We writers are admonished to avoid using clichés because it is unprofessional and indicates a lack of originality.

In the world of concealed carry, however, there are three phrases that might be considered clichés–I would prefer to call them watchwords:

1.  I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

2.  I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.

3.  When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

I liken the first example to car or homeowner’s insurance. When you buy insurance you are betting that something bad will happen and hoping it won’t. There is a certain bother and expense to acquiring insurance, as there is to preparing to carry concealed, but if you need either insurance or a handgun, you will be very glad you paid the price in advance.

The second example is an expression that the police can not be everywhere. It is also a reminder that the first right and duty of any individual is his own protection, a concept enshrined in the Second Amendment to The United States Constitution.

The third statement is, to me, very telling. Despite some of the incoherent rantings of our current Vice President, Mr. Biden, very few confrontational violent crimes, like rape, assault with intent to do bodily harm, armed robbery, etc., are stopped by the police. If a person can barricade herself in a room and call 911, she may buy the minutes needed for the police to respond. In a violent confrontation, however, seconds can, literally, be an eternity.

There is a fourth statement that I offer, not as a cliché, but as a truism: More guns, less crime. That is the title of a thoroughly researched and documented book by John R. Lott Jr. I recommend it to anyone wanting to know the proof of the title.

I offer these thoughts as starting points to consider for someone contemplating the very serious decision to carry concealed. There is much more to be considered: equipment, training, mental preparedness, and legal issues, among others. I will discuss my take on issues related to concealed carry in future posts.

It would be a more comfortable world if certain hazards were removed and we did not have to be concerned with the darker side of human behavior. In the meantime, preparedness is, in my view, a must.

Bob Colvin

[The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. Always consult a certified NRA instructor for training in proper gun handling and/or an attorney knowledgeable of local and federal gun laws before making any major decision regarding concealed carry.]