If you carry a firearm professionally, this message may or may not apply to you, as you should already understand the weight of responsibility I’m about to discuss.
I’m a husband and father, and I see it as my duty that while I’m in the presence of my family, I am the protector of our home and their well-being — their executive protection agent. You know what I’m not? A high-speed/low-drag operator, nor do I pretend to be, and neither should you.
This piece is for those who have chosen to exercise their Second Amendment rights. However, just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
— Say what?!?!? Are you infringing on my God-given right to bear arms? How dare you, sir? What do you mean that because I can doesn’t mean I should?
Before you get ants in your pants, let me explain.
Yes, you have a right under the Constitution to keep and bear arms, and yes, I believe an armed society is a polite society.
But it’s also a huge responsibility — and your right to keep and bear arms does not override your responsibility to be safe and proficient with a tool designed to take a life.
It’s straightforward, really. Most Americans take their rights for granted. Just because you can walk into a gun store and purchase a firearm — and in some states, pretty much carry immediately without any training — doesn’t mean you know how to handle it safely or effectively.
In my view, the biggest mistake we’ve made is failing to instill a sense of obligation around proficiency. The bar is so low it’s nearly non-existent.
If you choose to keep and bear arms, you must do two things well:
- Be safe with your firearms, including how you store them if you have family or live with others.
- Be extremely proficient: Practical shooting should become part of your life. Dry fire should be a multiple-times-per-week, if not daily, ritual. Competition, even occasionally, should be experienced to understand how you perform under pressure. None of this should be debatable — yet it remains the exception, not the norm.
To put this in perspective, using estimates:
- About 32% of U.S. adults personally own a firearm.
- The U.S. adult population is around 270 million.
- That results in roughly 86.4 million gun owners.
Meanwhile:
- USPSA membership is around 37,000.
- IDPA membership is around 25,000 globally — generously estimating 20,000 in the U.S.
- Combined, that’s about 57,000 — without accounting for overlap.
This means less than 0.07% of gun owners engage in practical shooting sports.
Even generously estimating beyond organized competition, it’s safe to say that no more than 1–2% of gun owners are meaningfully proficient under real-world conditions.
This, in my opinion, is the greatest failure.
Overconfidence without real competence is rampant.
Ignorance of what true proficiency requires is the root cause.
While there are some positive voices emerging — like T.Rex Arms, Garand Thumb, and others promoting true skill over image — the message still has a long way to go.
Here are the biggest reasons why it hasn’t fully taken hold:
Ownership Equals Skill & Complacency
Most firearm owners believe that buying a gun means they are capable.
They assume “pulling a trigger” is the skill.
Their frame of reference is shaped by movies, video games, and fantasy, not reality.
Many have never been shot at, never felt real chaos, and never seriously contemplated the full moral weight of carrying a tool designed to take life.
Deciding to carry a firearm requires real introspection — not just a superficial understanding, but deep acceptance of the responsibility it demands.
No Incentives for Skill Development
Concealed carry classes create a minimum standard — often embarrassingly low.
There’s no proficiency requirement, no renewal based on skill, and no social or legal consequence for being incompetent.
The result? Far too many are dangerously unprepared if their day ever comes.
Media, Marketing, and “Enter-trainment”
Most firearms media focuses on gear, not skill.
Many influencers sell dreams, not discipline.
Far too many “training companies” prioritize cool videos over serious education.
The fantasy of “CQB classes” and tactical cosplay sells better than dry fire and marksmanship fundamentals — and it shows.
Ego is the Enemy
Handling firearms well is difficult.
Yet rather than seek coaching, many gun owners let pride block their improvement.
Admitting you’re not good enough to defend your family should drive you to train — not shame you into denial.
Politics Over Skill
Many gun owners spend more time arguing about rights than mastering the responsibility those rights demand.
Freedom without discipline is hollow — and dangerous.
Other Considerations
Cost, Access, and Time
While cost and access used to be bigger barriers, today the availability of free educational content and low-cost dry fire practice removes most excuses.
Still, watching YouTube isn’t training — work must be done on the range and in dry practice to build true proficiency.
The Solution
The culture within the firearms community must change.
Skill must be celebrated alongside rights.
We must hold ourselves and others accountable — not by legislation, but by cultural expectation.
Owning a firearm must equal being highly skilled at using it.
It should be culturally “uncool” to own a gun and not train seriously.
Our pride should come not just from carrying a weapon, but from the confidence that comes with genuine competence.
Because being a responsible, skilled, and disciplined citizen is the most American thing there is.
Closing Reflection
If you own a firearm, ask yourself — am I honoring the full weight of that responsibility? If not, there is no better time to start.
Who to look up:
Here’s a short list of people whose content and training I highly recommend following. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, is not arranged in any specific order, and I will keep adding to it based on suggestions from trusted sources:
- T. Rex Arms – In addition to manufacturing outstanding holsters, the company’s commitment to providing free education is nearly unparalleled. I believe that the work Lucas Botkin and his organization have accomplished over the years is exemplary. Please take a look at their various free resources. T.Rex Arms YouTube Channel, T.Rex Arms Free Online Training Material, and T.Rex Arms Training YouTube Channel.
- Ben Stoeger – One of the world’s best shooters, he constantly offers free advice, answers questions all the time on his YouTube channel, and posts his classes for free regularly. You can literally take his full class by watching it via YouTube without paying a dime. All you need is to engage in dry fire practice and go to the range. Ben’s YouTube Channel and his training website. Ben is well known for training a diverse range of individuals, including civilians, police officers, and military units worldwide.
- Joel Park — Joel is a USPSA Grand Master and a co-author of Practical Shooting Training alongside Ben Stoeger. He regularly teaches classes across the country and is known for his practical, student-focused coaching style. Joel also runs an excellent YouTube channel where he shares short, highly actionable videos that get straight to the point. Joel Park Training Website
- Hwansik Kim — Hwansik is a USPSA Grand Master, co-founder of Practical Shooting Training Group (PSTG) alongside Ben Stoeger, and a highly regarded instructor. Known for his analytical and methodical training approach, Hwansik has developed drills and training materials that are widely used by shooters around the world to enhance performance. His work reflects a deep commitment to both practical shooting excellence and continuous learning. Practical Shooting Training Group (PTSG) and Hwansik Kim Training.
- Xray Alpha — Xray Alpha represents the fusion of Grand Master-level practical shooting skill with decades of elite operational experience. Their training is built for those who carry a firearm for a living, offering no-nonsense, highly refined instruction focused on hard skills and tactical application. When civilian classes are available, they are rare opportunities to train under instructors who remain current and tested at the highest levels. If you have the chance to attend, you will not be disappointed. X-Ray Alpha Website.
- Mike Pannone — Mike is one of the most respected names in the industry. A Master class USPSA shooter and former Tier-1 operator with 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force), Mike brings unmatched real-world experience to both civilian and professional instruction. His background in combat operations, high-risk protection, and curriculum development for organizations like the Federal Air Marshal Service makes him one of the most credible instructors in the field. CTT Solutions Website.
- Velox Training Group – Nick Young has been immersed in shooting since 2009, transforming a personal hobby into a professional pursuit of mastery. A USPSA Master class shooter in Carry Optics, Nick is highly proficient in both pistol and rifle disciplines, blending competition experience with real-world fundamentals. His instruction is known for its practical, progressive approach—building shooters from solid basics into confident, mobile marksmen. Representing Walther Arms Defense Division and Hodge Defense Systems, Nick is highly respected across the shooting community for both his teaching ability and his relentless personal standards. His YouTube channel is an excellent extension of his philosophy, offering clear, actionable guidance without ego or hype. Velox Training Group Website
- Hades Consulting – Founded by former Tier-1 operators Charlie Ross and Zack Harrison, Hades Consulting has quickly established itself as one of the premier training companies for those who carry a firearm for a living. Their cadre brings over 500 years of combined special operations experience, offering battle-tested, no-nonsense instruction across pistol, carbine, CQB, and leadership development. Hades is trusted by agencies and organizations that demand the highest standards, delivering training that is both tactically sound and legally defensible. Hades Consulting Website
- Mason Lane – Mason is a USPSA Limited National Champion, a four-division Grand Master, and a Distinguished Master in IDPA. Known for his technical depth and competitive success, Mason brings a practical, no-nonsense approach to shooting and instruction. He offers classes nationwide focused on building real-world performance and has earned a strong reputation for helping serious shooters refine both technique and mindset. Mason Lane Shooting and Mason Lane YouTube Channel
- Kyle Defoor — Defoor Proformance Shooting — Kyle Defoor is one of the most respected names in tactical training, drawing from his background as a decorated Special Mission Unit veteran. Through Defoor Proformance Shooting, he provides no-nonsense pistol, rifle, and sniper instruction to military, law enforcement, and civilians. Known for his focus on real-world performance, Kyle’s training emphasizes small arms marksmanship, low visibility operations, and battlefield-proven CQB methods, delivering high-end instruction backed by operational experience. Kyle’s YouTube Channel. Defoor Proformance Website.