Concealed carry class is not about being a killer, or being a gun-nut.  It’s about protection.  Even so as a fairly defense minded individual I waited far too long to go take the class.  Until a couple of days ago, I agreed with people’s right to concealed carry, but I thought since I wasn’t sure I could take a life, I shouldn’t bother carrying a gun.

Then Sheriff Richard Mack come to talk at my school.  I didn’t agree with everything he said.  But one thing he said stood out to me:  “One armed citizen could have had a chance at stopping the Virginia massacre”.  Woah, my willingness to be armed could save innocent lives?  Well that was it, I signed up that night and took the course three days later.

And. I. Loved. It.

I’ve shot handguns before.  It’s a lot of fun.  But I didn’t know sitting on a couch learning about guns could be so entertaining.  I know so much more than I did yet still know so little.  I recommend everyone take the course.  Not only is it extremely inexpensive for the amount of instruction you get, but it is a lot of fun.

You may be a person who will never carry or even willingly touch a gun.  I still recommend this course.  What would you do if you needed to make sure a gun was unloaded?  Do you know how to tell?  How to remove a clip?  Do you know all the parts of a gun?  How to hold one if you needed to?  Do you know laws about using force, even unarmed force, in your state?

Women don’t think about protection as much as men do, in my experience.  Good men I have known have innate desires to protect, and it’s a theme that is commonly explored in media.  However women are protective too, in a very different way.  Ever seen a mama bear?  This is why the comment Sheriff Mack made about Virginia Tech affected me.  When I picture someone I care about at the mercy of an armed gunman, my opinion of my ability to use a gun changes drastically.  I imagine it’s the same for a mother picturing her child in danger, but women in general seem to be compassionate towards those in need, and some often care more about safety of others above their own.

The people who want to hurt people already have their guns.  I believe it is our responsibility to ask ourselves if more good hearted, sound minded people shouldn’t explore concealed carry to balance the scales.  And we need at the very least to be educated even about the things we fear or hate most.  I’m not asking you to be pro-gun.  I’m asking you to be pro-thought, and pro-open, and to make sure you are checking all of your options and not letting prejudice or gentleness get in the way of considering all the ways to stay safe in this world.

Thanks for reading,

Peach