Being Prepared

Being Prepared

April 11, 2016

We the People

As a veteran, I believe wholeheartedly in the Constitution of the United States and what it says in it. So as my right to Bear Arms, laid out in the Second Amendment, my wife and I applied and received our concealed carry permits this year. It was a whole new learning experience. Learning the laws both at the state and federal levels on what we can and can't do is continually an ongoing process. And so far, we have not had any issues and the whole experience has been a positive one.

Now you maybe asking yourself, "What does any of this have to do with finances?" And the truth is, it has A LOT  to do with finances. In fact, more so than I originally thought.

Being a Responsible Gun Owner

A person who conceal carries has a lot of responsibility to do things right. And just recently, I learned that even if I have done everything right and not fired a single round, I could still find myself in a whole heap of trouble and that can be very costly. It could even become a bankruptable event. With all the people who are against gun ownership, from the politicians in Washington, to the common Joe on the streets, there are a lot of people who are looking to make an example out of someone even if they were right and justified in what they did or where they went with their firearms.

What to Do? 

So with all this bureaucratic crap going on, is it really worth owning firearms, let alone getting a conceal carry permit? That is a question only you can answer. For me, that answer is definitely Yes. 

When it comes down to it, I am the first line of defense in protecting my family. Oh I'll call 911 and let them know that something is going on and we need help, IF there is time to do so, but it is my responsibility to protect my family.

So what is a responsible gun owner to do to protect themselves against the people who are against them and what to make them out to be the bad guys? Well, I just recently discovered a company called U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA). And as an insurance agent and understanding that all forms of insurance is meant to transfer risk from you to the insurance company if a major financial event were to take place, this looks like an ideal program for the gun owners in this country.

Now I want to make sure you all know this before I continue. I'm a licensed LIFE insurance agent ONLY ! I get NO commissions or kick backs from USCCA by telling you any of this. As a responsible gun owner, financial coach, and insurance agent, I'm just trying to teach you of the financial ramifications of what could happen to you if you were justifiably protecting your family and get in trouble doing so and what you can do to protect yourself. This is something I didn't think about before we applied for our permits.

The Plans

USCCA has 3 coverage plans available. A Silver Plus, Gold Plus, and a Platinum Plus. The plans cover from $250,000 to $1,000,000 in Civil Suit Defense and Damages, $50,000 to $100,000 in Criminal Defense Protection and Instant Attorney Retainer, $2,500 to $10,000 in Immediate Bail Bond Funding, $250 to $500 per day in Compensation while In court, Critical Response Team 24/7/365 Immediate Assistance, Complete Attorney Coordination Local Referral Within 24 Hours, Psychological Support Post-Incident Counseling, and a subscription to Concealed Carry Magazine.

Each plan is, in my opinion, is very affordable. The Silver Plus plan is $13/mo or one-time annual payment of $147, the Gold Plus plan is $22/mo or one-time annual payment of $247, and the Platinum Plus is $30/mo or one-time annual payment of $347. And there is no wait period for your plan to take affect, it starts immediately. As you can see from the numbers above, using a firearm of any kind to protect your family can be costly. So it is a great idea to protect yourself if you find yourself in a bind.

If you think about it, we protect ourselves with insurance for our homes, cars, etc... why wouldn't we protect ourselves when it comes to this? Even if you don't have or don't plan to get a concealed carry permit, but do own guns, this is a great idea... in my opinion.