USCCA Firearms & Self-Defense Blog

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…

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The first handgun I ever shot was a small, blued-steel, six-shot .22 Smith & Wesson revolver with a 4-inch barrel. Though it seemed much larger to me when my dad first let my brother and me handle it…

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…

Springfield Armory offers service-grade handguns with good performance, and the Operator has long held a useful place in the company’s 1911 lineup. With its forged steel slide and frame and quality…

Key Takeaways The Critical Response Team (CRT) works for USCCA Law™ and is available 24/7/365 to help USCCA members after a lawful self-defense incident. Attorney-client privilege is available…

When you hear someone say a company “isn’t what it used to be,” that’s usually not a compliment. It can mean the company’s products have declined in quality, become overpriced or simply fallen behind…

An AR-15 tends to be the go-to choice for many gun owners when it comes to home defense. It also sees use as a truck gun, and don’t even get me started on how many people use an AR-15 for hunting.…

Not long ago, my husband and I were packed into a high school auditorium for a combined choir and band concert. The room was full of proud parents, anxious students, and all the typical organized…

I’ve reviewed a good number of Colt’s revolvers and semi-automatic pistols over the past few years, and every one has impressed me. Even a good friend who collects classic Colts could not find fault…

Key Takeaways A justified self-defense shooting or favorable criminal outcome does not necessarily prevent a later civil lawsuit. Criminal and civil cases use different standards, and the burden of…

A popular misnomer among gun-control activists about the AR-15 rifle is that the AR stands for “assault rifle.” Never mind the lack of definition that constitutes what an “assault rifle” is, AR is short for ArmaLite rifle, a name referring to the manufacturer of the firearm in the 1950s.