For many, purchasing a firearm is often the first step toward personal self-defense. Maybe you’ve bought a gun or perhaps you went to the range a few times to practice but now what? Recent studies have shown that over 1/3 of Americans own a gun yet only 1 in 20 have a permit to carry it. So let’s discuss why you should take that second step and obtain a permit to carry!

Carrying a firearm is a big responsibility. The average working American spends over one-third of their life outside the home, but what if you need that firearm when you’re not at home? Obtaining a permit to carry and carrying your firearm gives you the ability to protect yourself and your family when away from home. Believe it or not, almost 2/3 of reported assaults happen outside of the home. A law-abiding permit holder, carrying a firearm may be able to help stop an assault or other violent crime well before police arrive on the scene. Who knows, the lives saved could be yours or of your family’s.

While laws on guns in cars vary from state to state, having a concealed carry license will make any traffic stop a better, easier situation. Firearms in cars might make certain law enforcement nervous, yet having a concealed carry permit will ease many of their concerns. Having that permit will immediately show the officer that you don’t have any felonies, that you’re a law-abiding citizen that cares about your gun rights, and have undergone the necessary background checks to get that permit. In fact, some people have even reported that having that permit has helped them get out of a speeding ticket!

In many states, having a permit to carry makes the process to purchase a gun easier. For example, several states waive the background check requirement for those with a permit to carry. Certain other states waive a mandatory waiting period to purchase a firearm for those that have a permit to carry. There are even a few states that don’t require a license to carry yet we still recommend getting one anyway. Getting a permit gives one the ability to not just carry in your state but through reciprocal agreements, often in many other states as well!

Some say “hope for the best and prepare for the worst”. I personally believe this philosophy applies to carrying a firearm. While I hope and pray each day I would never need to use my firearm, if I ever did, I’d sure be glad I had it with me. Every time I watch the news I see the mass shootings, gang-related crimes, and assaults that take place every day. I carry because it gives me peace of mind. Chances are I will never need that firearm, but having it on me gives me the ability to leave the house with the confidence that I can take care of myself. At the end of the day, my personal safety is my responsibility and that is why I carry.