I looked at my analytics and saw that I have over 20,000 page views, so I suppose I had better write something. Good thing I went to a concealed-carry class this weekend!
http://oregonconcealedtraining.com/
Matt and I made a special trip to Portland to take a class offered by Oregon Concealed Training. Upon completion of the class, you have all the required training to get your Concealed Weapons Permits for Oregon, Arizona and Utah.
I haven't talked a lot about concealed carry on this blog (or if i have, i don't remember any more) so I'll touch on it a little bit. The decision to carry is not one to be taken lightly, and smarter people than i have talked about it at length. I won't belabor that. I WILL tell you that each state has a concealed weapons permit available in some way, shape or form (except for states like Illinois and Hawaii that won't issue permits to anyone for any reason). It is up to each individual state to decide whether or not they recognize the permits issued by their neighboring states or other states in the Union. For example, Washington and Idaho share a border. Washington recognizes Idaho's concealed-carry permit, but Idaho does not recognize Washington's. In order to cover one's ass if they travel back and forth between the states with a gun on their person, in their purse or in their car, it makes sense to get a permit for both states. Most states do not have a residency requirement, although some states require you to apply for a permit in-person.
By completing this class, Matt and I are eligible to get permits for Arizona (covers Arizona and New Mexico), Oregon (covers a bunch of western states) and Utah (covers as many states in the US as they possibly can). We drive all over the place, so these permits make sense to have. Also, with legislation being written every year trying to limit people's ability to get concealed weapons permits, it makes sense to get them while the getting is good.
This was a great class. It was all classroom--no live-fire at all. The instructor talked a LOT about the legality of carrying, what your legal responsibilities are (and are not) depending on the state you are in, what to say and what not to say in the event of a confrontation, when to draw and when not to draw, the difference between a "must retreat" and a "stand your ground" state, etc. There is a lot to know. For example, Utah law explicitly allows you to draw your weapon in the defense of a 3rd party, where other states may not legally permit this unless certain felonies are being committed.
It was an awesome class and I would recommend it to anyone. There was, however, something I would like to address. There were 6 women in the class (out of 12 or 13 people), which was great. However, at one point, the instructor removed the top slides from 2 or 3 unloaded handguns and passed the frames around the class so that people could practice the 2 basic handgun stances: Isoceles and Weaver.
Me doing Isoceles. Feet and shoulders are square. Your shoulders and the gun create an isoceles triangle.
My little bro doing (one-handed) Weaver. You stand sideways, presenting a smaller target if someone is shooting at you.
I was sort of sad to see that 2 of the 6 women in the class were NOT AT ALL comfortable handling even the bottom half of a disassembled gun. One tried to work on the grip, but didn't understand how it was demonstrated. I looked over and saw that she was left-handed, so the instructor's demonstration of a right-handed grip didn't work for her. I also saw her husband snicker at her for not knowing. What a tool. Way to help your lady out there, guy.
It really drove home to me a point that I think we all need to be aware of. How many times have we seen or heard about a guy thinking it's really f*cking funny to take their wife or girlfriend shooting for the first time with a .45 handgun or a 12 gauge shotgun? You have someone who is uncomfortable and maybe a little intimidated, and probably embarrassed that they are uncomfortable, and the person who is supposed to be helping them makes it worse--or, scares them so badly that they never want to try ever again.
People, think for a second. This is how anti's are created.
Shooting is a great activity for the whole family if it is done in a methodical and safe manner. I see LOTS of wives, daughters, sisters and mothers who enjoy target shooting, clay pigeons, small- and big-game hunting, etc. The trick is to remember that we were all beginners once, and we all needed a knowledgeable person to talk us through the hard stuff and get us comfortable using the tools of the trade. EVERYONE is scared of guns at first. They are loud and bang-y and can totally kill you. Lots of slow and safe practice in a comfortable environment, starting with a caliber that DOESN'T CAUSE PAIN, is the only thing that causes fear to evolve into a healthy respect.
In conclusion: Dudes, don't be tools.
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