Don’t wait until you are faced with an attack to practice your self-defense strategy. The most important New Year’s resolution starts with a commitment to protecting yourself and your loved ones. Here are some resolutions you can make today:
Practice every week.
If you are not shooting on a regular basis, the more likely your first shot will miss an attacker. If you can afford to shoot weekly, make the effort to fire 100 rounds. If shooting weekly is too big of a commitment, try going every-other-week.
Clean your firearm after each shooting session.
Always follow the manual that came with your firearm when cleaning. If your firearm did not come with a manual, you should be able to find it on the manufacturer’s website. Regular cleaning will prevent fouling, which may cause your firearm to malfunction when you need it most.
Carry everywhere, everyday.
There are a couple of reasons to carry every time you are out in public. The more often you carry, the more comfortable you will become with your firearm on your body. The more comfortable you are, the less likely you are to ‘show’ that you are carrying. Another reason to carry everyday is you never know when you will need it. Don’t lose your life simply because it was an inconvenience to grab your firearm when making a quick trip to the store.
Introduce someone to shooting.
Invite a friend who has never shot before or take someone shooting if they to tag along. You will gain a new shooting buddy, as well as someone to make sure you are practicing regularly. I have seen several times the look of excitement when someone shoots for the first time, and that excitement can turn into a real passion for firearms.
Pack it in, pack it out.
If you are shooting outside, be sure the pick up all your shells/casings, as well as target remnants. Recently, a local shooting spot was fenced off after $20,000 was spent to clean up and restore the land. I recommend bringing two five-gallon buckets and gloves. It messy areas, it does not take long at all to fill the buckets. You will want to have gloves in case someone was using glass bottles for target practice.
Whether you choose one, two, or all of these resolutions, keep track of your progress to help stay motivated. Better yet, introduce someone to shooting to have someone calling you up to go shoot. As always, if you feel the need for a refresher safety course, be sure to re-watch our free video online.
