Many Americans believe it is the constitution that gives us the right to own a firearm for self-defense. But Tim Schmidt, president and founder of the USCCA, examines if that is really true.

Our founding fathers created the greatest experiment in freedom the world has ever seen. But violence and...

Discover real news stories and statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Justice about the dangers honest, hard-working Americans face every day. Violence has a way of finding even peaceful people. That is why it is so important to face the hard truths about the threats in the world around us.

As an...

As a responsible gun owner, you have embarked on a lifelong journey to become an empowered protector. This video will give you the blueprint for the training ahead so you are ready to sharpen your skills and create a solid foundation for all your future training.

The rest of the Armed & Ready...

What gun should I buy? What’s the best holster and ammo? Every firearms trainer has heard those questions over and over again. But the answer is not so simple.

Self-defense experts Kevin Michalowski and Steve Fischer will help you avoid the costly mistakes most gun owners make when starting a...

Reliability, simplicity and effectiveness. These are all fundamental traits of a great self-defense gun. Revolvers are a classic self-defense choice for exactly that reason.

But every firearm has its own advantages and disadvantages. Before you choose to use a revolver, there are some key things...

Semi-automatic firearms are easily the most common guns available to most Americans these days. In fact, the 1911 pistol is perhaps the most iconic American handgun of all time.

But semi-automatic pistols come in a host of different shapes, sizes and magazine capacities. While they share many...

Want choices? Well, you have a lot of them when it comes to picking the ammunition you are going to use in your firearm. Understanding what ammunition to use and when can be one of the most confusing aspects of being a gun owner. It is also key to training smart and saving money.

Should you train...

The right holster and belt can save your life. The wrong one could cost you everything.

How you carry your firearm is critical. Selecting the wrong holster and belt are two of the most common and costly mistakes made by gun owners. Make sure you understand all your options and what is best for you...

Responsible gun owners understand that owning and using firearms comes with personal responsibility. Our firearms training experts will give you the knowledge and skills to confidently handle and train with your firearm.

Following these safety rules and techniques when handling firearms is a...

Dry-fire training allows you to build your accuracy without even having to go to the range. This training will introduce you to the “Wall Drill,” a simple and effective way to train in your own home and develop your ability to quickly get on target.

Learn how to properly focus on your sights and...

Properly loading and unloading your firearm is a skill that will keep you safe on the range and build a deeper familiarity with your firearm. It will become instinctive with practice.

Similarly, training to fix the most common gun malfunctions will help you build muscle memory to keep your gun in...

It is time to take your skills and new drills to the range. This training video will take what you have learned so far and put it to practice with actual live-fire training so you can get more comfortable with your firearm and identify accuracy issues that are hurting your performance.

With the...

When you look at your target, what do you see? Can you identify what the patterns of the bullet holes tell you about what you are doing right and wrong?

Maximize your gun’s potential with shooting drills that allow you to control your movement and shoot more efficiently. We will help you...

Alternating between live and dry fire can enable you to see how your body is responding to firing your gun. Are your shots not hitting where you are expecting them to hit on your target? Do you notice a bounce when you pull the trigger while dry-firing?

This simple “5 & 5 Drill” will help you hone...

Picking the optimal way to carry your firearm every day is crucial. But don’t make the mistake of thinking comfort is more important than functionality. Concealability and the ability to easily access your gun are key.

Discover how 80 percent of your daily activities dictate the 20 percent of...

How does an armed citizen actually get his or her firearm into a fight to stop an attacker? What are other actions one can take to avoid and end the threat?

That all depends on how you carry your firearm, the clothing you wear and your environment. It’s time to look at how you can access your gun...

Standing still is one of the most common and deadly mistakes you can make when you find yourself facing a violent attack. Avoid the temptation to freeze and get off the “X”. But moving doesn’t necessarily mean retreating from the threat.

Use training like the “Star Drill” to create distance...

Don’t believe the movies. Hiding behind a wall isn’t going to stop bullets. You need to understand what will and won’t protect you during a gunfight. Cover will stop a bullet, but concealment will only hide you from the threat.

It is key that you learn to move between positions of cover and...

Always remember that you have a firearm on you and you need to defend it. Violent criminals will not warn you that they want to do you harm. They will use surprise and even attempt to disarm you in a fight.

But you can take some steps to make yourself a hard target and protect your gun when the...

Does the mere presence of a gun prevent crimes? Or is there something more sinister behind those who choose to harm others? The media would certainly have you believe that a gun is the cause of crime. But when you look closer into what drives an evil person to cause harm, you will see that this is...

Bad guys don’t share the same values that you may consider basic human decency. They have thrown away the value for human life and the rules of society that most of us take for granted.

Evil people come in different forms, from petty criminals to full-blown sociopaths seeking to wreak as much...

The fight for your life will not be a fair one. No criminal hell-bent on taking your life has any interest in taking it easy on you or giving you the chance to succeed. In a war for survival, you will have to use everything that lies within you.

Righteous anger can be an incredibly powerful tool...

A person’s eyes and behaviors can tell you a lot about his or her intentions. They provide clues that you can use to prepare before an attack. This will give you the best chance of survival.

You can also improve your safety and the safety of your family by planning ahead. Before you ever face a...

Taking another life, even in self-defense, is a traumatic experience. Your mind and body will go into overdrive trying to keep you alive. But your struggle might not end after the smoke clears.

Expert trainer Steve Fischer and licensed therapist at the Institute of Compassionate Care Jennifer...

Avoid the armchair attorneys. There are a lot of myths and misinformation floating around the internet.

Kevin Michalowski and experienced prosecutor and defense attorney Tom Grieve will give you a solid understanding of the legal use of deadly force and your rights. This is your chance to better...

What happens when the police arrive after a deadly self-defense shooting? We sat down with our self-defense expert Kevin Michalowski and Police Officer Sgt. Tim Wilz to discuss how law enforcement approaches a self-defense scene.

Discover what will happen when the police first arrive, what will...

The immediate aftermath of a self-defense incident will launch a legal process most American gun owners have never even considered. Who will be your first call after 911? How will you find a lawyer? Do you have money for your bail?

You are now entering a critical phase where everything you say and...

The police will likely detain you after your self-defense incident. Understanding your rights is key to staying calm and making the right decisions after that happens.

Valuable evidence starts disappearing after a self-defense incident. So getting legal help as soon as possible is key to proving...

Proving your innocence is not a short process. Few Americans understand what really happens behind the scenes of our legal system. Before a formal trial, your case has to navigate its way through the grand jury system and preliminary hearings. In fact, only a small number of cases actually make it...

Imagine sitting in a courtroom next to your attorney. How is he going to fight to defend you in front of a jury of strangers? It is not a situation any armed American ever wants to face.

Your self-defense training may have saved your life. But your choice of an attorney could save your freedom....

You survived. You made it through a costly criminal trial and were found innocent. Now what? Many people assume that is the end of the story.

But you may have to survive an extremely costly and stressful civil case. A robber who broke into your home could just as easily sue you for defending...

Law enforcement and military instructors often say “complacency kills” to point out when one is getting too comfortable. The training you have done so far is just the beginning. If you stop here, you risk losing the self-defense muscles you have just built and developing deadly bad habits.

Every...

What have you accomplished so far by completing this training course? Regardless of your skill level at this point, it is crucial that you take a step-by-step approach when training for self-defense.

This USCCA training series was designed to give you knowledge and skills that will allow you to...

Carrying a firearm is empowering, but it adds another layer of complexity to your life. What do you do if you have to interact with the police? Should you behave a certain way in public knowing you have a gun with you?

Millions of Americans carry firearms every day. Most people are completely...