Brave Protection

There’s a lot of talk on the street these days about the importance of being able to protect and defend yourself outside of your household as well as inside.Contrary to that notion, however, is a 1999 Harvard School of Public Health study that stated “Americans feel less safe as more people in their community begin to carry weapons.” And so the dichotomy continues.As it stands, 48 states allow concealed weapons (some require a permit to do so, some do not), and many require applicants to certify their proficiency with firearm use. This is typically accomplished through a series of classroom instruction (covering the mechanics of firearms and terminology, laws concerning gun use, liability issues, methods for safe handling and carrying, techniques for diffusing a situation without having to actually fire the weapon), and practical live-fire range instruction that is designed to meet each state’s requirements.While the laws vary by state and we encourage you to check with your particular state’s regulations, there are a few parameters that reach across all states when it comes to limitations.According to the National Rifle Association (NRA), the following is a list of individuals who are ineligible (regardless of state laws) to possess, receive, ship, or transport firearms or ammunition:

• Those convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for over one year, except state misdemeanors punishable by two years or less.
• Fugitives from justice.
• Unlawful users of certain depressant, narcotic, or stimulant drugs.
• Those adjudicated as mental defectives or incompetents or those committed to any mental institution.
• Illegal aliens.
• Citizens who have renounced their citizenship.
• Those persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces.
• Persons less than 18 years of age for the purchase of a shotgun or rifle.
• Persons less than 21 years of age for the purchase of a firearm that is other than a shotgun or rifle.
• Persons subject to a court order that restrains such persons from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner.
• Persons convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

If you’re considering this option of personal protection, we suggest that you take a look at some online resources (like the NRA) to become fully educated on your right to bear arms and different programs and publications they offer to help you make a completely informed decision on whether this avenue of protection is one to be pursued.