Ask Men

Don't carry a gun unless you put the work into the learning curve. And it's a steep curve.

Make safety an unbreakable habit, and that takes practice. Shoot with someone more experienced, let them correct your mistakes, no matter how minor.

Putting steel on target, especially under stress, takes mad practice. If you haven't put 1,000 rounds through your personal weapon, leave it at home. How do you trust a gun you haven't shot 1,000 times?! Hell, 200 rounds is standard "break in" on a new pistol.

Can you draw it and get on target, shaking yourself shitless? Because if that day comes, you'll be scared shitless. Have you tried? Try. Run until you can't breathe, draw and fire. Try. Now do it again.

You don't have to go nuts memorizing ballistics charts, but have an idea what you can expect from $round at $range. You're going to have to watch a fuck-ton of videos, and practice, to get a real-world idea of what you're carrying and what you can do with it. Adjust accordingly.

Most people are woefully ignorant of what their state law allows in self-defense. Seen the craziest comments from such people. Hint: The law allows far less than you probably think, even in the reddest of states. Again, fuck ton of videos. Learn, or you might find yourself in a concrete and steel cage.

One more thought; A pistol is not a magical self-defense talisman. A gun is not a, "Get off me!" or "Leave me alone!", ward. A concealed gun is for one thing only, killing the person you show it to. If you cannot do that thing, I get you, and I'm with you, but don't carry.

Much the same goes for a home defense gun. Learn and train. Or do not. You're my friend either way.

(I'll plug Paul Harrell's channel. Zero politics, just the facts, stated and demonstrated, mildly amusing. Hundreds of videos on gun related subjects. And some fun presentations outside the gun world!)