Should I carry a concealed handgun?

American Thinker ^ | 21 Feb, 2026 | Mike McDaniel

[MtnClimber]

SShould I carry a concealed handgun?

Yes. Next question?

Generally, the answer is still yes, but it’s a bit more complicated.

We carry because we understand the eternal battle between good and evil rages around us every day, and because evil can confront us anywhere at any time. We also carry because we can’t predict when we’ll need a handgun. If we could, we could approach that confrontation with a rifle, which is the minimum one should be wielding in a gun fight. Sadly, rifles are heavy and hard to conceal, so handguns are the best compromise.

Even if one lives in a relatively low-crime area, there is no such thing as a no crime area. Crimes of all kinds, including murder, occur in prisons.

I’ll not go into the makes and models of contemporary concealed carry handguns. That’s a book-length dissertation. However, one should carry a handgun with which one is accurate, confident and which is easily concealable and which is comfortable enough to carry every day.

Graphic: G43X, Author

A handgun of that type is the Glock 43X. This particular handgun, my everyday carry gun is outfitted with high visibility TruGlo sights and a Crimson Trace laser/light unit. They’re not absolutely necessary but aid in short, and long range, accuracy.

It’s vital to be able to affirmatively answer this question: am I willing and able to shoot if I’m facing an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death? If you’re not convinced your life is of greater value to yourself, those you love and a just society than someone evil enough to take it, you’re better off accepting your chosen identity as prey.

Deciding to carry a concealed handgun carries substantial responsibility. It is not license to be a righteous avenger.

[rlmorel]

"...I can only add that the responsibility for knowing and abiding the laws of the state you carry in is the most important part of staying on the right side of the legal system..."

That is absolutely true. I live in a Blue State that has so many anti-gun regulations that it is dizzying keeping up with them, but I have taken courses that specifically deal with that.

Because even if you are fully justified and follow the law as written, you will still be dragged into court.

See the case of Scott Hayes (from the Website: Bearing Arms) The emotionally incontinent Leftist ran at full speed across a roadway and plowed into Hayes at full speed, knocking him to the ground where the two were wresting and Hayes shot the scumbag in the abdomen, and he survived. Hayes was charged, even though it was clear self-defense and he did everything else. And then, even after the charges were eventually dropped.

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Massachusetts Man Still Facing Charges for Shooting Attacker
By Cam Edwards | 1:31 PM | March 05, 2025

It's been almost six months since Scott Hayes was arrested on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after shooting a man who attacked him at a pro-Israel rally in the Boston suburb of Newton, and the Middlesex County District Attorney isn't backing off of Hayes's prosecution.

Both Hayes and Caleb Gannon, the man who attacked Hayes, are facing criminal charges in the incident. As the Daily Wire reports, while some discussions on a plea deal have taken place, Hayes is balking over one of the conditions proposed by prosecutors.

“I am demanding a trial because the district attorney’s office continues to miss deadlines, go back on agreements, and play with my life,” Hayes said. “If they think they have a strong case — which they don’t — I’ll see you in court.”

Hayes, who lost his job over the incident, spent the last few months working out terms with the office of Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan. According to Hayes, Ryan’s office and Hayes’ legal team worked out terms for a “pretrial probation” (PTB) with no admission of liability, which would suspend Hayes’ license to carry during the period and require him to complete a de-escalation course and stay away from Gannon.

The point of contention is whether Hayes should stay out of Newton, the town where Gannon resides. Hayes believes that the condition is unnecessary, and that he should not have to stay out of the major Boston suburb, where he has many friends. The two sides were supposed to argue to a judge on Tuesday, until Hayes’ lawyer was informed that the DA’s office cancelled the hearing. When Hayes was first released on bond after his arrest a judge did impose a ban on him traveling to Newton, but after his GPS monitoring device pinged authorities when Hayes had to cross the city limits for things visiting his doctor, the judge rescinded that order and (as well as the GPS monitoring) and allowed him to travel unimpeded through the Commonwealth. Hayes argues that it's unreasonable for prosecutors to demand that prohibition be reinstated, and I'd say he's got a valid point.

Hayes is now due in court on March 20, and if the Middlesex County District Attorney has any sense whatsoever they'll drop their demand that Hayes stay out of Newton and allow him to enter the pretrial probation program without any new strings attached. The D.A. is going to have a difficult time convincing a jury that Hayes wasn't acting in lawful self-defense when he shot Gannon, given that the armed citizen was engaged in a lawful exercise of his First Amendment rights when Gannon rushed across the street and tackled Hayes, sending him to the ground.

Both Gannon and Hayes are facing charges, but Hayes says he acted in self defense. In Massachusetts, however, the law states you have a “duty to retreat” if possible.

“Before using any force in a situation, you’re required by law to exhaust all opportunities to leave the area,” said Hayes.

When asked if he feels as if he did that, Hayes responded, “I was slammed to the concrete with my head sustaining a concussion and placed in a choke hold. I don’t think I had any options to retreat at the time.”

Hayes was bailed out by his supporters following the incident.

He says he had surgery to fix a herniated disc in his neck and suffered mobility issues because his pectoral muscle was torn. He also lost his job.

“I’ve tried for other jobs. I’ve gone on interviews and this day and age everyone googles someone when they come across something so the first thing they find when they google me is this incident,” said Hayes. It's awfully hard to retreat when you're sprawled on the pavement, reeling from a concussion, and trapped in a choke hold. Even in a state as hostile to the Second Amendment (and the right of self-defense) as Massachusetts, it's going to be pretty easy for Hayes's attorney to argue that his client had a reasonable belief of further injury and was acting in lawful self-defense when he shot his attacker.

It's a joke that Hayes was ever charged in the first place, and while he's ready to go to trial to proclaim his innocence, I wouldn't blame him for taking a deal that would essentially wipe away all charges and allow him to carry again once he's gone through the state-imposed cooling off period. If the prosecution's conditions render that deal untenable, though, I also don't blame Hayes for choosing to fight in court... and I suspect his odds of acquittal are far better than a conviction.

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I actually met this man Hayes when my wife and I were walking through Cambridge, MA one day, and there was a Jew-Hating, Palestinian-supporting demonstration where they cordoned off the area in a park where all the keffiyeh-wearing, antisemitic jackasses were spewing their hate speech.

We saw a man holding both the Israeli flag and the American flag and wearing a Navy veteran's ball cap, and I went over and shook his hand and thanked him for standing there next to those dangerous, hateful people.

When I heard about this defensive shooting some time later, maybe a couple of years, I saw his picture and realized it was the same guy. I donated to his defense fund. Infuriatingly, they eventually dropped the absurd and unfair charges against him, but imposed these conditions!

1. Hayes must have no contact with Gannon or Gannon’s family.
   
   
2. He’s not allowed in Newton during the probation period, except to attend medical appointments or worship services or just driving through to get to somewhere else.
   
   
3. His license to carry will be suspended for the probation period.
   
   
4. He must complete three work searches a week.
   
   
5. He has to complete a civil discourse program online.

Astonishing and infuriating.

So, yes. In this damned state, you have to know the rules, and even if you follow them scrupulously as Scott Hayes did, you can still be harassed and prosecuted by the scumbags in power here.

[Organic Panic]

We use to have rifles at high school and we would go target shooting after class. Good times. That Ruger now lies at the bottom of the local lake but I must have put 100,000 rounds through it when you could buy a brick of ammo for $5. Now, kids can even eat pop tarts without getting arrested.

https://www.gbtribune.com/news/local-news/education/judge-upholds-suspension-of-then-7-year-old-boy-in-infamous-pop-tart-gun-case/

[rlmorel]

"...You just opened the door for every self proclaimed gun expert on FR..."

Isn't that the whole point of posting things on this website so we can discuss them?

I thought this was an excellent and salient summary by the author:

"...It’s vital to be able to affirmatively answer this question: am I willing and able to shoot if I’m facing an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death? If you’re not convinced your life is of greater value to yourself, those you love and a just society than someone evil enough to take it, you’re better off accepting your chosen identity as prey. Deciding to carry a concealed handgun carries substantial responsibility. It is not license to be a righteous avenger...."

[Leaning Right]

> Because even if you are fully justified and follow the law as written, you will still be dragged into court. <

Yep. I once went to a talk given by an NRA lawyer. He said there are at least three cities where the cops will arrest you for a gun crime even if you are following every law perfectly.

You can beat the charge. But you’ll take the ride, and spend some very miserable time in jail.

The three: DC, Baltimore, and New York City.

[The_Media_never_lie]

I CCW when I walk in town after dark. Never chamber a round for safety purposes, and never needed to brandish the weapon.

However, it is good insurance!

[rlmorel]

Heh, it did the trick on this POS:

[Mr Rogers]

“If you need spray you need a firearm.”

It is legal to use pepper spray when it would be illegal to use a gun. There are many cases where SOMETHING would be good to have but a gun would be too much. And that is particularly true for someone small or with physical problems. I’m a 5’8” guy, 150 pounds, in decent shape but of Medicare age. I haven’t spent 40 years training in martial arts. Pepper spray might help. I’m looking to “get away”, not kick butt.

Now, having a gun ALSO is a good idea in many cases. A lot depends on the law. On a military base, it is illegal for me to carry concealed. Out jogging, a Ruger LCP is about the heaviest thing I can carry and conceal. Going to a store? I’ll take an LCP MAX or Hellcat. Hiking? In some areas, my Glock 27.

A range of options is good.

[Churchillspirit]

Some friends here in Missouri are atheist/socialist/ activist gun owners.

Next week they are both going on an 8-hour course to get a concealed carry permit.

[Mouton]

Better to be tried by 12 than carried by six.

[MtnClimber]

I CCW at all times when not sleeping or in the shower. I had a home invasion while I was at home long ago, so you never know when crime will find you.

[onona]

I own a Byrna. I would not want to be popped with it. Short range weapon. Thing is quite large. I bought the holster for it, but I never have carried it.

They now make a smaller “concealable” model, but I would want to hold it in my hand first before buying it.

It’s a fun toy, but expensive.

[Organic Panic]

If you need a laser site it has already gone too far

[Lowell1775]

“...buy police-grade pepper spray...”

If they pepper sprayed....they need killed.
Bears. People. No difference. :->

Rules may differ for cops with a partner.
I am not a cop.
I have no partner.

[Organic Panic]

Looks like those Tuesdays when I lived in Warsaw. Nasty tuesdays

[dfwgator]

Looks like those Tuesdays when I lived in Warsaw. Nasty tuesdays

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That’s where it started.

[Bon of Babble]

Should you wear a seatbelt?

[anton]

First step: don’t go anywhere that you need one.

I know, I know. It can happen anywhere.

Yes it can but it doesn’t happen just anywhere. 999/1000 times it happens exactly where you expect it to happen. A convenience store or gas station in a ghetto or on the way to one; a public park when anything involving black persons is going on. Any youth attended event in a “diverse” neighborhood. A shopping center or grocery parking lot at night.

But when you do carry, don’t be timid. Safety on, one in the chamber. Better yet a small frame .357 revolver - they never ever jam.

[bobbo666]

The FBI used to publish yearly stats on how guns stop crime. A significant percentage of these ~300K/yr stops occurred just by someone brandishing a weapon.

Just show that you are not as easy to kill as that other guy over there and you get to go home alive.

[T.B. Yoits]

If someone is asking "Should I carry a concealed handgun?", the answer is "No".

They're not in the right state of mind to make that decision. They have to get there themselves because they're the one who will pull the trigger, no one else.

[Jeff Chandler]

The advantage of concealed carry is if you ever need to use it, you may want its presence to come as a complete surprise.