What's that in your pants?

Today I received my Kansas Concealed and Carry license. Before you start patting me down before I enter your house, be aware that I am not sure when I would carry a concealed weapon. Right now, I just can’t see a scenario where I would need to. But if that situation ever arises, I’ll be packin’ heat.

So if I don’t know if and when I will carry, why get the permit? Simple, because I have the right to. If I ever get to the point where people start reading this site, I expect that this comment may generate a few responses, and that’s great. I admit that a few years back I could never see myself even owning a gun. But a few things changed.

First, my father-in-law passed away. Prior to passing he let me know he wanted me to have his .38 special. I guess he took one look at me and figured I really needed a way to protect his daughter and granddaughters. So I took his request literally and had my brother-in-law (and great friend) Jim hold on to the gun for me. I guess I always expected I would actually own it, but didn’t see that day happening soon.

But that day did happen soon. President Barack Obama took office. I’ll admit that as he ran for office I didn’t exactly dislike the guy. He seemed likable, and he kept Billary out of the White House, which was fine with me. He also struck me as a bit moderate on many issues. But after the election and as he started moving forward with some of his socialist policies, many Americans feared that gun ownership laws would tighten or go away, and gun sales went through the roof. Ammunition sales increased even more. I became convinced that although it was remote and years away, it was a realistic possibility. So I reached out to my friend, Jim.

Jim is a tremendous guy. One of the coolest guys I know. He is one of those guys that knows just about everybody, and is friend to all. One of the few other guys I know like this is his brother, David. Jim just happens to be a certified instructor for a Concealed and Carry License in Kansas, Utah, and Florida. I took the course and was very impressed. The content is everything from handgun safety, laws around protection and self-defense, and even shows a video of a person describing how he had to kill a man to protect himself and his wife, and the affect that had on him. Pretty impactful. To pass the course, there is a written test and range qualification to prove you can actually hit what you are aiming at. I was hoping the target would be an abandoned Boeing 747 and I didn’t have to be more than 10 feet away.

A quick time out for this commercial break: If you live on the Kansas side of the Kansas City metropolitan area, and are interested in obtaining a Kansas CCHL, or if you live in Kansas or Missouri and would like a Utah or Florida license, please let me know. Jim is an A+ instructor and gives a nice discount to referrals from me. Not so much as he really likes me, but I am married to his sister, so that counts for something. If you need a handgun to use for the range qualifications, Jim will take care of that, as well. And now, back to our show.

Believe it or not, I successfully passed the course and received my required course completion certificate. Following the due diligence of the application process, I received approval to obtain the permit.

Today I have it, and I respect the responsibility that comes with it. Just as important I respect the rights and freedom that it conveys. The freedom to own a personal protection weapon is a wonderful thing, and I hope that this freedom is not diminished by future political or social agendas. That would not be a wonderful thing, for any of us, regardless of your beliefs. Because if the government can take away this right, then what’s next?

And now the question – what am I missing?