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Okay ya’ll…. You know that long list of to-dos you have in the back of your brain, but you just never seem to remember or make the time for them??? Weellll, one of those things for me has been to take a Concealed Carry Course!

Honestly, I’ve been meaning to do it for years, but with our busy schedule and the limited times that are available to take the course, I’ve just never seemed to make time for it. But I finally did! And I’m here today to tell y’all all about it.

Tim and I recently ordered new Beretta handguns to both carry and keep at the house. We wanted the ability to keep ourselves and our kiddos SAFE should a situation ever arise that required self-defence. (Saying ALL the prayers that nothing EVER happens, though)! I grew up in Canada, where this freedom is not available, so I’m happy to live somewhere it is.

Concealed Carry Rules

In North Carolina, you must first take a Concealed Carry Course to apply for your concealed carry permit. Rules/requirements for the permit vary a LOT from state to state, so check with your home state to find out if you need to take one too! On top of your home state requirements to get the permit, you’ll also want to research bordering states or states you travel to. 

Not all states have the same laws, and just because you have your Concealed Carry Permit in one state, doesn’t mean another state will honor it. To see where you are legally allowed to carry, you will want to check out the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map to see which states’ permits/licenses are honored in other specific states. Reciprocity just means that two states have an agreement – meaning State 1 accepts permits from State 2, and State 2 accepts permits from State 1. However, to make things extra confusing, there are instances where State 3 accepts permits from State 4, but State 4 does NOT accept permits from State 3. ALSO, these rules are constantly changing, so it’s important to refer to the maps often to stay informed.

(This is all pretty important info, so I’m going to link aaalll the resources at the bottom of this blog so that you can keep track of all the links in one place!) 

It was important for me to take this course regardless of the requirements. Gun safety is an absolute must when handling firearms. Having a handgun is a BIG responsibility. While I  have experience handling handguns, the more I know and the more comfortable I am handling a handgun, the safer I feel. I’m responsible for keeping myself and my children safe, so taking this course was extremely essential.

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Concealed Carry Course

After taking the course, I feel so much more confident and knowledgeable. The course is designed for people of all skill sets, so it doesn’t really matter if you’re brand spankin’ new to handling guns or if you’ve been around the block a few times. (In my course, some people had never touched a handgun, all the way to a woman in the Military!). So while it might help to get some experience before the course, if you can’t practice safely or are uncomfortable, then definitely let the pros that teach the course take the time with you. That’s what they’re there for, and they’ll teach you everything you need to know. But don’t be afraid to ask questions also! 

So if you are required to take the course, OR you would like to, don’t be like me and put it off. I one MILLION percent know how hectic life can be, but if you make it a priority to schedule and take the course, you’re going to be SO happy you did. You can check at your local Bass Pro Shop or their online directory (see below) to see if they have any upcoming classes, or a quick google search will help you find a place near you. Since I had to take my course on a specific day, I just googled it and scheduled it with Carolina Firearms Training; they were great! 

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Beretta Guns

Now that I have the course behind me, I am so excited to get my Beretta (Tim is obviously super excited, too!).  It will be so comforting to have it in my vehicle and carry it on me when I feel the need. How I carry it will depend on what I wear and if I have a purse! You can carry safely in multiple ways, including in your purse (they even make purses specifically designed for concealed carry), inside your waistband, or on your ankle. When you carry a gun inside your waistband, you can conceal it right behind your hip (at around 3 or 4 o’clock) or “appendix,” which will be at about 1 o’clock (for right-handed shooters).  Again, placement will really depend on what you’re wearing, but you’ll also want to be comfortable with the placement. Everyone is different, so what you are comfortable with, someone else might not be.

When it comes to choosing a handgun, you want to find an option that you are comfortable carrying AND shooting. Typically the most comfortable gun to shoot and carry concealed is a .380 or 9 mm. I chose the Beretta APX A1 Carry ODG 9MM from BPS for my firearm. This is a great compact option for me to have since I will be carrying it. If you’re unsure what firearm is best for you, I suggest heading to your local Bass Pro Shop or another local dealer to let the experts help you.

Gun safety is critical, no matter how comfortable you are with a weapon. From shooting to storing, every aspect of handling a gun must be done safely. Obviously, since we have little kiddos at home, we are very cautious and always make sure we have our guns out of reach and safely locked up in a gun safe. We just ordered a big one from Bass Pro, but there are also smaller handgun safes if that’s all you need. Aside from properly storing our guns, we also spend time teaching Leni & Boone the importance of firearm safety. Just talking about them and stressing their seriousness is really important for kids to hear.

If you’ve been wanting to get your Concealed Carry Permit, hopefully this blog was helpful for ya’ll!

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CLICK ANY PHOTO TO SHOP

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RESOURCES

• Bass Pro Concealed Carry Course Directory – Enter your state and check the availability. 
• Reciprocity Maps – Stay informed!
• Safe Ways to Carry a Concealed Handgun – Determine what way is best for you.

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