By John Naese
(Guns Save Life) – Permit to carry is coming to Illinois. We don’t yet know what the exact rules will be, but within six months a law should be in place. As soon as they can, thousands of Illinoisans (maybe even you!) will be carrying firearms as they go about their daily lives.
For the first time.
Most people don’t drive a car for the first time the day after they get their driver’s permit. They go through driver’s education and they practice, supervised by teachers and experienced drivers, in parking lots and on country roads and side streets.
To get a carry permit, there will most likely be a training requirement. But just as you didn’t stop learning about driving when you finished your driver’s education course, you should learn as much about gun carrying as you can, even if you already meet the minimum training requirement.
What Kind of Training?
A “minimum-requirements” course will cover gun safety (muzzle in a safe direction, finger off the trigger until you’ve decided to shoot); and some accuracy (hitting the target).
Other courses will also cover the legal aspects (when it’s okay to draw and/or fire).
A better course will cover, in addition to those items, some of these subjects also:
- Moving to and using cover and concealment
- Holsters
- Reloads
- Awareness and avoidance
- Interactions with potential offenders
- Holding the gun silent, even if you are on firm legal ground to shoot, if you possibly can.
- What happens to you, physically and mentally, during and after a critical incident.
- Interactions with witnesses, police and others after a use of force.
Why look for a “better” class as opposed to one that covers the minimum?
If you learn and use some basic tactics, you will greatly enhance your chances of coming out on top of a violent encounter. It’s far better to rely on training and experience rather than luck to win a gun fight.
If you know and act to the standards by which you will be judged, you will generally be okay as far as the legal system goes. This will protect your hard-earned assets.
Now is the time to look for a training class that addresses some or all of these subjects. Do your homework before you get your permit and start carrying. The few dollars you spend and the bit of time you invest will be well worth it if it keeps you from doing things the wrong way.
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