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Health & Fitness

If I carry a concealed weapon, why should I bother learning self-defense?

Illinois has finally become the last state to allow the concealed carry of firearms, subject to the processes and procedures which are currently being refined by the State.  Once the law goes fully into effect, there will undoubtedly be many people who will feel that if they carry a gun there is no longer a need to learn self-defense.  However, I think that such a view point is short-sighted for several reasons.

First, the law specifically carves out numerous places within the State where you will not be allowed to carry a gun.  Additionally, if you decide to travel, most modes of public transport are not going to allow concealed carry.  And even if you do stow a gun and have it carried to your final destination, there is no guarantee that the place you are going will honor the concealed carry permit from Illinois.

Apart from not being able to always carry your firearm, there are other practical considerations.  Consider that a firearm is a deadly weapon, therefore in order to even consider the use of the gun, you must first be facing seriously bodily injury or deadly force.  So, if someone pulls out a knife and is threatening to kill you, then a gun would be justified.  However, if someone shoves you and intends to start a fist fight, the use of deadly force would probably not be justified in most situations.  This means that you need to have the ability to use less than deadly force when the situation and facts merit it.

Finally, even if you are faced with deadly force, so that the use of your firearm is now justified, the question remains, can you actually draw your weapon and discharge it before you are seriously injured or killed by your attacker? Some research has shown that a person with a knife can close from 21 feet (some say from even longer distances) and stab a defender before that person has the time to draw and fire his/her gun.  Keep in mind that most people who use knives as their weapon of choice will not strike from 21 feet, but rather from within arms reach of you, leaving you just enough time to possibly stop a knife attacker from stabbing you repeatedly, if you are trained and lucky enough to realize what is happening.

My point is simply that even if you do carry a concealed weapon, there are many situations where your weapon will not be available, will not be able to be deployed soon enough, or will be considered excessive force.  And because of this, I would still strongly recommend that you learn basic self-defense, a skill you can always carry with you, no matter where you go, and which does not require a permit.

Remain vigilant and stay safe!

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