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Carrying a concealed handgun is legal in most states, but regulations vary widely. As the recent unfortunate shooting of an Idaho mother by a toddler shows, having a gun involves safety issues as well as carefully following the law for concealed weapons. Twenty-nine year-old Victoria Rutledge had her handgun zipped up in a special compartment of a new purse especially designed for carrying firearms. When she, her son, and three nieces when shopping, she left the purse unattended for a minute while she looked at some electronics. Her curious two-year-old reached into the purse, opened the zipper, and inadvertently shot his mom in the head. The victim, who had been raised with guns and was well trained in how to use them, was licensed to carry the weapon and took precautions in carrying it in a recommended type of carrier. Unfortunately, accidents like this happen and they are not limited to guns. As society debates ways to prevent tragedies like this, all gun owners need to know the facts about carrying a weapon, and the safety and liability issues involved. What to Know About Legally Carrying a Gun Common criteria to obtain a permit include that you must: • Meet requirements, such as residency, minimum age, submitting fingerprints, passing a computerized or manual background check, and paying a fee. You need to do this before you go to the next step of taking classes. • Complete classroom instruction where you learn the basics about firearm mechanics and terminology, cleaning and maintenance, provisions and limitations of concealed carry legislation, liability issues, carry methods and safety, home defense, tips for defusing confrontational situations, and gun handling. • Participate in range instruction. Many states require live handling of a gun during training; some require a passing grade, while others require that the gun be fired once. • Carry your permit with you whenever you have the gun in your possession. • Learn the rules about where you cannot carry a gun, such as government facilities, educational institutions, businesses that sell alcohol, hospitals, churches, mass transit facilities, athletic events, and more. Stay Safe When Carrying a Concealed Handgun In the process of obtaining the CCW, a gun owner learns everything that is necessary to safely and legally carry the handgun, but keeping yourself and those you love safe from accidents requires that you take a few other steps. These might include: • Occasionally brush up on what you learned in your classroom training and practice your skills at a firing range. • Keep up with current laws on carrying your gun. Regulations do change from time to time, so if you are unsure if carrying your gun with you is legal in a certain situation, Google it or inquire from authorities. • Observe statutes or gun free zones established by owners of private establishments. • Whether you carry your gun in a holster, purse, or other location on your person, do not use it to threaten others as this can get you into legal trouble and provoke circumstances that may make it necessary to use the gun. • Be aware that having a CCW may not remove your liability if you wound or kill someone in the course of protecting yourself. You may not be held liable, but may have to go through the legal system. • Regardless of what you use to carry your gun, be particularly attentive when children are near your weapon. • When you are not wearing your gun, store it in a gun safe or in a place you deem inaccessible to children. • Stay informed about new technologies in devices to safely carry your gun. In most states you are well within the law to be carrying a concealed handgun, but make sure to follow the letter of the law and observe principles of common sense and safety.
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