1. Thanks :) We were excited to do it, and I'm totally cool with announcing it. Since I have, I've actually heard back from a few folks on twitter re. the subject. There's more of "us" on the internet than folks might think, I guess. I've never been one to mince words or not share an opinion anyhow, but it's nice to hear from people in the "community" who have undergone the process.

Re. the president's ability to challenge the 2nd amendment, the only thing that comes to mind would be entering into the arms ban treaty with the UN. It'd be a dog fight afterward, but it'd get interesting real quick. Especially if congress/presidency were united on it. Regarding the supreme court decision, 5-4 is as close as it gets. Toss a couple new judges in and we'll see what happens next time (hopefully 15, 20 years off though ;)

12:29PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Alex Rudloff

2. Good for you for researching and taking up on a right that is becoming increasingly frowned upon in our society. I intend to do the same when I am old enough to do so. Just wanted to say that I'm impressed with your bravery. This is flame-bait all around, but I'm glad you did it. Keep up the good blogging.

12:41PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Evan Travers

3. I'll sneak in here quick before the gun h8rs start ganking your blog for posting this.

First, congrats for doing this. Second, congrats for being bold enough to announce it. Outloud. On the internet. For the whole world to see. Post should have been titled "I can haz gunz".

Personally, I recommend practicing on criminals, but the BCSO claims they won't allow us to stand outside Sharpes and do that. Poor sports, I figure. Some of the good ranges around are up on Merritt Island on 520 just before you leave M.I. to go to the beachside (maybe someone else can informize you of the name). You have to head down a road for about a block to get to it so it's not right on 520.

If you can get into the KSC one, that's outdoors, which is nice (not so loud), has more variations, but of course, is kind of hot right now.

There's also the one on Aurora Rd although I can't think of the name of that one either. It's a bit small, but there's only 1 or 2 folks in there usually. The owner is real nice but it's been a while since I was there.

I'm guessing you haven't bought a gun yet? Only advice I have is "don't go cheap" (like the garbage made in Miami) and try before buy. Especially for your wife. Glock is good, but S&W and Colt is American and always getting sued by these cities looking for someone to blame for their own crime rate, so supporting them financially is worth considering.

And if you're worried about the gov't, stick with 9mm since the NWO (New World Order - bwha ha ha) all uses it. It might be nice to take out a regiment of invading Ruskies and be able to utilize their unused ammo. Some women feel more comfortable with a .22, and that can actually be a good choice in an attack situation: you miss and it's not as dangerous to your neighbors, but aim for the head so the bullet rattles around in the skull like a pinball. Okay, maybe that was a bit too violent of an image for such a nice blog as this. Suffice to say, it's good for close up shots.

I'm wondering if Obama wins if the country will go "gun crazy" again like after Clinton won. Gun prices shot up two and three-fold nearly overnight. You couldn't get a Glock under $1500 anywhere, even on the streets. Ammo prices were even worse. Everyone feared he and Reno were somehow going to end all gun ownership. I don't know how realistic it is that a sitting president would have that kind of power, but we Americans tend to give way to much power to our presidents sometimes (not naming names). At least with the recent Supreme Court decision, our 2nd amendment rights will be around a bit longer before "Red Dawn".

Go Wolverines!

12:52PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Lawrence Salberg

4. The most important thing in buying a weapon to carry is to figure out how you want to carry it and shop accordingly. I got my concealed weapons permit last fall. At 5'1" and 115 pounds, I found that it's difficult to carry a weapon on my small frame that is actually concealed. Most of the time, I don't want it in a bag because then I'm paranoid about someone else getting access to the bag (as a mom, kids are my main concern)

The style of clothes you wear is also important. I wear jeans with tucked-in shirts - again, no good place to hide a gun. We don't wear jackets most of the year in Florida. I was advised that a .22 doesn't have enough "stopping power." I ended up with a Kel-Tec P3AT (a .380), and I tuck it in my waistband and un-tuck my shirt. I like having it when I'll be out alone at night and next to my bed at home (buy a safe if you have kids - I leave mine open at night and close it as soon as I wake up in the morning).

1:09PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Jennifer Shelamer

5. Great post Alex. It actually made me rethink getting my concealed carry permit.

I'm not really a "gun nut." I've never been big on hunting and I don't really need a gun for home defense. My two very large dogs are enough of a deterrent. I, however, love going to the range and shooting pistols.

I've personally thought about getting a permit because of some of the places I hang out and the times I leave them. We have had a lot robberies at tattoo shops here and I sometimes leave my friends bars late after helping them close up.

Augusta is not the safest city in the wee hours of the morning. I've begun to think I might want more protection than the mag-lite in my truck.

I don't know if I'd actually carry but like you said I'd like to learn about the process and have the option available.

1:13PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Nik Wilets aka Tiburon

6. @Nik - That's just it, I wouldn't qualify myself as a gun nut either. It's just a right that we all have and something we take entirely for granted (or worse, fully disown). I figure I want to know more about it all, and I want to have the option. Obtaining a permit and taking the time to practice/read up on it all is a great way to accomplish that. Besides, if a cat 5 hurricane were to hit here, sleepy beach town or not, I'd want a gun around for protection.

@Jennifer - excellent comment, thank you for the information! I'll look into it and see if I can find a range that'd let us fire one.

1:24PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Alex Rudloff

7. Manatees beware!

4:46PM on Jul 14th 2008 by Mike Feltman

8. I've had a Carry permit for 11 years now in Florida. I have rarely used it, but the times I needed it, I'm really glad I had it. As I'm sure you noted either in your class or in one of the books you got, the permit also extends to other weapons besides guns. handy thing to know.
From personal experience, Glock is the way to go. Damn thing will fire underwater. And note this: In the state of NY the NYPD is issued a FREE gun, not a Glock. Yet, over 90% of NYPD cops carry Glocks. Most common reason? When being shot at, the last thing you want to think is "Is my gun going to fire when I pull the trigger."
As for caliber... .22 is great if you're a real good shot, or want to do some up close and personal execution work. Otherwise, your .38 will offer 2 good things... A loud report that scares people off and stopping power if you hit your target. A crack head will keep coming after you after being hit 3-5 times with a .22, a .38 will knock him on his ass.
One thing you didn't go over is ammunition. Spend the extra money on good ammunition. High gain count, hollow points if you can get them. In a bad situation, you'll be nervous, you want every shot to count, the right slug could make the differnce. And, again, you don't want to worry if the round is actually going to fire when you pull the trigger.
Lastly, my favortie pieces of small arms advice. 1) It's better to be judged by 12, than carried by 6. 2)if you ever take your gun out, don't think, but know, you are going to kill someone. If you aren't prepared for that, don't take your gun out.

8:49AM on Jul 15th 2008 by David Cerbone

9. I've had a CCW in Florida for 18 years, and congrats to both of you for taking the class, and more importantly for using your head and researching the topic before making any big decisions.

On gun selection: Many cities have at least one if not several ranges that rent weapons to be fired on their range. If you're unsure which would be the right choice, call around and see what's available. One here in Jacksonville can help you try a Smith, Glock, Colt, Beretta, etc. in various calibers. Not sure where you're located but chances are there's a range in your area that can help.

Something to consider is how you plan to use it. Will you carry every day? Will it sit in a desk drawer or glove compartment for months at a time? When you carry, will it be up close to your skin, making sweat and rust an issue? Do you normally clean your other equipment (tools, appliances, etc) fastidiously or just sort of wipe it down and forget about it? If you're concerned about corrosion, ask about a stainless finish. If it's going to sit around for a while, or ease of use is important, weigh the pros and cons of a revolver vs an auto. The important thing is you pick what's right for you, not just what's popular or what the gun dealer wants to sell you.

One final word on gun selection: stay away from the cheap stuff. There are some interesting designs and neat novelty type firearms, but though they might draw attention at the range they aren't practical weapons. Derringers, mini-revolvers, pen-guns and the like are just as bad as the $60 pocket auto that jams every third shot. I'll sum up 18 years of carry experience and more than 20 years of gun ownership by saying that paying for a quality firearm made by a recognized manufacturer is worth it.

Just my two cents, hope some of it is helpful.

10:03PM on Jul 15th 2008 by Rob

10. @Rob, @David -- thanks guys! great advice that we'll certainly take into consideration. We've only been shooting together once and we shot a number of 9's. I'm kinda with Dave on preferring something with more stopping power. We'll try to get out there again soon to try some other things.

@Mike - ;)

9:27AM on Jul 17th 2008 by Alex Rudloff

11. I'm getting mine in a few weeks. You know, it's not an issue of amendments or rights. As far as I'm concerned, it's a matter of self-preservation. This world gets crazier everyday. In this city, crime has become something we never imagined it could become here. Call me the prototypical Republican, but at the end of the day, if I feel a little bit safer by having a 9mm within my reach because someone is threatening me or my loved ones, then I could care less what some person, liberal or not, with a wrong perception of the amendments thinks about what I can do with my finger and a trigger. Good for you, Alex. I'll call you in a few weeks and we'll hit the range together. Dibs on the Ahmedinejad targets.

9:12AM on Jul 20th 2008 by Burnsy

12. Brian Morris and Tim James from MCC days are good people to contact about this stuff. Both have their concealed permits (I need to schedule my class) and multiple firearms.

The range #3 references on Aurora in Melbourne is Action Gun. Decent indoor range (kind of loud) and you can rent different handguns. Tim and Brian both belong to a private club out in west Palm Bay and would be glad to take you out, I'm sure.

I'm looking at getting one for myself (I really wanted to pick up an AK-47 before Supreme Leader Obama and Congress ban them). Brian's Smith & Wesson M&P 9 mm shoots great, but might be a little big for concealment. But that might at least be a starting point for you.

5:21PM on Jul 29th 2008 by Matt Scafidi

13. A few random thoughts:

Take more training, and practice regularly.

Unless you will get specific training on how to deal with semiauto malfunctions, and will practice it regularly, buy a revolver rather than a semiauto. If your semiauto jams when you really need it, and you haven't practiced what to do about, then you will have a serious problem. A five shot 38 SPL is very compact, except that it is not as thin as compact semiautos. I carried one in my nylon shorts when I used to wear nylon shorts, t-shirt, & flipflops.

For elastic-waist pants (nylon shorts, swimsuits, etc.), I love my cheap clone of "Thunderwear" (http://www.thunderwear.com/holsters.asp). It carries the gun under your pants in the front where it is easy to get at (if you don't wear a tight belt) and comfortable. Great place to carry a small 38. And it has a second pocket for spare ammo. The woman who sold me mine claimed they are particularly good for women, because of the clothing women typically wear, the anatomy involved, the bathroom issues it eliminates, and because if a guy forces you to take your pants off, he's just helping you get to your gun.

The Keltec P3-AT is one of the very few low cost semiautos that my instructor (who takes self defense very seriously) considers reliable enough for defensive carry. I've put about a thousand rounds through mine, with one misfeed, and that was when I let the gun get dirty enough that the slide wasn't moving freely (a carry gun should be cleaned frequently, even if you don't shoot it). It is compact enough to carry in a bathing suit, but 380 ACP does not have much stopping power, so there is a tradeoff. I prefer 45 ACP, but that fanny pack gets awkward and heavy at times (I envy those who can comfortably carry a full size 45 inside the waistband). 38 SPL has more stopping power than 380, but will not be quite as light and compact as the P3-AT. The P3-AT is so light that it can be a bit painful to shoot. Same for ultralight revolvers.

If you stick a gun in your waistband, make sure it is in a holster that covers the trigger. If you stick a gun anywhere on your body, make sure it is in a holster that covers the trigger.

If you carry a gun, also carry at least one reload of ammo. Two is better, but heavier and bulkier. For comfort and compactness, try speed strips rather than a speed loader for a revolver (e.g. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=243389).

.22 is not a self-defense caliber unless you are desperate or an optimist. It's better than nothing, but if your choice is a 22 or nothing, that puts you in the desperate category.

- Bob

7:30PM on Aug 6th 2008 by Bob

14. Congrats on your decision to get your concealed weapons license. Like you I to am waiting on mines as we speak. While I do go to our local range and shoot regularly, I do recommend that you practice with whatever gun you decide to carry.

Cheers,
Juan

12:01PM on Aug 11th 2008 by Juan

15. You should visit http://www.usacarry.com. It is one of the best concealed carry sites with information on each state, interactive permit maps showing where you can carry, community forums and a lot more. I visit it everyday to check on firearm news!

9:06PM on Aug 26th 2008 by John Staley