Eye Square Martial Arts

Cultural Preservation… with Bruises (sometimes).

Tag: responsible gun ownership

  • Rights and Responsibility: The Armed Citizen’s Role in Society

    Rights and Responsibility: The Armed Citizen’s Role in Society

    Main Post Draft

    The right to bear arms isn’t just a legal issue—it’s a moral one.

    Carrying a firearm changes how you see the world. It can also change how the world sees you. That’s why the true burden of the armed citizen isn’t firepower—it’s restraint, wisdom, and civic responsibility.

    Be the Calm Voice

    We live in a time of culture wars, hot takes, and online flame battles. Gun ownership is often politicized—reduced to caricatures on both sides.

    If you support the Second Amendment:

    • Speak clearly, not loudly
    • Know the facts—and be honest when they don’t support your side
    • Call out bad behavior (even from your own team)
    • Understand why some people fear guns—and don’t mock them for it (even if they’re completely ignorant)

    You’re not just defending a right. You’re modeling how a responsible gun owner acts.

    Community First, Always

    Owning a gun doesn’t put you above the law or outside your community. It connects you to it.

    Are you:

    • Helping educate new gun owners?
    • Supporting responsible ownership and training?
    • Encouraging de-escalation over confrontation?

    You’re more than an individual—you’re a node in a social web. Use your voice to strengthen, not divide.

    It’s About Liberty, Not Ego

    The Second Amendment exists to preserve freedom, not to inflate pride.

    That means:

    • The right to speak against guns is also protected.
    • The goal is not just to “win the argument”—it’s to preserve a country where people can disagree and still live side by side.
    • Power without discipline is tyranny. Rights without virtue are unstable.

    The best defenders of liberty are humble, principled, and prepared.

    Don’t Just Carry—Contribute

    What else are you doing to make the world safer?

    • Are you voting for leaders who understand freedom and responsibility?
    • Are you training others, donating to causes, or simply being a good neighbor?
    • Are you thinking beyond your rights and asking, “Why am I doing this? Should I be doing this? Does what I’m doing serve a purpose beyond simply exercising my right to own a firearm?”

    In a polarized time, the most radical thing you can be is reasonable.

    Closing Thought

    Guns are tools. Tools serve people. And people serve each other—or they don’t.

    Be the kind of citizen whose values speak louder than your caliber. The future of the Second Amendment doesn’t rest on Congress—it rests on us.

  • 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.