Just two days ago I was writing about the importance of getting training. That to obtain your concealed handgun license was not an end, it was the key necessary to open the door to more and better training.

Over at the Nebraska CCW blog, they just posted a similar piece. The article does discuss how obtaining your license/permit is not the end but means you need more training, more practice (and if you can’t afford the training, everyone can afford dry fire practice). However, the main thrust of the article is about the responsibility of a permit/license holder. The article made an interesting observation:

[A] firearms Instructor I had in a course once stated, “Now that you have a CCW permit you have LESS rights and MORE responsibility”. Very true, think about it…… With a permit, now you no longer have the right to go into a restaurant and have a beer. You can no longer just go freely about your business without a care in the world. Being armed, you must be constantly aware of your surroundings at all time. If you are pulled over by a Police Officer, now you must disclose to them if you have a firearm in the vehicle. You cannot always dress the way you want to in order to carry concealed.

I hadn’t explicitly thought about it that way, but this is true. While there’s now one thing I can legally do, conversely there are many things I can no longer legally do. I have willingly entered into this state, and have willingly accepted this greater responsibility. Furthermore, it’s not just simple legal enumerations:

You no longer have the right to get angry or lose your temper since you are carrying a gun. If you have any sort of temper, then you must get rid of it before you carry a gun. There is ZERO room for CCW permit holders to have a temper. Somebody cuts you off in traffic? Smile and look the other way. Somebody tells you that your mother is ugly? Ignore them and walk away. Somebody looks at you funny? Ignore them. If you cannot keep a calm demeanor and blow off these types of petty things, then do us all a favor and don’t carry a gun.