While pondering the importance of concealed carry and the actual traumatizing experiences that one can go through in the commission of a heightened situation, I must tell you of a fantastic meeting I had a few weeks ago.

During one of my regular CCW classes, I was talking about the books and other resources I recommend to my students to continue their much needed training and education in the field of guns and concealed carry, when one of my students (we’ll just call him Bob) decided to make a comment.  Feeling this was something important to him and wondering what the source of his emotion was, it soon became apparent that this gentleman was recounting a firsthand experience.

With Bob’s permission and guidance, and with a duty to help others in the industry better understand what “concealed carry” is all about, I am writing this small message to all of you.

It was in the morning and while still saying goodbye to his girlfriend, he was approached by a total stranger that, little did he know, would change his life forever.

Standing in the empty parking stall next to his car, Bob and his girl friend chatted after a warm breakfast.  The stranger approached and while the day was just beginning, this could have been Bob’s last morning ever.  Standing way too close and simply uttering the words, “I’m sorry” the stranger then produced a pair of scissors and began stabbing Bob multiple times with the intent to extinguish his life.  Luckily there was an out of state Police Officer, here conducting some training in Utah, walking by who noticed the scuffle and upon seeing the deadly weapon, drew his sidearm and identified himself.  Hearing the officer, the assailant looked up, disregarded the warning and decided to continue with his evil deed.  The officer discharged his gun, stopping the attack.  Wounded and laying on the ground, this crazed man was held at bay until the local law enforcement arrived and took control of the situation.

Bob lived and has been through more than anyone I know would ever want to go through with one situation.  While he was recounting his story and allowing us to ask questions, I was in awe at how well adjusted Bob was as he continued.  I sat in quiet respect as he showed us his stab wounds and scars of that dreadful day.  What an experience we all had during that crisp, cold, morning class a few weeks ago.

This attack was totally random, the kind we see on TV but think…that could never happen to me, it’s just a TV program.  Bob didn’t know the assailant, and that guy certainly didn’t know Bob either.  Who would have guessed or even predicted that on a nice morning while enjoying a great time with a loved one… something like this could happen?

I must give a ton of credit to Bob because he has now taken the CCW course and is taking his safety into his own hands.  Way to go Bob, you are the exact reason why EVERYONE should be taking the course.  The fact that after everything has died down and you are moving on with your life and taking the steps needed to better insure your well being no matter where you are, is a breath of fresh air for those of us who are seriously concerned for ourselves, our families and others too.

Whether you want to carry some of the time, all of the time, or not at all, the CCW course is a great starting place to learn more about what can really happen, to ANYONE, at ANYTIME.  The trauma experienced by Bob and others who have experienced similar situations is what we all need to pay more attention to.  The books I have mentioned in my CCW classes will help anyone better understand what people like Bob have experienced.  There is a reason why I mention these resources, that reason became very real and very necessary after hearing Bob’s story.

There are many questions that one may have about such situations, some of them could be:

1.  What do I do after an experience where drawing and using a firearm is necessary?

2.  How do I call in the incident to the police?

3.  Is it important to tell the police the whole story, or just summarize until I get a lawyer there?

4.  Why is my body shaking and why do I want to throw up?

5.  Am I justified in shooting at all, or to what extent should I consider using my gun?

6.  Are the police going to arrest me or the criminal who attacked me?

7.  How do I let the police know I am the victim and not the criminal?

8.  How is the adrenaline going to affect my attitude and behavior?

9. What could I have done better to protect myself?

10. Why me? And how did I get into this situation in the first place?

11. What is going to happen now?

12. Am I going to jail for murder? Is it really my fault?

Here are just a dozen questions one might ask about safety and being in a bad situation.  These questions are just some of the things that the books and resources I promote in my class can answer.  I mention them for a reason, and Bob is the perfect example of that reason.

The point is that nobody ever knows when, why, or what is going to happen in any given day, hour, or minute.  Now that doesn’t mean we don’t control our own lives, of course we do for the most part.  Bob’s story is not a new one; there are over 2.5 million situations every year in which normal citizens like you and me, have to use firearms for protection.  Those are the ones we know about, but how many of such stories do you hear on the news?  Probably almost none of them, so that is just one more example of why each of us has to protect ourselves and be prepared as much as possible.   This does not mean we need to be paranoid…like most democrats paint the picture, but simply getting the appropriate training, equipment, tools and attitude necessary to defensively protect ourselves, our families and others as well.  In my class when I say, “As serious as a heart attack, folks, buy and read these books” I mean exactly that.  If spending a few bucks on some books worth the information it provides to save your life?  Of course it’s worth it… that is why I bought them myself, and that is why I give them to you.

Learn this lesson from Bob’s experience and refuse to be a victim.

Damon Thueson

Utah Certified CFP Instructor

NRA Certified Instructo

House Bill 357 removes the previous restriction against loaded firearms in vehicles without a concealed carry permit. The new law allows for anyone 18 years or older in legal possession of a firearm to have it loaded in a vehicle with or without a concealed carry permit. This new law effectively extends all firearm rights as they exist in the home to one’s vehicle.

PROTECTION OF CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED ACTIVITIES IN CERTAIN PRIVATE VENUES. In the past there has been some debate in Utah about employer’s rights to restrict firearms in employee vehicles parked on the property of the employer. The newly passed law in April of 2009 also guarantees the right to transport/maintain firearms in your vehicle while on private property or other public property that might otherwise restrict the possession of firearms.

Reciprocity. In July of 2009 the state of Nevada ceased honoring the Utah Concealed Carry Permit. Utah permit holders be advised that you may no longer carry a concealed weapon in the state of Nevada!!!

If it is any consolation the state of Nebraska began to recognize the Utah Concealed Carry Permit earlier in 2009.

2010 National Parks Restriction

In May 2009 the House voted to pass a credit card bill designed to protect US consumers from unfair practices by credit card companies. Amended at the bottom of the credit card bill is this line:

(Sec. 512) Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from promulgating or enforcing any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm, including an assembled or functional firearm, in any unit of the National Park System (NPS) or the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) if: (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm; and (2) the possession of the firearm complies with the law of the state in which the NPS or NWRS unit is located.

This change in policy comes after President Obama blocked President Bush’s initial revokation of the no guns policy with an injunction shortly after taking office.

This new law which goes into effect in February 2010 will effectively allow loaded firearms inside of national parks within states that allow that same individual to carry inside of state parks. Currently Utah is among a large number of states that do allow loaded firearms inside of state parks and all public land outside of city limits.

During the last year, Crossroads of the West Gun Shows attracted over 407,000 customers, more than any other gun show in America. Crossroads of the West Gun Shows are America’s Best Gun Shows.

Crossroads of the West Gun Shows is hosting a Gun Show on November 21st and 22nd at the South Towne Expo Center. Children 12 and under have free admittance. Adults pay a $10 admittance fee. For additional information please visit http://www.crossroadsgunshows.com/index.html

Print off the below coupon for $1 off general admission.

• Do I need to reserve a lane ahead of time?
• Do you sell ammunition?
• Do you sell targets?
• Do you provide hearing/eye protection?
• What are your hours?
• Do you have a tactical course?
• How much does it cost?
• Do you also sell firearms?
• Can I fire firearms currently on display for sale?
• Is there a day or time that you are generally slow?

Utah Valley Local Shooting Ranges

UTAH COUNTY

• Orem Fitness Center: Shooting Range – .22 cal. Rifle & Pistols up to .45 cal. 580 w. 165 s. Orem UT; (801) 229-7154; 7156

• Range Masters: Interactive handgun targets. One rifle lane. Pistols & machine guns available for rent. 712 w. 1300 n, Springville UT; (801) 491-0909

• Spanish Fork Trap/Pistol Range: Shotgun Competitions. 2445 Spanish Oaks Dr, Spanish Fork UT; (801) 798-1479

• Provo Gun Range: Trap, skeet and outdoor gun range. 1 mile up Squaw Peak Road; (801) 437-0595; (801) 852-6600

SALT LAKE AREA

• Utah State Government – Wildlife Resources Division: State operated trap range, pistol, rifle and muzzle loader areas. 6000 w. 2100 s. SLC UT 84128; (801) 972-1326

• Salt Lake Archery & Sporting Good CO: 1130 Wilmington Avenue, SLC UT 84106; (801) 486-8242

• Doug’s Shoot’n Sports’: 4926 South Redwood Road, SLC UT 84123; (801) 966-1802

• “Get Some” Guns & Ammo: Retail gun store: Rifle and pistol ranges, gun rentals available. 6651 South State Street, Murray UT 84107; (801) 562-1222

• Bonneville Lions Club: 1350 Skyline Drive, Bountiful UT 84010; (801) 298-0301

• Impact Guns: Gun retail & shooting range; www.impactguns.com 2710 s. 1900 w, Ogden UT 84401; (801) 532-3760, ext. 1; (801) 393-2474

• Golden Spike Trap Club: 1330 w. 330 s, Brigham City UT 84302; (435) 723-3427

• Magna Gun Club: 4006 s. 8400 w, Magna UT 84044; (801) 250-9818

• Sportsman’s Archery: 9352 s. 670 w, Sandy UT 84070; (801) 562-0093

• Cache Valley Hunter Education Center: 2851 w. 200 n, Logan UT 84321; (435) 753-4600

Visit http://www.targetz.com/ or http://www.mytargets.com/ to browse a large selection of targets that you can download for free in pdf form and print to take with you to the range.

Finally you can get some good training behind that concealed carry permit of yours without wasting money on pieces of paper.

Jacob S Paulsen

October 23^rd_, 24^th _& 25^th
Friday - Noon - 6 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rocky Mountain Gun Shows is coming to Orem this weekend. They promise to have plenty of all types of Ammo for sale and its bound to attract big numbers this close to hunting season. Utah Concealed Carry permit holders all over the state are on the look out for gun shows where they can purchase ammo and firearms free of the limits that local retailers have had since Obama’s election last year.

Visit this link to print off a coupon for $1 off admission into the gunshow:  http://rockymountaingunshows.com/flyers.pdf

Source: http://rockymountaingunshows.com/si.html

Utah concealed carry laws even change over time so things could just be different now. Since you decided to get the Utah permit you should take the responsibility to stay up to date.

I suggest asking your instructor or even better a different instructor to allow you to sit in on their class 6 to 9 months after you get your permit. This will help you solidify the information!

Jacob S Paulsen

Sadly however, Nevada who only just accepted the Utah CFP has now decided to stop honoring this popular permit. This makes Nevada the only state that is adjacent to Utah that doesn’t honor it’s permit. W. Clark Aposhian, the head of the Utah CCW Board admits that Nevada requires it’s ccw students to prove proficiency on the range in order to obtain a ccw permit. As Utah doesn’t not require live fire as part of the concealed carry education Nevada was reluctant to honor the permit.

The good news comes from the East. Nebraska has signed an official reciprocity agreement with Utah. Utah concealed carry permits in the hand of residents and non-residents alike are now honored in Nebraska.

When teaching Utah concealed carry classes I sometimes wish that I could bypass the state ccw instruction requirements and take out the section that discusses justifiable force. I would replace that 1 hour lecture with a discussion about the emotional repercussions that come from taking someone’s life and where we should each draw the line.

Don’t misunderstand me; I see the value in understanding the law and how it is applied but I am always nervous that my students will leave the class more focused on what they can do instead of what they should do in self-defense scenarios.

I often explain this concept by making this point, “you would rather be in prison than dead.” Or just as often, “you would rather loose your flat screen tv than kill someone’s father, mother, child, or spouse. Human life truly is valuable and while the Utah Concealed Carry laws (Justifiable force) allow for us to defend our habitation and the lives of complete strangers we should all keep in mind the spirit of those laws.

I strive to be a law abiding citizen in our society but in regards to personal protection and self defense I honestly admit that its the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law that stays in my conscious. Here is the question that I always explain to my students, that I would pose to myself before firing the gun: ” Is this action worth any consequence?”

Truly I hope that most of us would draw that line in the place where we wouldn’t care what the consequences were in order to protect our own lives or the lives of our loved ones.

Jacob S Paulsen

Many martial arts have their place in boxing rings and MMA events likewise hour after hour on the firing line is great for your local speed shooting competition or NRA sponsored contest, but when it comes to real life or death situations a whole new attitude i.e. the Defensive Mindset is what will mean the difference between life or death. Tim Larkin of Target Focus Training in Southern California teaches his students that a lethal encounter is not even the same experience as a sanctioned martial arts sparring match or shooting competition. He explains that there is a continuum of things that are on a social plane i.e. martial arts and target shooting. But when it comes to surviving a lethal encounter it is an A-social situation, completely devoid of communication, (the definition of a social encounter is based in communication with your opponent i.e. stop bugging me would be a basic communication underlying a bar type fight) your opponent has dehumanized you and wants to destroy you. Cease your existence.

So to treat such an attacker with basic human rights is going to put you at the disadvantage. If you look at any “deadly force situation” like this some basic facts present themselves.

1. If you are better prepared to do more damage to the opponent than he is to you then you would be at the advantage and would be the one that has the ability to keep on surviving.
2. It does not matter whether your the “good guy” or “bad guy.” Again, he or she who is better prepared will be the one that continues to enjoy this mortal existence.
3. Prisons all around the country offer their inmates a virtual doctorates degree in street combat, deception and all-around effective ways to be a criminal.

So what is the solution? Do I just continue on in my life hoping that nothing will ever happen to me because I live in a place where I suppose crime is never going to happen? Well from personal experience I have realized that is not an option. I was in High School in Colorado when the tragedy at columbine occurred. It hit even closer to home as we were watching the tragedy unfold, and found out my best friend had family at that high school. Ever since then I have had a realization that sociopaths exist here in my community no matter where that happens to be geographically. So then is my only option to live in fear and hope that none of those trained experienced criminals, of which hundreds are released back into society each day, ever have the notion to break into my home or assault me or my family? I cannot comprehend an effective way to completely avoid the criminal element and thereby remove myself from the possibility of ever having a confrontation with a violent criminal.

Well what about the police? It is their job to serve and protect me from the criminal element right? Well yes but no. A popular phrase I really like goes like this: “when seconds count, the authorities are minutes away.” One thing that was surprising to me was the fact that the police have the option to refuse to respond to a call. If they believe that there will be substantial danger of their life being threatened or that the call is too dangerous then they have the option to allow you to deal with your own problems. So clearly the only real solution is self reliance. So what is the first step to becoming self reliant and developing that defensive mindset? The answer for me comes from my Concealed Weapons permit class when I was 21 years old. In that class my Utah Concealed Weapons permit instructor said something really poignant. He said “ok now that you have gone thru this class and will be awarded a Permit to carry a concealed weapon it is now your responsibility to decide at what point will you actually use your firearm to end an attacker’s life?” This question really hit home for me.

So I would say the first step to having a defensive mindset would be realizing that at some point you could be in a situation that will require you to take a guilty person’s life in defense of the innocent. Are you mentally prepared to do that? Any physical actions we perform in this life are first created as possibilities in our minds. So an effective mental exercise that will help you have and build a defensive mindset is mentally drawing lines wherever you go. I will share with you some of the exercises I use when I am out and about. Go to restaurants sit in places where you can see people and entrances and exits and you can see cash registers and even out into the parking lot. Watch people and how they behave and people that behave abnormally watch them closer. Everyone who reads this can easily conjure images of what people who are more aggressive look like we can think of aggressive attitudes and postures and facial gestures and expressions.

As I watch people I am able to see the differences and pick out and separate people who are more likely to threaten my existence from others who are interested in living their lives in peace.  From these observations we are able to draw lines such as “if this guy, who I feel is suspicious, does this then at this point I will feel justified by the law to protect myself and others.” Also I recommend watching Youtube® videos and deciding where you would draw the line in those situations. Personally I recommend “Pizza fight” I feel it’s a perfect exercise to put yourself in the position of one of the patrons standing in line watching this horrific display unfold. The basic point is this: Your mind is the absolute most powerful weapon in your survival arsenal. Your capability to train and retrain your brain to protect yourself is massive. So training it to continually think defensively is the key to your ability to walk away from any situation in which your life is threatened. Then when it comes time to put all your training to use, you’re able to deal with a situation you have already made mental steps to deal with in your head.