Do I REALLY need to carry a gun ?

In one word, yes.

We frequently get asked this question by clients. Our staff are experienced shooters. As experienced shooters (one of the qualifications we use in hiring is familiarity and proficiency with firearms which we at D-J consider a basic American skill; while we are willing to train the inexperienced, we obviously don’t hire the dogmatics which to us indicates a degree of mental instability) we do realize that carrying all the time, everywhere can be a royal PITA. Guns have weight and some are bulky (which is a consideration in finding a ‘carry all the time’ firearm). But just like our staff carries a knife or Leatherman (which has a knife), a flashlight (we’ve found the Baton series of O lights to be a very good choice, including their Baton 4 which has a magnetic charger and an optional USB-C powered ‘range extender’ housing an excellent choice), and the ubiquitous cell phone, a firearm is a part of an essential every day carry (EDC) ensemble. No matter where one lives or what one does.

The founders of our nation well understood this mindset. George Washington prudently carried his pistol everywhere he went. Thomas Jefferson (when writing to his 15 year old nephew) gave the sage advice “Let your gun be the constant companion of your walks.” Jefferson reckoning that around age 10 most boys were mentally and physically mature enough to handle and carry firearms, given proper parenting. And understanding that that capability to deal with what life throws at them created men of strength and freedom. While our founder believes in modern times with the Information Revolution that age might well be lower (again given proper parenting and instruction), his experience aligns pretty close to what Thomas Jefferson believed; he’s been carrying some sort of firearm (unsupervised) since he was 12. And was grateful for HIS parents gifting him as a Christmas present of a Ruger Blackhawk convertible (.38/.357 with a 4 5/8″ barrel) at that age.

Jefferson was parented by good parents; he could expect a tongue-lashing — at age — 15 would he not return with game in his bag. And would attribute during his Presidency the many colonial victories during the Revolutionary War being the result of familiarity and marksmanship with firearms instilled as a basic skill during early youth.

It’s unusual in political debate to find anything unified these days. This vigorous debate is healthy; however, those who constructed our nation–and maintained it–were absolutely unified in the right and duty that not only must free people have the right to keep and bear arms, but also must never be denied that right. Fear had no part in the equation; not only is it an inherent (and God-given right) but it’s also a duty that free citizens of our nation be equipped with common arms, proficient in their use, and carry them everywhere. The wisdom of the founders cannot be overstated; not only do they affirm our inherent right of self defense and humankind’s use of tools, but also they recognize the deterrent affect OF an armed populace. Not only discouraging tyranny but also being able to deal with potential threats. If only the Israelis took this more seriously as an imperative, October 7th would never have occurred. Yet they succumbed to the ‘regulation’ and ‘lock ’em up’ false prophet and the rest is history.

To our clients we recommend YOUR gun needs be immediately accessible at all times, ready to be put into action, and one (and ones’ family) be ready to employ it at all times. While we understand that SOME firearms need to be secured from younger children (those below age 8 or so–or at least until that child can be meaningfully taught how to handle a firearm or at least avoid it), these guns need be ready to go. We have a plethora of firearms experts at D-J and shy away from what someone ‘needs’ –realizing that choices need fit an individual’s situation. What the DO universally agree on is:

1. Have a gun. This might range from .22 LR through .44 Magnum. The key is have something YOU are comfortable, shoot well, and will always have with you. While we might suggest a major caliber (.38/9mm and up), whatever YOU can carry always and shoot well is the gun for you.
2. ANY handgun carried should be carried round chambered and ready to go. If you don’t have a modern firearm you trust which is safe in so carrying, get one. Modern autoloaders should be drop-safe and have multiple safeties. If you don’t trust the safeties in a Glock-type (striker fired) gun, get a J-frame (or equivalent) Smith revolver and carry that (Ruger LCRs, Kimber K6s/XS, Colt D-frames, Ruger SP-101s, etc. are equivalent to this).
3. It’s better NOT to have a manual safety, unless one trains to that extensively. If one trains to a 1911 that’s great. But be sure under pressure you as a habit pattern DO disengage the manual safety.
4. If you DO NOT feel comfortable carrying with round chambered, get a revolver. The Smith 642 series (and all of their DAO centennial series), the Ruger LCR and SP-101, etc. are excellent revolvers. Although capacity limited they will likely solve you problem in a time of need.
5. TRAIN extensively with whatever you choose.
6. Don’t be afraid of modifying sights; we’ve found the XS series of sights to be excellent for those who are vision impaired or whose sight degrades with age. The Big Dots can be hard to shoot precisely at longer ranges (but are great during bad environmentals or where everything is moving.) Their F8 series are good at being a compromise between bounded traditional sights and having that big orange thingy to draw your attention to the front sight. As a guideline, our founder uses the XS DXTs (big dot) on his always throw in the pocket CCW Glocks/revolvers, but goes the route of the F8s for the combined duty guns–those needing bounded sights for longer shots.
7. RMRs–red dot sights– can be good for REALLY PROFICIENT shooters–and have the advantage of keeping everything on the same focal plane for vision impaired shooters, but have significant disadvantages in losing the dot and/or shooting from non-traditional shooting positions. They also add bulk and weight to a carry gun making it less likely to be carried ALL THE TIME. If you’re willing to carry an RMR equipped gun ALL THE TIME and train to the disadvantages of it have at it. If you’re not then steer clear of RMRs.
8. It’s OK to have home or vehicle defense long guns in a condition of ‘patrol ready’ (i.e. magazine in and round not chambered). This is because the act of shouldering the long gun involves the natural habit pattern of chambering a round (racking the slide on a shotgun or racking the bolt on an AR style long gun). Train to this. Also train to releasing the manual safety which may or may not be on.
9. Involve EVERYONE in your defensive plan. Spouses, kids, etc. They need to know how to clear the guns, operate them, and be completely familiar with not only the technical aspects of the gun but where they are and how to employ them.
10. Remember that a gun is simply a tool. Train those not only how to operate the tool but also potential hazards in operating them.
11. Lastly, if you’ve got an ‘old’ gun — those without safety devices internet in modern firearms (like an old colt or a revolver/automatic without a transfer bar or hammer block) put it in the safe (or wherever you store guns) and don’t use it as a carry gun or home defense gun. There are multiple (and cheap) options available for home defense or carry guns. It’s fine to shoot those guns for historic purposes but they have no place in a modern defensive firearm.

Sometimes our clients balk. That’s fine. We can’t help those who don’t want to be helped. But we can make the suggestion that one NEEDS to always carry. Like Jefferson understood, it forces a mindset. That I am responsible for my self-defense. That I can handle whatever life throws at me. That I can walk unencumbered and fearless wherever I walk and go. That while I might be welcoming of help, at the end of the day I am responsible for my own safety and security. That I can deal with dangerous situations and handle them. That I am a free man in a nation of liberty.

And that is why we always need to carry a gun. It self-affirms our freedom. And always will. An armed man is never a subject; he is always a citizen.