Regular practice and an interest in guns is simply not enough. It’s assumed that when you carry concealed you’re also fully aware of the legal aspects of concealed carry and self-defense. The simple act of holstering a weapon for defense skyrockets your levels of responsibility.
None of what follows is intended to be legal advice. It’s simply a broad overview to introduce you to some important legal aspects of concealed carry. We can offer insight into the legal basics, but it’s up to you to learn the specific laws for your state of residence and your individual situation.
Deadly force is the last resort when your life is in danger. Deadly force is a high level of force that a person can use in order to kill or cause serious bodily injury to an attacker when there is no other option. Below are three important aspects to deadly force that every gun owner should know.
1. Avoid dangerous confrontations if you can. It’s your responsibility to use good judgement and stay out of places and situations where your life might be in danger. Carrying a concealed handgun for protection is no reason to go walking into situations that you’d otherwise avoid. If a confrontation is brewing, do not provoke it. Take any opportunity to leave and keep your life and the lives of others intact.
2. How you define a threat makes all the difference. An attacker can be a threat to your life in a few different ways. Overall, they have the ability to kill or harm you seriously. They could have a deadly weapon that they intend to use. They also may have other factors in their favor that put you in danger. They may outnumber you, be much more strong and physically able than you, or they might possess some other strength or skill like advanced martial arts. These advantages put you in danger.
3.The best defense is to “know before you go”. Every situation is different, and self-defense requires some quick mental gymnastics. If you possess the ability to defend yourself in a non-lethal manner, like martial arts training or pepper spray, you may have to justify why you didn’t use it first. If you used deadly force on an attacker was of equal or lesser physical ability than you, you may have explaining to do.
If you want to educate yourself even more about the legal aspects of concealed carry (and you should), talk with an attorney who can make the laws clear to you. Carrying a concealed handgun gives us the power to defend ourselves and others if there is a threat to our lives. It’s up to us to have a clear understanding of how the law influences our actions before we even holster our handguns.
