Having a permit that allows you to carry a concealed weapon is one of the great benefits of living in the United States and having your Second Amendment rights. However, with your right to carry a concealed weapon, you will need to educate yourself and prepare for your training so that you can carry an armed weapon safely and responsibly. Here are some recommendations to help you prepare for and successfully take a concealed carry weapons class.

Prepare For Your Conceal Carry Permit Class

When you sign up for a conceal carry permit training class, you will find out from the instructor beforehand what items you will need to bring with you to the training. This may include your government-issued ID, your firearm, a holster, or any other equipment you may need to have at the training. Be sure you read any pre-course instructions before going to the class so you can be ready and you have everything you need that the trainer requires.

Before the day of the class, you may want to have your firearm already purchased and in your possession. If you do not have a firearm yet and you do not know what one to select, you can check with a local gun shop to find out if any are available for test firing. This will help you decide which firearm you are more comfortable with controlling and carrying with you. You can also ask for recommendations at the gun shop for a firearm to purchase as a first-time carrier. Then be sure you know how to load, unload, and fire the handgun safely.

Pay Attention

When you arrive at your concealed carry training, be prepared to pay attention during the class. For the first period of the class, you will be going over regulations, laws, and how to follow them for your area, which is essential in your permit responsibility. You will need to know all the regulations about your permit so you can follow the laws, otherwise you can be at risk of losing your conceal carry permit. 

It is also a good idea to take notes in class that you can refer to later. Some instructors will provide handouts for you to follow along and take home as a reference, so be sure you keep these as a help later on. If, for example, you are traveling through another state in a few weeks, you will want to know what the concealed carry laws are for that state and how to find them out.

Follow Up With Additional Practice

After your conceal carry permit class is completed, you should look at increasing your ability in using your firearm. Just because you have taken the conceal carry class and shot some rounds in class doesn't mean you can't use more practice. Go shooting at a local shooting range for practice or take some additional training classes to help you get used to using and handling your firearm. Regularly carry your firearm with you so you can get accustomed to carrying it so you are always prepared in case you need to use it.

For more information, contact a CCW training service near you to learn more.