U.S. Concealed Carry Association
Home | Search | Member Area
 Support / Resources
 FAQ
 Help
 Affiliates / Recruiters
 Affiliate Login
 Contact Us
 Writers / Contributors
 Advertisers
 Privacy Policy
 Classified Ads
 Our Guarantee
 Search This Site
 Terms of Use
 Text Size
 Change Your Account
 CCW Reciprocity Info
 Testimonials
home | Beginner Concealed Carry
 

Welcome to the Beginner Concealed Carry portal. If you're new to carrying concealed or are picking it up after a break, this is where to begin. Remember, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.
Good luck with your research and
please STAY SAFE!

Take care,

Tim Schmidt
USCCA Founder
RECOMMENDED REVIEWS:
1. The Decision to Carry
2. Avoid Deadly Mental Failures
3. Gun Fit
2. Fundamentals of Handgun Shooting
3. Is Dry Fire Safe?

The Ordinary Guy: The Love of My Life
Mark Walters
The Ordinary Guy: The Love of My Life This is the story of newlyweds Nikki and Ben Goeser. Those of you who listen to me on Armed American Radio have heard this story direct from Nikki Goeser herself. It is disturbing, brutal and very difficult to write. Nikki met Ben Goeser in June of 2007 at a friend's karaoke party . . . keep reading
Did Anybody Drop this Pistol? The Essentials of Holster Safety
Kathy Jackson
Did Anybody Drop this Pistol? The Essentials of Holster Safety Although there was a lot of vigorous debate about the specifics, there was also a surprising degree of consensus about safe holster design. Most participants agreed that a safe holster performs several crucial functions, while an unsafe holster either fails to perform one of these functions or does so in a way that encourages the user to violate safe gunhandling procedures . . . keep reading
Sig Sauer Academy: Concealed Carry in Inclement Conditions
George Harris
Sig Sauer Academy: Concealed Carry in Inclement Conditions For many of those reading this column, carrying concealed is an everyday occurrence. In order to maintain consistency, a carry location for the gun has been selected along with the location for spare ammunition. Proficiency is kept at the desired level through the regular practice of drawing, holstering, handling, reloading . . . keep reading
BEHIND THE LINE: Teaching Gun Safety
Marty Hayes J.D.
BEHIND THE LINE: Teaching Gun Safety Before the first shot is fired in any training course, gun safety must be addressed. But gun safety is somewhat of a nebulous concept, and it has been my experience that many people speak reverently about the need to practice gun safety, but those spoken words seem to be forgotten once the guns enter the hands of otherwise well-intentioned . . . keep reading
Ballistic Basics: Weighty Matters
Dennis Cantrell
Ballistic Basics: Weighty Matters Your body's weight is easy to determine, right? Simply step onto a scale and read the number displayed. And most of the time this works just fine. However, suppose you could transport yourself to the top of Mount Everest (29,035 feet high) and repeat the measurement. You'd find that your 180-pound body now weighs a mere 179.75 pounds, a quarter of a pound less . . . keep reading
Carrying a Backup Gun: Do You or Don't You?
Duane A. Daiker
Carrying a Backup Gun: Do You or Don't You? Everyone should carry a backup gun, affectionately referred to as a BUG. When it comes to lifesaving equipment, there is a commonly heard phrase: "Two is one, and one is none." Mechanical devices tend to fail at the worst possible times. If your life is important enough to carry one gun . . . keep reading
How Small is Too Small for Concealed Carry?
George Harris
How Small is Too Small for Concealed Carry? We are a society of convenience oriented individuals. We constantly strive to improve on what we do in every aspect of our lives in the interest of comfort and convenience. Some would describe our drive to live life easier as laziness and being complacent. Others may say that we, as a society spend more time looking for solutions to . . . keep reading
First Aid to Survive a Lethal Force Assault
Alan W. Rose
First Aid to Survive a Lethal Force Assault You and your family are on your way home from dinner when you realize that you need gas, so you pull in to the next station. It is well lit and clean. As you are entering your PIN at the pump, you realize that a group of three youths in gang colors are closing on you fast from . . . keep reading
SPEAR and CFS Fundamentals
Don Stahlnecker
SPEAR and CFS Fundamentals The class was a joint effort between Tony Blauer of Blauer Tactical Systems and Rob Pincus of ICE Training, and was designed to meet the needs of the average citizen who wants to be able to effectively protect against real world violence . . . keep reading
Is Dry Fire Safe?
Kathy Jackson
Is Dry Fire Safe? "Is it safe to dry fire my handgun?"

When people ask this question, they are almost invariably asking about the mechanical function of their firearms, not about the physical safety of human beings. But the lives of shooters and their loved ones are far more important than the mechanical life of even the most expensive firearm. To give . . . keep reading


After the Smoke Clears
RK Campbell
After the Smoke Clears A point I have often made concerning instructors is that it is best by far to learn from an instructor who has both police experience . . . keep reading
SIGARMS: Training for the Future
George Harris
SIGARMS: Training for the Future Training takes on a variety of meanings for the majority of us. Is it practicing what we know or is it learning something new and repeating . . . keep reading
Holster Safety
Kathy Jackson
Holster Safety Perhaps the most dangerous moment in any firearms class happens when new students begin using . . . keep reading
Gunsmithing Horror Stories: Don't Let This Happen To You
Phil Elmore; Photos by Mike Mogray
Gunsmithing Horror Stories: Don't Let This Happen To You It all started innocently enough. My friend Mike, a novice to firearms ownership and proud holder of a new . . . keep reading
Firearms Fundamentals for the Whole Family -- Arizona Gun Club Gets the Job Done
Rick Medina
Firearms Fundamentals for the Whole Family -- Arizona Gun Club Gets the Job Done One very positive trend that I have been noticing around gun clubs is an active outreach campaign to attract more . . . keep reading
Armed Senior Citizen: Entering and Exiting Your Motor Vehicle Safely Everyday
Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D.
Armed Senior Citizen: Entering and Exiting Your Motor Vehicle Safely Everyday Be aware of your surroundings. One of the places where we need to be especially aware of our surroundings is . . . keep reading
Help Make Your Town Safer
Greg Perry
Help Make Your Town Safer If you live in a state that won't allow you to carry a firearm, why do you still live there? . . . keep reading
Weapon Retention for Concealed Carry
George Harris
Weapon Retention for Concealed Carry When we think about concealed carry, we think about our preference in guns and holsters, ammunition selection, ancillary gear such . . . keep reading
Practice to Prevail: A practice regimen to hit where you aim
Gary Hoff
Practice to Prevail: A practice regimen to hit where you aim Those of us who have a license to carry a concealed handgun should understand that it is our responsibility to . . . keep reading
It's Never Too Soon
Steve Farmer
It's Never Too Soon The issue of how kids should learn about firearms has always been controversial. Some . . . keep reading
More HeadlinesMore Headlines
Home | Search

© 2003-2010 U.S. Concealed Carry Association. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission prohibited.