Buying a gun, especially a handgun for concealed carry, can be intimidating for new guns owners but it doesn’t have to be. All you have to do is ask yourself these five critical questions and you can take the guess and stress out of selecting and carrying your new handgun!

Does it fit my hand?

It’s so easy; you don’t fit the gun, the gun needs to fit you. If you can’t get into the range to shoot a gun before you buy it (which I highly recommend!!!), you at least need to hold it and handle it to make sure it fits your hand and feels good in your grip.

Without a good grip, your gun is no good to you. It’s essential, so make sure it fits you!

How will I carry it?

When mentoring new gun owners, my number one tip used to be ‘Always on your person, never in your purse’ but I know that some women (and men) prefer to or have to carry off the body. I’ve come to terms with the fact that if this is the only way someone will carry a gun for protection, then I want to make sure they are doing it safely.

In any case, you need to ask yourself how you’ll be carrying your new handgun to make sure it works with that method. Whether it’s in a Purse Defender (as shown above), a belly band, or in a traditional holster, you need to make sure it fits – whether that means having a low profile for appendix carry or ensuring your carry method protects the trigger if you choose a gun without an external safety.

What will I need to go with my new gun?

It’s not just the gun, it’s the accessories that will make or break you! I may have gotten my Smith & Wesson 9MM Shield at a great price, but I definitely didn’t budget in all the accessories I needed for her!! You’ll need ammo, both for practice and self-defense, a place to safely store your gun, eye and ear protection, practical tools to protect and educate your children about firearms if you’re a parent, at least one effective way to carry it (if not more), a membership to a local gun range and/or a MantisX system to practice at home, and even tools for your range bag to make loading easier like the Maglula Loader.

Money well spent if you ask me, but you also need to make sure you don’t buy the gun and lose the right to carry it. Consider joining the NRA and purchasing insurance to protect your rights! These go hand-in-hand with gun ownership.

What do I need to do before I start to carry this firearm?

No matter which state you live in, you need to make sure you’re following local and federal laws and are a capable shooter equipped to carry before you start. That means knowing the law, being comfortable drawing and shooting your firearm, and feeling confident in your ability to effectively defend yourself or protect those around you should anyone threaten your lives.

Books are good, training is better, a combination of the two is best, and multiplying that by practice practice practice is ideal.

What can I do to ensure I continue my training?

With national groups like the Well Armed Woman, A Girl and A Gun, the Pink Pistols and Operation Blazing Sword emerging on the scene in addition to the hundreds of long-standing sportsman’s clubs across America, it’s easier than ever for all gun owners to continue training and practice with their firearms!

Find a local chapter, plug in and continue your education – there’s never been a better time to become a gun owner or concealed carry permit holder than right now!

So there you have it! Five easy questions and answers that make buying a new or your next handgun stress-free and easy.

Now get out there and put those tax breaks to good use – an armed society is a polite society… and our society could certainly benefit from a few more good guys and gals with a gun!

About the Author: Jenn Jacques is an outspoken Second Amendment defender, concealed carry advocate, champion of gun safety, a Visiting Fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum, and an outdoorswoman who enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and drinking outdoors in her beloved home state of Wisconsin.

You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or shooting at any number of gun ranges across this great country!