USCCA Firearms & Self-Defense Blog

There is probably no legislation that evokes as much emotion as “stand your ground” laws. While they may vary in details from state to state, these self-defense laws generally remove the requirement…

One of the most egregious gear errors consistently popping up on social media is the lack of a good gun belt. You either see a guy holstering up with a low-quality cloth belt (or a skinny belt) or a…

A colleague once mentioned that he and I should have a Ph.D. in street science. After years of dealing with people from all walks of life, I think there is some substance to that. My study of…

Despite my longtime love of revolvers, I recently discovered a cartridge I’d somehow missed: the .38 Special Short. A few weeks ago, I was browsing the ammunition shelves at my favorite Central Ohio…

Firearms-related headlines continue to shape public conversation and policy discussions across the country. Each month, we’ll gather the notable stories involving firearms, self-defense and the…

Key Takeaways A home-defense plan involves more than owning a firearm. Securing entry points, improving exterior lighting, identifying safe areas and preparing your family are all important. Home…

Key Takeaways Safety comes first. A home-defense firearm should be secured against unauthorized access. Storage and accessibility must be balanced. A quick-access safe may offer a practical…

Even retired cops have to qualify for the LEOSA card, so I found myself on the range with a group of cops the other day. At this range session, we were forced to address the idea of regular gear…

We’ve all seen it in the movies: a trained assassin quietly attaching a silencer to a high-powered rifle, delivering a nearly silent shot that drops a target with little more than a whisper. This…

According to the FBI, an estimated 661,800 burglaries occurred in the United States in 2025, with residential properties accounting for 53.4 percent of those offenses. Although burglaries have…

Let me start off by saying that I am not a gardener, nor have I ever been one. My wife gardens, and my dad raised a garden every summer from 1957 until his death in 2008. While I’ve never had much…

In 2022, four states — Alabama, Ohio, Indiana and Georgia — passed constitutional carry or permitless carry laws, bringing the total to 25 states. Florida and Nebraska followed in 2023, with Florida…

Like much of the gear we carry every day, tactical flashlights have come a long way. Today’s lights are better than ever: slimmer, lighter, brighter and more functional than their older siblings. I’ve used several over 20-plus years of civilian concealed carry, and the newer lights are impressive, no question.

Key Takeaways Situational awareness means understanding your surroundings, recognizing changes and noticing potential threats. The Color Code of Awareness describes four conditions: White, Yellow,…

Loading rifle and pistol magazines can cause problems for shooters young and old, regardless of age or size. With the popularity of high-capacity pistols and rifles, the issue has become more…

Taurus recently introduced a .380 ACP version of its GX4 pistol. The obvious question is why chamber a pistol of this size in .380 ACP when compact 9mm handguns are readily available? There have been…

In some states, someone can petition a court to temporarily take your firearms, even if you haven’t been charged with a crime. This trend in state firearms legislation has been making waves across…

Key Takeaways Choose emergency gear that you can comfortably, discreetly and consistently carry. Keep your firearm, reload and other emergency gear secured, concealed and accessible when you need…

If you carry a firearm for self-defense, training and understanding the law are important parts of being prepared. But preparation also means thinking about what happens after a self-defense incident. A defensive use of force can lead to a police investigation and, depending on the circumstances, criminal or civil proceedings.

If you own or carry a firearm for self-defense, choosing an attorney is not something you want to figure out for the first time after a critical incident. The attorney representing you may be…