IS CONCEALED CARRY FOR YOU?

   IS CONCEALED CARRY FOR YOU?

             NORMAN V.  KELLY                                              

Think of it, since the Second Amendment was granted to Americans the anti-gun people in the United States and many of our local and federal governments have attempted to take that right away from us.  It is going on to this very day and led by many politicians and ordinary citizens here in Illinois.  In fact they have been very successful until finally, the State of Illinois, led by the Illinois State Rifle Association and Richard Pearson persevered. We were absolutely last to obtain our Second Amendment rights, thanks to the liberals and Chicago politicians.     I am certain many of you have been somewhat aware of that controversy and had your own opinions. Finally, after a bruising battle lasting nineteen years, Illinois has the Concealed Carry Law and it is being implemented as we speak. Actually very few members of the National Rifle Association or the Illinois State Rifle Association were totally pleased with the law as it is written today, but believe me for those of us who believe in the Second Amendment is was the best they could wrestle from the opposition. Of course the battle is not over, daily in our State Capital Legislators and anti-gun lobbyist will attempt to pick away at the law, trying constantly to weaken it, no matter what it takes, they will never give up.  I am happy to report to you that the NRA and the ISRA is just as determined to not only keep the law but improve on it whenever and however they can.  We need to support both those groups and you can do it for very few dollars, I can assure you of that.  Look them up on your computer and see how you can help preserve your rights.

I am eighty-two years old, and truthfully I never thought that I would live to see the day when I would finally have the right to carry a concealed weapon on my person if I chose to do so. I have no great desire to put a gun on my hip, none whatsoever.  I dread the day that I might have to actually use it to defend my wife or my family or another innocent person.  I do, however intend to do exactly that if the circumstances warrant. Hell, you listen to the news, read the papers and watch TV, you know exactly what is going on out there, and that includes your own neighborhood.  The threat is real, no need to become paranoid or reclusive to stay alive.   All you need is awareness and the proper training to give yourself and your family a fair chance to survive if one of those terrifying, vicious attacks happens to you.  If you think that just carrying a gun on your person is a guarantee of survival then you are delusional.  The idea is to have a chance based on your training and understanding of what you should do and when you should do it.  Remember Dirty Harry and John Wayne were characters in movies…not real life.

I went up to Chatsworth, Illinois for two days to take part in a sixteen hour gun training class.  It was a tense, long session which included classroom lectures, demonstrations and hands-on instructions that left me breathless.  I have hunted around Peoria most of my life, and fired a lot of weapons over the years, but I was not prepared for the reality of this class.  Richard Pearson taught us quickly that the weapon we hoped to carry is a deadly weapon. The reality of why you need to carry it is here to stay, and the consequences of improper use could destroy your life as you knew it, take the life of another person, and affect the financial standing of your family forever.  That is why the class was intense: we were not studying for a ‘pop quiz.’ in Sociology.

                                 THE FIRING LINE

After about 14 hours in the classroom, ‘dry firing’ our weapons, learning the law and the dos and don’ts we were taught the safe and proper handling of our weapons.  The afternoon of the second day we gathered out in the middle of a field on a brisk, bright sunshiny day.  The wind whipped up a bit as Richard and the students prepared the ten silhouetted targets that we would eventually shoot at.  They were mounted on cardboard back drops, blown off by the wind and finally secured with thumb tacks and tape.  Our instructor then thumb tacked white paper plates to the center of them which gave most of us a sigh of relief.  We had some very experienced shooters among the ten of us, but a few of us had never fired in this manner in our lives.  Under the skillful eye of Pearson we went through the actual firing of our weapons.  We had several types of revolvers, pistols and of course, different calibers, from .22s to .357 handguns. I had my own Smith & Wesson .38 but because of my stupidity had not brought enough ammunition.  My heart skipped a beat or two when Mr. Pearson said, “Here Norm, qualify with my .45.”  I told you I am old, kinda small, and the thought of firing a hundred rounds with a big, scary .45 caused some anxiety to say the least.

Like a large firing squad we lined up shoulder to shoulder, eight guys and two gals to face the black silhouettes shaped like the head and upper half of man.   There is a white ‘X’ printed in the middle with numbers printed on both sides of the ‘X’.  I could easily see the ‘big bad man’ standing there, but truth be known I could not see the ‘X.   To be up front I told Richard that fact.   After I said it I realized it sounded like an excuse for my upcoming misses.  He laughed.  “Norm, the attacker rarely has an ‘X’ on him.”  As usual Richard knew what to say and how to help a student no matter what the circumstances.

The protocol, the orders, the warnings, the commands were barked out like a Marine sergeant and believe me we listened.   Well, most of the time.  Every error, mistake or miscue Richard Pearson saw it and corrected it.  He did all this with courtesy and authority and believe me he helped me plenty.  So did the students next to me, and the way we encouraged each other was heart warming.  The thing that scared the hell out of me was our firing simultaneously.  We had ear protectors but the roar of ten high powered handguns going off at the same time in sequences of five shots was nerve racking.  The next scary thing was the flying empty shells that rained down as the person on my left fired his or her weapon.  The first time one of them bounced off my ear was distracting to say the least.

                      NOW IT REALLY COUNTS!

After 70 rounds we all gathered around our instructor.  “The next thirty rounds count!  I want you to go up to those new silhouettes and sign your name on the white part of the target.   After we fire the next thirty rounds, by my command, you must get twenty-one of them inside the black silhouette.  They must be in the black!  If you fail to do that…you do not qualify to carry a concealed weapon.”   Way back in 1951 I remember my sergeant giving me virtually the same speech, but his manner was a bit scarier…if you get my meaning.

For the men that were experienced shooters that threat meant nothing to them, but for some of us the apprehension ratcheted up a click, I can tell you that.  Richard clearly gave us instructions about what method he wanted us to fire and repeatedly told us there was no time limit.  “Take your time but I don’t want to be out here in the dark.” Bang! Bang! All hell broke loose for the final time.  Then it was over. It was very quiet as we stood anxiously waiting for the command to approach our targets.  Richard started with the first target and announced the results for all to hear.  I remember when we had the paper plates up to shoot at Rich looked over at me. “Norm great shooting, the problem is you shot the wrong target.”

All ten of us managed to pass our final exam and there were a lot of smiles and pats on the back, along with a few sighs of relief.

Our instructor rolled up the targets and will record the official outcome of Richard Pearson’s first class under the new Concealed Carry Law.   The next step is arranging for the photographs and fingerprinting at which time I hope we all get together once again. After that we will have to fill out the application for our permits that will be approved or disapproved by the Illinois State Police.  They are to begin that process on January 5, 2014.

What we accomplished was really just the first step in responsibly carry a concealed weapon.  Pearson reminded us that any skill we might have with a weapon is a declining skill.  Permit holders need to practice every move they were taught, from stance to dry firing the weapon.  We who carry our guns legally have a massive responsibility to ourselves, our families and the citizens we encounter and to do so within the law.

                        A  MATTER OF MONEY

I thought quite a bit before I decided to proceed with the long process of becoming a concealed carrier, not only the possible liability, but the costs as well.  The first $10.00 expense is obtaining the FOID card.  Today it takes some time but I just got one for my wife and it was in her hand in three weeks, so who really knows the time table?  What about the gun?  My Goodness, there are hundreds of them and all are different calibers and styles.  I got great advice and bought a Smith &Wesson .38 revolver.  What style is best for you?  Do not jump in to buying the first gun that looks good to you.   Talk to experienced gun owners and become your own expert. Go out to a firing range and watch others fire their weapons and talk to them and the experienced trainers and fellow gun owners.  Above all do not buy a cheap gun.  Oh, and if you have some old gun your grandfather gave you, it’s fine to keep it, but do not even consider using it as your concealed carry.  There are some fabulous guns available with new safety measures and you should know all about them.  Join the Illinois National Rifle Association and read everything they send you. I bought a ‘Gun Policy’ before I even bought my revolver.  Go to www.USCCA.com and check them out and the one the NRA offers.   I bought the minimum coverage and it costs $12.00 per month.  Ask questions of your homeowner’s insurance agent and decide what you want to do. Do NOT fire that gun until you have an expert with you or you complete the sixteen hour course you are required to complete to qualify for the privilege of a concealed permit. Veterans must complete an eight hour course, but it is my opinion that we should all take the full 16 hour course. That will cost you a minimum of $200.00 and up. Above all check out the Instructor.  They must be certified but do your own checking on this man or woman and ask questions of them. We can’t all be trained by Richard Pearson you know.

So how much have we spent so far?  The next steps include the fingerprints and a photograph for the permit.  Together they will cost another $100.00 or just a bit more than that.  Now we have to fill out the application for the permit to be sent to the Illinois State Police. That, my friend, will cost you another $150.00.  See what I mean?  You have some thinking to do unless you are rather well off.  Are we done spending money?  Well you have to buy shells for your gun and 50 of them that we will use for practice will run a minimum of $10.00.   The higher quality shells will cost more.  Remember, the opposition hopes to make it difficult to get shells so try to do a bit of ‘Hoarding’ once you buy them. The ‘enemy’ does not want you to have a gun and is out to make it as difficult for you as possible.

                   SO ARE YOU DONE SPENDING YET?

Unless you have a private place to train yourself to fire your new weapon you will have to go to a gun club or a gun range and frankly I have no idea what the monthly costs of that will be.  You MUST practice not only the firing of the weapon but all the other tactics and techniques you have learned.  At least you can do a lot of that training at home.  There are gun leagues just like they used to have in bowling so you can have fun at this as well.  Remember this is just my opinion, but I think every adult in your home should have a FOID Card, and even consider all of them going through the entire training class as well.

If you have an interest in concealed carry you must first obtain a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card.  (FOID) and I suggest you quickly join the Illinois National Rifle Association. The next step would be to arrange to take the 16 hour training course that I just went through.  Rather than send you here, there and everywhere, just E-Mail Richard Pearson or Call the ISRA up in Chatsworth, Illinois.  He has some great assistants and they will guide you every step of the way.  Do your homework by checking out the internet because it has a tremendous amount of information.  Richard Pearson:  executive@isra.org, phone 1-815  635-3198. 

Editor’s Note:  Norm is a Peoria Author and Historian. Join him and the Red Nose Gang on Sunday mornings, 7-10, WOAM 1350 AM.        norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net