USCCA Asks: Dear America, Why Do You CCW?

Why do you carry concealed? Every time someone asks me that question, I go straight to my handy-dandy list of flippant comments:

• It’s because I can’t fit a cop in my pocket.
• It’s because when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
• It’s because it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Fact is, those are all true–but the flippant answers are really more of a politeness to the person asking than they (sometimes) deserve. Sadly, a lot of the time the reason a person carries concealed is deeply personal, frightening to hear, and difficult to talk about. Even more sadly, we gun owners and Second Amendment supporters need to talk about it now more than ever, with a make-or-break election on the horizon and the voices of the anti-gunners getting louder every day the election gets closer. The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) is starting that conversation in a 10-part series of YouTube videos that all ask the same question: “America, why do you carry concealed?”

“Every day, more and more Americans are choosing to not only protect themselves, but also their families, friends, neighbors and communities,” USCCA President and Founder Tim Schmidt said. “This series not only highlights the diversity of our growing community but also what motivates millions of individuals across our country to become empowered protectors for themselves and their loved ones. We hope this free, accessible series continues to inspire more and more law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to self-defense.”

Last year, the USCCA noted that the spike in concealed carry permits follows a national trend that transcends political affiliation, gender and race. Despite the national debate about gun control, an increasing number of law-abiding Americans are choosing to carry firearms to defend themselves and their loved ones. Although you, dear GGD reader, already know exactly why you carry concealed, you may find these informative and gently worded videos very worthwhile to show someone who asks you why you carry concealed. Better still, they just might help open an “anti’s” mind.

To watch the full series, CLICK HERE.