Being a responsible gun owner is hard. There is basic safety and responsibility - the 4 rules that every gun owner should know, the keeping firearms safely out of the hands of adventurous and curious toddlers, the regular training, the strategy in carrying my firearm of choice, my "rules of engagement" regarding the decision to use force, the legality involved in carrying or using a firearm, and the aftermath if force is used... much of this dictated by the laws of the state I live in. Those laws change quite frequently and often times it can seem like I should have a law degree to understand half of what the law says. Even so, I think it is part of my responsibility as a responsible gun owner to invest time in understanding the law and its implications much as I am able ... not just to prevent from accidentally running afoul of those laws, but to help determine my strategy for owning and using firearms altogether.
To this end I have several resources that I use:
1) handgunlaw.us is a website put together that explicitly displays the relevant statutes for each state on any number of subjects: from the process to obtain permits, that state's gun free zones, rules for interacting law enforcement, open & vehicle carry, and state emergency powers, to name a few. Reading through it can be a chore so, what I have done to aid my eyes and non-lawyer brain:
2) I have put together a summary of state and federal firearm laws dissecting the information found in the site above and writing it in a format that is much easier to read. I should point out that I am NOT a lawyer and that the information you read should be vetted and verified. I wrote it for my own purposes and if you find value in it, great! Just be thorough and check!
State Firearm Summary
3) Books on the legal battle surrounding the use of force. Training and carrying is part of the battle, the engagement itself is another, but there is also the legal battle surrounding the aftermath. This is where the information I put above is far less helpful and puts a gun owner into a major grey area. Even if using a firearm in self-defense appears justifiable by all means, you could still find yourself charged with a crime. This point can have an impact on your rules of engagement, where, how, when, or even if you choose to carry. These books offer strategies and emphasize on how to maintain your innocence, interact with the police, and help constructing a strategy to maintain your use of force was lawful in court if you wind up there. Another great resource in this part of the fight is:
4) Membership in the USCCA - the USCCA is specifically dedicated to educating and training responsible gun owners in matters pertaining to carrying and using firearms in self-defense. In the event that force is used, they have benefits that help retain and pay for a lawyer (I doubt many have money just lying around to pay for one). Furthermore, they handle the process for you so you can focus on what happened and get the facts right for the police. Please - I STRONGLY encourage anyone who owns a firearm to get this kind of insurance; even a losing defense is expensive.
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com
Owning and carrying a firearm is by no means straightforward and to be a responsibly armed American, it means not just investing in training, holsters, and your firearm of choice - it means sitting down and reading the law, understanding it as much as you can, staying up to date on legal changes, and having knowledge about how to maintain and fight for your innocence if it ever comes to it. Investing in knowledge and obtaining wisdom in its use is just as important as surviving the physical fight.
It makes one seem like being a lawyer doesn't it?
Stay Safe!
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