Eye Square Martial Arts

Cultural Preservation… with Bruises (sometimes).

Tag: concealed carry

  • Daily Carry: Readiness, Gear, and What Real EDC Looks Like

    Daily Carry: Readiness, Gear, and What Real EDC Looks Like

    So you’ve got your license. You’ve trained. You understand the law. Now what?

    Welcome to the part most people gloss over: what it actually takes to carry a firearm daily—safely, comfortably, and legally. It’s not as simple as strapping on a holster and walking out the door.

    Legal First, Always

    Before you carry, you need to know:

    • Your state’s laws (and any you travel through)
    • Where carry is prohibited (schools, government buildings, private property with signage)
    • What qualifies as brandishing (lifting your shirt and “flashing” your gun can get you charged)

    Also—check reciprocity if you carry across state lines. Some states don’t honor your permit.

    🛡️ Bottom line: Ignorance of the law is not a defense.

    Comfort and Concealment

    The best gun in the world is useless if it stays home. That’s why comfort and concealment matter.

    Popular carry options:

    • Inside-the-waistband (IWB) – common, secure, and easily concealed
    • Appendix carry (AIWB) – fast access, but requires training and safety discipline
    • Pocket or ankle carry – for small backups, not primary defense

    Your clothing, holster, and belt should work together. You shouldn’t be adjusting or printing all day.

    EDC Isn’t Just a Gun

    Everyday Carry (EDC) should include:

    • A quality flashlight
    • A tourniquet or compact trauma kit
    • A folding or fixed-blade knife
    • Phone with emergency contacts and maps
    • Optional: spare mag, multitool, pepper spray

    Why? Because not every problem is a gun problem.

    Situational Readiness

    Carrying daily means adopting a new posture toward the world:

    • Know your exits in public spaces.
    • Sit where you can observe entrances.
    • Avoid confrontations. Walk away when you can.
    • Practice de-escalation. Your gun is not your voice.

    🧠 Mindset tip: You’re not looking for trouble—you’re trained to end it if it finds you.

    The Real Test: Can You Access It Under Stress?

    It’s one thing to carry. It’s another to draw from concealment in 2 seconds or less when your heart’s racing.

    Train for:

    • Drawing while seated
    • Clearing cover garments
    • Engaging multiple threats
    • One-handed shooting (injured limb, carrying a child, etc.)

    Dry fire drills at home can simulate many of these scenarios—and they cost you nothing but time.

    Closing Thought

    Everyday carry isn’t about paranoia—it’s about responsibility. It’s about choosing to live prepared, not afraid.

    In our final post, we’ll wrap up the Armed Citizen Series with a look at how to defend rights without losing your humanity—and what it means to be a good citizen in a world full of noise.

  • Training, Safety, and Mindset: What Responsible Carry Really Means

    Training, Safety, and Mindset: What Responsible Carry Really Means

    It’s one thing to own a gun. It’s another to carry it daily. And it’s something else entirely to be prepared—mentally, physically, and morally—to use it.

    A gun doesn’t make you safe. Training does. Judgment does. Self-control does. Without those, a firearm can turn from a life-saving tool into a liability.

    Mindset First, Always

    Before you think about tactics or gear, you need the right mindset.

    • Carrying a gun means you’ve accepted a level of responsibility most people will never understand.
    • It’s not about being the hero—it’s about avoiding trouble whenever possible and stopping a threat only when there’s no other option.
    • The gun is the last resort, not the first move.

    If your ego is driving you to carry, you’re doing it wrong.

    Training: More Than Just Marksmanship

    You don’t rise to the occasion—you fall to the level of your training.

    That means:

    • Drawing from concealment under pressure
    • Moving and shooting with awareness of your surroundings
    • Target discrimination (knowing when not to shoot)
    • Scenario-based decision-making under stress

    Dry fire practice, range time, and force-on-force training are all part of the puzzle. And if you haven’t trained since your concealed carry class? You’re overdue.

    Situational Awareness > Speed

    Most violent encounters are won—or avoided—before the first shot is fired.

    • Can you spot a threat before it’s too close?
    • Are you tuned into your environment, or buried in your phone?
    • Do you know where the exits are when you walk into a store, restaurant, or parking lot?

    Awareness buys you time. And time buys you options.

    Safe Storage = Smart Ownership

    Not every threat is external. Especially if you have children, roommates, or visitors at home, safe storage matters.

    Options include:

    • Lockboxes or safes with quick-access
    • Trigger locks for backup storage
    • Keeping carry guns on your person—not loose in a drawer (or in a purse)

    The goal isn’t paranoia—it’s preventing tragedy.

    Closing Thought

    Carrying a gun doesn’t make you dangerous. But carrying one without training, discipline, and humility just might.

    In the next post, we’ll dive into the common arguments for and against civilian gun ownership—and how to respond with respect, logic, and facts.

  • What the Law Says: Understanding Your Rights and Limits as an Armed Citizen

    What the Law Says: Understanding Your Rights and Limits as an Armed Citizen

    The Second Amendment may be just 27 words long—but the laws that surround it are anything but simple.

    Whether you’re carrying for self-defense, keeping a rifle at home, or just trying to stay legal across state lines, knowing the law isn’t optional. It’s part of being a responsible gun owner.

    Let’s break it down.

    Federal vs State Law: Two Layers of Regulation

    At the federal level, the basics are covered by:

    • The Gun Control Act of 1968 (age limits, background checks, prohibited persons)
    • The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (mandated background checks)
    • The National Firearms Act (NFA) (regulates suppressors, short-barreled rifles, etc.)

    But most of what affects your daily life as a gun owner comes from your state. Laws vary dramatically—not just on what’s allowed, but on what’s criminal.

    Constitutional Carry, Shall-Issue, and May-Issue

    There are three broad types of concealed carry laws in the U.S.:

    1. Constitutional Carry – No permit required. States like Utah, Florida, Texas, and Arizona allow eligible adults to carry concealed without a permit.
    2. Shall-Issue – Permits must be issued if you meet legal requirements (background check, training, etc.).
    3. May-Issue – Local authorities have discretion to approve or deny applications, even if requirements are met. This model is shrinking rapidly due to the Bruen Supreme Court ruling in 2022.

    As of 2024, more than half of U.S. states have adopted Constitutional Carry laws in some form. That doesn’t mean there are no restrictions—just fewer bureaucratic hurdles for legal carry.

    Self-Defense Laws: Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground

    Just because you can carry doesn’t mean you can shoot. States also differ on when you can use force:

    • Castle Doctrine: You can use deadly force in your home without retreating.
    • Stand Your Ground: You can use force in public spaces without retreating, if you’re lawfully present.
    • Duty to Retreat: You must try to escape before using deadly force, if safe to do so.

    Even in Stand Your Ground states, force must be reasonable and based on an imminent threat. “Feeling threatened” isn’t enough—your response must match the level of danger.

    Red Flag Laws and Legal Pitfalls

    Responsible gun ownership means avoiding legal traps, including:

    • Red Flag Laws: Allow police or family members to request temporary removal of firearms if someone is deemed a risk to themselves or others.
    • Gun-Free Zones: Carrying in prohibited areas—like schools, post offices, or certain government buildings—can result in felony charges, even in Constitutional Carry states.
    • Travel Laws: Transporting firearms across state lines without understanding local laws can land you in serious legal trouble, especially in states with strict gun laws like New Jersey or New York.

    Closing Thought

    Owning a firearm is your right—but understanding the law is your responsibility.

    What you don’t know can hurt you. So read your local statutes, stay informed, and train accordingly.

    In the next part of the Armed Citizen Series, we’ll dig into real-life defensive gun use—how often it happens, what it looks like, and what you can learn from those who’ve had to act.