For the Concealed Carry Newbie. . .
Categories:: Blast From the Past Blog • Handguns
Editor Dan Shideler | Jan 07, 2011 | Comments 0

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Judging from the industry stats I’ve seen lately, the concealable handgun market is chugging right along. (The sporting rifle and shotgun market are a bit flabby and the AR craze is cooling off, at least temporarily, if you care to know.) I’m not sure what’s driving this surging interest in concealed-carry guns but suspect it’s the spate of pro-gun court rulings that have been issued as well as the growing realization that citizens are primarily responsible for their own well-being. Whatever the reason, we’ve got a lot of first-time “concealed carriers” entering the gun market. That’s a good thing, just on general principles.
It’s been 30 years since I first acquired my carry permit, and guns are a big part of my personal and professional life. But I can still remember when I was a newbie. In those days, there weren’t a lot of how-to guides that explained how to use a self-defense handgun: you had to read a schwad of magazine articles (still a good idea) or enroll in a defensive handgun class (also still a good idea).
For today’s concealed-carry newbie, however, things are a lot easier. Besides having more options in guns, ammo, holsters and accessories than ever before, we’ve got excellent one-volume guides to concealed carry such as Defensive Handgun Skills by Dave Fessenden. Fessenden, a certified NRA Firearms Instructor, has cleared away all the clutter about concealed-carry handgun techniques and distilled a lifetime of experience into only 128 pages. He’s given us what I think is the best how-to guide to carrying and deploying defensive revolvers and semi-autos — he doesn’t overwhelm you with technical jargon or complex technical issues. For the concealed-carry beginner, it’s a no-sweat introduction to the carry gun — and at only $11.55, it’s about half the price of a large delivered pizza, even a crummy one. Check it out here.
And keep shootin’!
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About the Author: The late Dan Shideler was a senior editor for Gun Digest Books from 2004 until 2011, best known for his entertaining prose and knowledge and insight into firearms history, trends and pricing. He served as editor of two of the industry's most respected annuals: Standard Catalog of Firearms and Gun Digest. Dan passed away in April 2011.







