you are done, the timer will tell you how long it took from the beep to the last shot fired. There are many different drills that test your ability to fire ac-curately and rapidly, re-load your gun, or even clear a malfunction. Before you start any sort of “Live” training, it is critical that you spend some time with a qualified professional instructor in order to learn the proper way to do these drills. Furthermore, you also might want to check with your range as to when they allow this sort of training.

EVENT TRAININGThe last category of training is what I like to call “Event” training. This is the kind of training that you’re paying a professional instructor for. In this category there are three more sub-catego-ries! Here they are.

Local Range - NRA Certified InstructorsThese types of trainers can be found every-where. They usually advertise via word of mouth. They are an invaluable resource as they are usually the “first-line” of contact that a person new to guns will experience. I know a lot of guys that hold weekend “firearms basics” classes at their local ranges. At these classes you will find people from ALL walks of life. If you’re brand new to the firearms community, this will be your first training step!

Local Affiliates of “Name Brand” TrainersThe next level of training includes what I like to call “local affiliates” of “name brand” train-ers. These are local trainers who offer multi-day firearms, training and tactics courses that are “approved” by one of the big trainers. There is an organization called, Firearms Training Associ-ates, located very close to me. They conduct the Lethal Force Institute (LFI) series of classes on behalf of Massad Ayoob. Now, if you haven’t heard of Massad Ayoob yet, don’t worry, you’ll


The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 06 Tactics & Trainingby Tim Schmidt

(Continued...)


Dear USCCA,

First, thank you for all of the wonderful hard work you put into this worthwhile organiza-tion. I am a proud mem-ber & plan on renewing my membership for many years to come. The new web site looks awesome!

Thanks again for every-thing you do to help Americans stay protect-ed!

David BinderLoganville, GADekalb County GA911 Sr. Dispatcher



- 2 -

Part 06

learn about him soon enough. Classes like this are usually multi-day classes that have a very favorable student to instructor ratio. I recently participated in the LFI Advanced Stressfire course. We shot over 2,000 rounds over the two days. Needless to say, my hands were a little sore after that weekend! This type of training is an excellent way to get world-class training right in your own backyard.

“Big-Time” Training SchoolsOkay, finally we have the “big-time” training schools. These are the destination schools that you attend for between 3 and �0 days. They are a lot more expensive than training with your lo-cal NRA instructor but they also offer a lot more in terms of facilities and training staff. Some of these schools will have full-scale “shoot-houses”. Others will have simunition ranges where you are actually shooting simulated guns at real live people. A few of these ranges are:

www.frontsight.com - Front Sight

www.thunderranchinc.com - Thunder Ranch

www.gunsite.com - Gunsite

www.ayoob.com - Lethal Force Institute

In conclusion, I hope you will integrate all three types of training into your daily, weekly and monthly routine. Not only is training the responsible thing to do, it just might save your life someday. Plus, training with your handgun is ALWAYS a fun time!


All the best,




Using IDPA Competition to Build Your Concealed Carry Skillshttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/�43.cfm


Dear USCCA,







- 3 -

Part





06

www.concealedcarrymag.comVolume 3 - February/March 2006 �Concealed Carry Magazine


Fresh Content Every Week!The USCCA website is updated weekly with brand new content. Every week you’ll find articles, product reviews, audio interviews and a whole lot more.



- � -

Shooting Mechanics

Okay... you’ve got your gun and you’ve got your holster. You’ve bought some ammo and you just got back from an 8-hour “Intro to Firearms” class at your local range. What do you do now?

Well, I’m going to suggest that you spend a little time focusing on some of the things you either didn’t catch at your class or maybe things you’ve forgotten because it’s been so long since you’ve taken any sort of firearms training!

What the heck am I talking about? I am talking about the fundamentals of shooting. I’m talking about shooting mechanics.

A gun is a very simple tool. If a round of ammo is in the chamber and you pull the trigger a very predictable chain reaction will occur.

The hammer will hit the firing pin, the firing pin will hit the primer, the primer will ignite the gun powder, the gun powder will burn REALLY fast, the burning powder will cause the pressure within the round of ammo to get REALLY high, the bullet that is lodged in the end of the ammo casing will get forced out of the casing and will travel down the path of least resistance which happens to be the end of the barrel. The bullet will leave the barrel at over �000 feet per sec-ond. Furthermore, due to the helical machining pattern in the barrel of the gun (aka - rifling), the bullet will also be spinning at a rate of over 75,000 rpm! The spinning bullet acts like a fast-moving gyroscope and tends to fly very straight. The bullet, of course, will travel in the direction that the barrel was aimed when the bullet left the barrel.

Whew! (I’m guessing that by now you can easily tell I’m a geek an engineer.) Unfortunately for us, the human body is much more complex than this simple chain reaction. The untrained body will do all sorts of crazy things without the mind telling it.

07

The principles of proper shooting mechanics will overcome most or all of these imperfections by harmonizing the human body’s tendencies with the mechanical power of the firearm.

Here are the shooting mechanics you MUST learn and master.

Grip. You have to hold the gun right. Stance. You have to align your body to allow for proper aiming, and re-coil management. Sight Alignment. There is only ONE way to line up your sights. Trigger Action. Nice and easy on the trigger.

There are a TON of good articles and books written on proper shooting mechanics. Study up and practice, practice, practice.


All the best,




Get A Grip! It’s Where Good Shooting Startshttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/30�.cfm

1.2.

3.

4.


The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 07 Shooting Mechanicsby Tim Schmidt


Dear USCCA,







- 2 -

Part





07

www.concealedcarrymag.comVolume 3 - January 2006 �Concealed Carry Magazine

28



04CCM “Profile” - Dian ValencicTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. Harris



26Tactics & Training - Kevin Michalowski - Contributing EditorGet a Grip! it’s where Good shootinG starts

32“Street Tactics: Reality-Based Gun & Knife Fighting” Column by: Gabriel Suareztrue Gun safety

16Gun Review - George Hill - Contributing EditorsiG sauer p229 sas

28“Armed Senior Citizen” Column by: Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.DConCealed Carry BasiCs

21“The Ordinary Guy” Column by: Mark A. Waltersthe 2nd amendment: as defined By eaCh individual state

31“The History Corner: The Guns of America: Storiesof Independence” Column by: Alexa H. Madisonthe lemat revolver

07CCM “Profile” - Stephen G. Anderson, Sr.Timothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. Harris

34Media & Entertainment - Charles Ellis - Contributing Editor movies, politiCs & Guns

14Gear Reviews - Timothy J. Schmidt - Publisher/EditorsiGarms® siGtaC® ConCealed Carry JaCket & loaded ChamBer indiCator

19Gear Review - Tony Walker - Contributing Editoran soB for me

22

Phil Elmore - Guest EditorlosinG the lanGuaGe

12

22“Cocked & Locked” Column by: Robert H. Boatmanthe little safety lever inside your head

36“Real World Carry Gear” Column by: Duane A. DaikerBlaCkhawk, surefire®, kershaw & threat solutions

19

40“Bob Childers: On The Front Lines” Column by: Robert Childersa sad day for san franCisCo

Training & Tactics FORUMAs a member of USCCA, you’ll have instant access to each of our 7 discussion forums. The Training & Tactics forum is one of my favorites!

Guns & Holsters FORUMAs a member of USCCA, you’ll have instant access to each of our 7 discussion forums. The Guns & Holsters forum is an excellent resource to use before you buy your next gun or holster!



- � -

Advanced Concealment

What, you may ask, does advanced concealment mean? I’m talking about the art of hiding a handgun on or near your person using a variety of non-traditional holsters and techniques.

Why would a person want or need to do this? Well, there are a lot of people who may at one time or another find themselves in a situation where most “regular” holster systems just won’t work. There are many job, family or hobby situ-ations that will challenge you in your quest to “always be armed”.

It sure would be nice if we all had jobs where we could wear a pair of jeans and an un-tucked shirt which is conveniently covering our in-the-waistband (IWB) holster. Reality, of course, is a lot different than this. You may have to wear a suit to work. You may be really skinny or you may even be a little on the heavier side! Suffice it to say that knowing a few “advanced conceal-ment” tips can be a huge help to the responsibly armed citizen.

OFF-BODY CARRYOff-body carry is certainly NOT ideal. But in some instances, it is the only thing that will work. Off-body carry refers to ANY sort of pouch, purse or case that holds and conceals your gun away from your body. The obvious downside to off-body carry is that it is awfully easy to become separated from your gun. When you’re separated from you gun...well...NOTHING good can come from this!

My best piece of advice with respect to off-body carry is to be sure you carry your gun in a purse, pouch or bag that was specifically de-signed to carry a gun. There are many compa-nies that make purses, day planners, briefcases and waist packs that have a completely hidden and easily accessible holster section.

This is critical because you don’t want your gun

08

rattling around in your bag with other odds and ends. It would be too easy to reach in and inadvertently press the trigger. Half of the job of a good holster is to protect the trigger guard area. All of the “holster bags” and “holster plan-ners” that I’ve seen have well executed internal holsters that effectively cover the trigger guard.

Lastly, when you carry off-body, you must be constantly aware of the location of your con-cealed handgun.

PAGER-PAL HOLSTERThe “Pager-Pal” holster is an ingenious hol-ster design that offers very deep concealment without sacrificing gun presentation speed at all. The Pager Pal consists of a well-made leather holster with a large rectangular leather panel sewn on the front. This leather panel tapers toward the top and has a spring steel clip at-tached to it. The clip has either a cell-phone holder or a pager holder attached to it.

You deploy the holster by inserting your gun into the holster which is behind the large rectan-gular leather panel. You then stuff the entire contraption down the front of your pants just off to your weak-side. As the gun and holster slide under the front of your pants, the “cell-phone holder clip” hooks over your belt just as the holster disappears about 4 inches below your waistline.

It sounds crazy, bit it works like a charm. Then gun hangs so low that when you sit down, it is completely comfortable. Yet, when you need to access your gun, you simply pull up on the “cell-phone holder” with your weak-hand and up pops your gun!

Here is their website... www.pagerpal.com

SMART CARRY HOLSTERAh yes, the good old Smart Carry. I still remem-ber the fist day I bought one of these. The thing showed up at my office. I un-wrapped it and


The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 08 Advanced Concealmentby Tim Schmidt


Dear USCCA,








- 2 -

Part 08

thought, “What on earth did I just buy!” Well, I was in for a big surprise. I followed the instruc-tions and the thing practically made my Glock 36 disappear!

The Smart Carry holster consists of a “denim-like” fabric pouch with a giant Velcro strap attached to either side. You strap it really low around your waist. The gun is placed in the pouch and the whole contraption sits three inches below your waist line right in line with your belly button.

Sound a little uncomfortable? Well, I have to tell you, this holster is extremely comfortable. Not only that, but it offers fantastic concealment along with excellent access. Heck, I’ve practi-cally worn out my first Smart Carry holster.

Here is their website... www.smartcarry.com

POCKET HOLSTERSFinally we get to pocket holsters. These are pretty easy to explain. A pocket holster is a holster for your pocket!

Okay, I’ll give you a little more info. Most pocket holsters are designed for small pistols and revolvers. In addition to the regular holster part, they usually have an additional leather panel that covers the entire front of the holster. This “concealment panel” allows you to stuff the en-tire holster and gun in one of your front pockets without it looking like you have a gun in your pocket...Neat!

A small pistol in a pocket holster can make for a perfect back-up gun!

Thanks to the free market, there are a lot of “non-traditional” carry holster solutions out there. I’ve only mentioned a few of my favor-ites. The big thing to remember when imple-menting these “advanced concealment” systems is to “dry” practice extensively with your new carry method before you carry “live”.

When you are a responsibly armed citizen, you realize that you’ll never know when your “bad guy” day will occur. That’s why it is important to carry ALL of the time. That is also why we sometimes must use some non-traditional carry methods.


All the best,




Off-Body Carry: Hidden in Plain Sighthttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/342.cfm

Dear USCCA,







- 3 -

Part





08

www.concealedcarrymag.comVolume 02 - Issue 08 �Concealed Carry Magazine

28

16


Publisher’s Comments



04CCM “Profile” - Hanna FowlerTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. Harris / Don Myers

T. Stephen Eggleston - Guest Editor

14Tactics & Training - Tom Givens - Guest EditorAwAreness gAmes, self trAining

32“Street Tactics: Reality-Based Gun & Knife Fighting” Column by: Gabriel Suarezthe modern urbAn rifle

22Custom Review - Duane A. Daiker - Contributing Editoryour defensive hAndgun: to port or not to port?

16Gun Review - George Hill - Contributing EditortAurus titAnium 605

38DVD Review - Michael Tan - Guest Editor the big trAining secret thAt should not be A secret

28“Armed Senior Citizen” Column by: Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.DbeAr Arms in A wheelchAir

school shootings, workplAceviolence And guns. something has changed and it’s not the guns.

21“The Ordinary Guy” Column by: Mark A. WaltersordinAry observAtions

31

“The History Corner: The Guns of America: Storiesof Independence” Column by: Alexa H. Madisonthe kentucky long rifle And the bAttle of neworleAns At chAlmette

12

07CCM “Profile” - Chris PenningtonTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. Harris

19Women & Self-Defense - Oleg Volk - Contributing Editor Arms And the womAn

26Course Review - Kevin Michalowski - Contributing EditorfinAl option...should be your first choice

35Gear Review - Jason Ruser - Guest Editormore thAn just A wAy to keep your pAnts up

26

100’s of Website Articles!When you join USCCA, you’ll have instant access to our serchable database of �00’s of articles on every aspect of concealed carry.



- � -

Self-Defense: A Natural Born Right

WARNING! This is the part of this guide where I kind of get up on my soap-box and preach a little. I promise it won’t be too long. The best part is that if you agree with my way of think-ing... well, you’re going to LOVE what I have to say.

And if you don’t really agree with the way that I think, well there are eleven other chapters that you can focus on!

Okay, here we go...

One of the reasons I started U.S. Concealed Carry is because I believe in the natural born right to self-defense. Like the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, I believe that all humans are born with certain basic rights. Now there aren’t too many of these “basic rights” but the ones that we’re born with, well they’re the good ones.

Tim’s Natural-Born Rights

Life Liberty Pursuit of Happiness

That is it. No more. No less. Pretty darn simple. As far as I am concerned, my “rights” end where someone else’s “rights” begin. I don’t be-lieve that I have the “right” to food, health care, protection, safety, security, or even education. I don’t even think I have a “right” to well-labeled food, a clean environment, SUVs that get 37 mpg, or even price-controlled corn. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m no anti-government anar-chist. Government is like fire... very useful but you’d better be careful with it.

So you see... with me, things are pretty simple. Don’t threaten my life, liberty or ability to pursue happiness and everything will be all

�.2.3.

09

right. It’s that first part that the violent criminals don’t really get. So as far as the bad guys go, if you’re going to threaten my life, my wife’s life, my son’s lives or my daughter’s life... well, I’m fighting back.

Heck, I don’t even like talking about the 2nd Amendment. The 2nd Amendment grants NO rights to ANYONE. It simply affirms the natural-born right that each and every one of us has to defend ourselves and our loved ones against those with the gall to threaten us.

Okay. That’s it. Now you know where I stand on that little issue. Wasn’t so bad, was it? I’m guessing that right about now you’re either pumping your fist up and down and cheering or... you’re scratching your head and thinking to yourself, “What is this guy saying?”

Either way, I hope you’ll move on to the next chapter!


All the best,




We Don’t Need No “Steenking” 2nd Amendmenthttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/��3.cfm


The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 09 Self-Defense: A Natural Born Rightby Tim Schmidt


Dear USCCA,






- 2 -

Part





09


24

18





04CCM “Profile” - Pat ComerTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. D’Amato-Harris

Charles Ellis - Contributing Editor16

2nd Amendment - Boris Karpa - Contributing EditorLanguage of the enemy: using Leftist RhetoRic to PRomote the Right to KeeP and BeaR aRms (RKBa)

32

“Street Tactics: Reality-Based Gun & Knife Fighting” Column by: Gabriel Suarezevasion footwoRK

18Gear Review - Oleg Volk - Contributing EditorJs conceaLment hoLsteRs

36Course Review - Rob Reed - Guest EditorLfi-�: the Judicious use of deadLy foRce – massad ayooB

40Editorial of the Month - Robert Childers - Guest Editor what if we have to use ouR gun?

28“Armed Senior Citizen” Column by: Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.DconfRontation PsychoLogy �0�

PeRsonaL vaLues, ResPonsiBiLityand matuRity

21“The Ordinary Guy” Column by: Mark A. WalterscoLumBus schmumBus

31“The History Corner: The Guns of America: Storiesof Independence” Column by: Alexa H. Madisonthe winchesteR

12

07CCM “Profile” - Vincent SavageTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. D’Amato-Harris

24“Cocked & Locked” Column by: Robert H. BoatmanRecoiL is not youR enemy

34A Woman’s Perspective - Kathy Jackson - Contributing Editor But what do i teLL my motheR? --- and otheR vexing sociaL questions


USCCA Discussion ForumThe USCCA discussion forum is one of the most respected forums on the internet. Got a question about concealed carry or self-defense? You’re certain to find your answer right here.



- � -

The Self-Defense & Firearms Community

It’s no big mystery that the firearms and self-de-fense community for the most part gets vilified by the mainstream media. We are often por-trayed as knuckle-dragging, social misfits who need to have guns to satisfy our insecurities. Is this a fair representation? I really don’t think so.

I’m not sure when this whole “anti-gun” and “anti self-defense” attitude started, but it cer-tainly hasn’t always been this way. It wasn’t too long ago when kids used to take their hunting rifles to school and keep them in their lockers. When you really think about it, it is kind of scary how much has changed in such a short period of time!

This is why it is SO important to support and participate in the firearms and self-defense com-munity. There are all sorts of things you can do to offer your support. Here are just a few...

Join your local gun club and become an ACTIVE member. Take an NRA instructors course and teach people about firearms and self-defense. Join associations of like-minded people and participate in their events, forums, message boards, etc. Take someone shooting who has never shot a gun. This is a LOT of fun. You wouldn’t believe the reaction of some devoutly anti-gun people the first time they pull that trigger. I’ve personally witnessed at least three “complete” transformations. And probably the MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do... Please take the time to teach your kids and grandkids how to respect firearms, how to shoot and how to carry on the tradition. If we don’t do this, then we’re done.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

10

You’ll find two very unique things in every is-sue of Concealed Carry Magazine and posted throughout www.usconcealedcarry.com

The first is what we call the CCM Profile. This is a candid interview with an actual U.S. Concealed Carry member. They tell us about their life, their family and the reasons they carry. We’ll have some pictures of them as well. We do these to point out that people who “carry guns” are normal, every-day Americans.

The second feature you’ll see is our “Grassroots: In the Spotlight” story. These stories highlight someone in the firearms community who is really making a difference. They may be a small-town trainer or a custom holster maker. Either way, they’re someone who is making a huge difference in the firearms community but will most likely never get mentioned in the “big” gun magazines let alone the mainstream press.

There are a few example of what I am talking about in the P.S. section.


All the best,


P.S - Here are three FREE Bonuses for you. If you’re viewing this document on a computer, you can click on the link below to read a related article on the USCCA website.

Grassroots In The Spotlight - NEShootershttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/329.cfm

CCM Profile - Tom McHalehttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/229.cfm CCM Profile - Gabriela Coxhttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/427.cfm


The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 10 The Self-Defense & Firearms Communityby Tim Schmidt


Dear USCCA,







- 2 -

Part





10


21

23Course Review - Duane A. Daiker - Contributing EditorRandy Cain’s TaCTiCal Handgun �0�: EvERyTHingyou nEEd

21Tactics & Training - Oleg Volk - Contributing EditoraCCuRaTE EnougH?




COVER PHOTO SUBMITTED BY USCCA MEMBER: Photographer: Christopher BeglinModel: Beth Fetter

Chris: I am an ex-pat’ 60-year-old Englishman, married to an American lady for the last five years and living happily in SW Pennsylvania. My daily carry is a SIG 226 ST in 9mm, in a custom K&D Holsters belt slide. I used to do freelance photography. I am a degreed Engineer, even though these days, I work mainly on the computer dealing in web design and kidding myself that I am semi-retired! In 1997, I suffered the ignominy of loosing my prized collection of 24 handguns, thanks to the UK Government revoking my “privilege.” As a result, I now cling on tightly to our right to keep and bear arms in the U.S.A. I am an NRA Certified Instructor in all disci-plines and enjoy passing on my experience as well as bringing in new shooters whenever possible. This allows me to feel that I give a little something back. Beth, my step-daughter, is wearing a K&D Holsters custom belt slide model for the Rohrbaugh R9s, 9mm pocket pistol. The rig has two belt slots on one side so it doubles effectively as either right hand strong side with cant, or cross-draw, as seen in the photo, and is very easily concealed.


04CCM “Profile” - Rhonda StonakerTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. D’Amato / Don Myers

Dr. Neal Trent - Guest Editor

30Product Review - Tony Walker - Contributing EditorgalCo® gunlEaTHER

32“Street Tactics: Reality-Based Gun & Knife Fighting” Column by: Gabriel SuarezsTand & FigHT oR sHooT & MovE

26Gear Review - Michael S. Black - Guest EditornECk kniFE nuanCEs: THings To THink abouT

36Course Review - Michael Tan - Guest EditorTRiCon’s CoMbaTivE PisTol �: an inTEnsivEiMMERsion in THE FundaMEnTals

40Upcoming Issues

18“Armed Senior Citizen” Column by: Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D“sloTH:” onE oF THE “sEvEn dEadly sins”

siTuaTional aWaREnEss vs. siTuaTionalundERsTanding: knoWing WHaT youaRE dEaling WiTH

25“The Ordinary Guy” Column by: Mark A. WaltersTHE “gunsHinE” sTaTE RulEs again and EvERyonEWill bEnEFiT

20

“The History Corner: The Guns of America: Storiesof Independence” Column by: Alexa H. MadisonTHE FiRsT ConCEalEd and CaRRiEd: THE PHiladElPHiadERRingER

1207

CCM “Profile” - Hank GoettelmanTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. D’Amato

34Gun Review - Charles & Kathleen Ellis - Contributing EditorsTHE MousE gun


Monthly Sweepstakes!Every month we hold a sweepstakes draw-ing that is open to all new and existing mem-bers! We’ve given away all sorts of valuable self-defense gear.



- � -

2nd and 3rd Lines of Defense

When it comes down to it, a concealed handgun should be but a single line of defense in your whole personal defense system. What are some of your other “lines of defense”? Well, here they are.

Different Lines of Defense

Heightened Awareness Level: Just be-ing aware of potential trouble is enough to deter or avoid it. Conflict Avoidance: Do whatever it takes to avoid a conflict. Verbal Diffusion: When confronted, you must have the discipline and verbal skills to defuse a situation. Martial Arts: There are all sorts of un-armed combat skills that can prove to be extremely handy. I’ve taken some formal Judo instruction and I currently study Tae Kwon Do. Pretty neat stuff. Pepper Spray: This can sometimes buy you a few second to escape a tight spot. Stun Gun: This can also buy you some valuable time. Concealed Folding Knife: Be sure you’ve received some instruction on knife fighting before you deploy one of these! Concealed Handgun: Last resort! If you’re pulling your handgun out, you’d better be in grave danger of death or extreme bodily harm. The LAST thing you want to do is shoot someone. Back-up Concealed Handgun: Hmmm... If you’re going for your back-up handgun, you’re probably in a world of hurt. Maybe it’s time to start praying!

»

»

»

»

»

»

»

»

»

11

Now, do I employ all of these, all of the time? No way! These are just examples of different “lines of defense”. You must choose and learn the ones that work for you. Just be sure you’re not relying on only ONE!


All the best,




Real World Carry Gear - Blackhawk, Kershaw & Threat Solutionshttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/3��.cfm


The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 11 2nd and 3rd Lines of Defenseby Tim Schmidt


Dear USCCA,







- 2 -

Part





11


36Training Review - Kevin Michalowski - Contributing Editorcan’t get to your gun? take one away from your assailant

16Tactics & Training - Paul B. Benjamin - Guest Editorcommon sense pointers for carrying concealed




COVER PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CCM SUBSCRIBER: Brian Vaughn Photograph by: Shanemarie Vaughn Hope, Rhode Island


04CCM “Profile” - Matt RichardTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. D’Amato

Steve Krystek & Michael L. PotterGuest Editors

30A Woman’s Perspective - Kathy Jackson - Guest EditorHow to make your wife Hate guns

32“Street Tactics: Reality-Based Gun & Knife Fighting” Column by: Gabriel Suarezextreme close range gunfigHting

26Gun Review - George Hill - Contributing EditorsmitH & wesson 640

38Tactics & Training - Chuck Stewart - Guest Editorkeep it running

40Upcoming Issues

18“Armed Senior Citizen” Column by: Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.DtHe value of “dry practice”

after tHe sHooting stops: dealing witH tHe aftermatHof a letHal encounter

25“The Ordinary Guy” Column by: Mark A. WaltersHow “safe” is your Home

21“The History Corner: The Guns of America: Storiesof Independence” Column by: Alexa H. Madison‘5� colt and tHe dead man’s Hand

12

04

06CCM “Profile” - Tom McHaleTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. D’Amato

22“Cocked & Locked” Column by: Robert H. Boatmancountry carry

34Gear Review - Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D - Column EditorHigH noon Holster’s slide guard

06

Membership Image GalleryWith the USCCA membership image gallery, you’ll be able to post and share pictures of your favorite holster, handgun or maybe even a target that you’re proud of! Members can rate and comment on any image.



- � -

Surviving An Armed Confrontation

My friend, if you’re still with me at this point, I just want to say “Thank You” for reading what I have written. I realize that I write in an informal style and I sometimes joke around a little too much.

I assure you, however, I take armed, self-defense very seriously. The story about my “awakening” in the beginning of this guide was REALLY true. Not more than five years ago, I was just another “gun-neutral” person living my life in “condition white”.

My transformation has occurred at different rates over the years. It certainly didn’t happen overnight! If you ARE... like I WAS... I really en-courage you to keep investigating the concepts which I’ve presented to you over these last �� chapters.

You may be at a point in your life where carry-ing a gun for your own self-defense may seem as foreign to you as dying your hair green and wearing a clown suit to work.

Please don’t let that stop you. I firmly believe there is a REASON you are reading this informa-tion. Deep down inside, you may just “know” that YOU are responsible for your own self-pro-tection.

Don’t make the decision to carry right now... keep studying. Read books. Explore the U.S. Concealed Carry website. We have �000’s of pages of information that will help you make a completely informed decision about whether or not you will join the ranks of the “Armed Citizen”.

Okay, now on to our final topic.

I hope and pray that you NEVER have to experience a violent crime. If you DO have the

12

unfortunate circumstance of being targeted by a criminal, I hope and pray that you have the ability to defend yourself.

If you DO decide to accept the huge responsibil-ity of being an armed citizen, you MUST give a lot of thought to what will happen should you ever have to shoot another person. Unfortunate-ly, our legal system will cause you a LOT of grief if you make some seemingly simple mistakes. Here are a few tips to help you.

You should ONLY shoot someone who is causing you to be in grave danger of extreme bodily harm or death. You should be in fear of losing your life. You should shoot to stop the attack. You don’t fire warning shots. You don’t “shoot to kill”. You don’t “shoot to disable”. You shoot to stop the attack. After you’ve stopped the attack, se-cure the weapon the assailant used. Check yourself for injuries and offer assistance to the assailant if he is no longer a threat. Call the police as soon as possible. Don’t give any details over the phone. Just say, “I was attacked and feared for my life, an intruder has been shot and needs medical assis-tance as soon as possible.” Secure your weapon before the police ar-rive. You don’t want them shooting the wrong guy! Cooperate with the police. They’ll probably treat you as a suspect in the beginning. They’re just doing their job. Call your lawyer and MAKE NO STATEMENTS to the police or anyone else. Your attorney should meet you at the scene if possible. If the po-lice arrive before your attorney gets there, you MUST explain politely but

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.


The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 12 Surviving An Armed Confrontationby Tim Schmidt


(Continued...)

Dear USCCA,








- 2 -

Part

firmly that you’d prefer not to talk until your attorney arrives. Say a prayer of thanks that you sur-vived a potentially deadly encounter.

Wow. Writing these tips has put me in a somber mood. I honestly hope to never have to fight for my life. I hope the same for you.

This last article does a good job of explaining what will happen should you ever find yourself in the position I just described above. I hope you find it beneficial.

Related ArticlesThe first link below is to a “FREE Access” article that is applicable to this chapter’s material. The other links are to “members only” articles that I’m sure you’ll find valuable.

�. After the Shooting Stops: Dealing With the Aftermath of a Lethal Encounter2. The Judicious Use of Deadly Force3. Skills, Responsibilities and Psychology of Armed Self-Defense

Well, that wraps up “The Armed Citizen Solu-tion”. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I also hope that by now, you’ve decide to join U.S. Concealed Carry!

6.

You can usually find me lurking around the member’s forum late at night. There are always some good conversations going on there. Also, when you join, be sure to check our image gal-lery. There are some great pictures of the U.S. Concealed Carry Race Car! It may not be racing on the Nextel Cup NASCAR circuit... but it’s re-ally FAST!

On a serious and final note, I wish you the best. I honestly hope I gave you some information here that will help you in some way.


All the best,




After the Shooting Stops: Dealing With the Aftermath of a Lethal Encounterhttp://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/227.cfm

12

Dear USCCA,







- 3 -

Part





12


30

04CCM “Profiles” - Bruce A. Beatty & Donnie CundiffTimothy J. Schmidt / Maria M. D’Amato Real life, Real stoRies, Real people.




COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Delta Media, LLC.


07

Sarah M. Thompson, M.D. - Guest Editor

20Tactics & Training - Scott Smith - Contributing EditortHeRe’s No sUCH tHiNG as too MUCH tRaiNiNG.

30“Street Tactics: Reality-Based Gun & Knife Fighting” Column by: Gabriel SuareztHe Goal of a GUNMaN.

28Gun Review - George Hill - Contributing EditorRUGeR sp101.

26

Book Reviews - Timothy J. Schmidt - PublishertHe CoNCealed HaNdGUN MaNUal by CHRis biRd,eNeMies foReiGN aNd doMestiC by MattHew bRaCkeN& aRMed RespoNse by daVid keNik.

40Upcoming Issues

34“Armed Senior Citizen” Column by: Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.Da CleaR View of yoUR defeNsiVe aNd seCURity Needs.

RaGiNG aGaiNst self defeNse: a psyCHiatRist eXaMiNes tHeaNti-GUN MeNtality

32

38A Woman’s Perspective - Kathryn A. Graham - Guest EditorwHat’s witH tHese apoloGies?

25“The Ordinary Guy” Column by: Mark A. Waltersdoes My CaRRyiNG a GUN MeaN i’M a “paRaNoid” peRsoN?Call Me aNytHiNG yoU waNt.

23“Cocked & Locked” Column by: Robert H. BoatmanfailURe to fiRe.

32Training Review - Oleg Volk - Guest EditorwaRRioR talk syMposiUM witH Gabe sUaReZ.

21“The History Corner: The Guns of America: Storiesof Independence” Column by: Alexa H. MadisontHe 1800’s to tHe CiVil waR - tHe fliNtloCks.

Photograph by Oleg Volk

20Photograph by Oleg Volk

12

The USCCA StoreYou’ll find a fantastic collection of USCCA logo products and training/education prod-ucts at the website store. We also have some deeply discounted packages in case you’d like to buy more than one product!

Documents

The Armed Citizen Solution - Part 01 The Story of a Man ... Armed Citizen Solution - Part 01 The Story of a Man Who Woke Up... by Tim Schmidt Dear USCCA, I am writing to express my