Why Firearms Training and Receiving a Concealed Weapons Permit are Valuable

Arizona is a “Constitutional Carry” state. That means we recognize the rights granted to us in the Second Amendment and allow those citizens who can legally own a firearm to carry it in public. By carrying it in public, it means that you can choose to openly and visibly carry a gun or conceal it. No permit is required for either.

It’s estimated that as many as 1 in 10 legal firearm owners in Arizona carry concealed. The question is, if the state doesn’t require a permit to carry, why would you want to attend a course and apply for and receive an Arizona Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP)?

There are several good reasons to receive the training and obtain your CWP, but the most important one is that carrying a firearm comes with a lot of additional responsibility. If you are carrying a firearm, you absolutely must know the laws that pertain to the use of it. Those laws govern not just when you might be legally justified to use it but also things like where you can and cannot carry your firearm and the fact that to justify the use of one in self-defense, you must be an “innocent party,” meaning you cannot have done anything that may have started or escalated a confrontation.   

A good CWP class will teach you about the local, state and federal laws, and should also teach you how to avoid ever having to use your firearm in the first place. Having a home and personal protection plan can help you avoid situations that could put you at risk and when that risk does appear, ensure you have a well-thought-out plan to prevent it from getting worse.   

A key component of personal safety is situational awareness. You need to be aware of what is happening around you so that you have an opportunity to avoid a potential conflict before it happens. That means that you have a responsibility to keep your head on a swivel, paying attention to what is going on and what options you might have for cover, concealment or escape. The last thing you want to do is be confronted with a hostile situation with no options to avoid it and then have to rely on your spur-of-the-moment plan to avoid conflict.

Knowing the proper equipment to have for personal defense is another topic that we’ll discuss in a future column. Choosing not just the right firearm but also the correct type of ammunition, holster and items like a tactical flashlight are important considerations that need to be made from an informed mindset.   

There is a huge variety of options that have pros and cons that need to be considered. Just because a firearm is small does not make it a good choice for personal defense. A firearm that is great for concealed carry is likely not the best choice for home defense. Firearms are like shoes; you must find the one that fits you and the desired purpose – and the only way to do that is to try them before you buy them at your local shooting range.

If a situation does occur that requires the display or use of your firearm, what you do and say in the immediate aftermath can have significant impacts on the rest of your life. A good CWP class will also cover exactly what you should and should not do, say and how to otherwise behave.   

All of the above are the reasons a safe and responsible firearms owner would seek out a good quality CWP course, but there are two additional benefits to having a CWP. First is reciprocity.    Thirty-seven other states recognize the Arizona CWP as if it were their own, so you can legally carry in those states, too. Keep in mind that their laws are likely different from Arizona’s, so be sure you comply with them.

The other benefit comes when purchasing a firearm. Because the Department of Public Safety does a thorough background check, including checking your fingerprints before issuing your CWP, it counts as a background check when purchasing a firearm. That means you won’t have to wait what can sometimes be days or weeks to bring home your brand-new personal defense firearm!   

At Timberline Firearms & Training, we strongly encourage those who have guns and those considering buying one to find a good CWP course, take it and be a safe and responsible firearms owner. FBN

By Rob Wilson

Rob Wilson is the owner (with his wife, Elise) of Timberline Firearms & Training in Flagstaff. They offer a full line of firearms, accessories, safes and ammunition along with Liberty Safes. For more information, visit timberlinefirearms.us.