In the movie, Spiderman, Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Although that might sound cheesy, that statement is astoundingly true. Now that many states have legalized the concealed carrying of hand guns, more and more people are exploring this as a viable option for self-defense, and I’m all for it. However, I believe that the educational courses on “conceal and carry” are lacking training in close quarters hand-to-hand self-defense. Having adequate knowledge about weaponless self-defense is essential, and, in my opinion, the responsibility of the person who holds a license to carry. By carrying a handgun, you have lethal stopping power; I think that justifies the requirement of “great responsibility.” Pulling out your weapon should always be the last resort, but it should be done efficiently in order to be effective.

If you have your conceal-carry license, or are looking to pursue that option, I ask that you train yourself in weaponless self-defense. I recommend a street worthy martial art, rather than a sport-based one. Also, study up on the philosophies of self-defense. There are many methods of self-defense, know them all and know them well. Don’t just carry pepper spray and consider yourself protected. Don’t just carry a gun and consider yourself unstoppable. Know how to use whatever you carry, and, most importantly, know how to effectively and efficiently access your weapon so that it CAN be used. The more you learn, the more you know and the more prepared you are to successfully protect yourself in a time of need.