For nearly two decades, the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, or USCCA, has sought to provide education, training, and legal protection for responsibly armed citizens. Their main focus is to support Americans who want to be prepared for possible self-defense and home-defense encounters, particularly in the area of legal protection after the fact. They style themselves as “…the nation’s fastest-growing organization dedicated to educating, training and providing legal protection for responsibly armed Americans. Founded in 2003, the USCCA exists solely to serve and support more than 400,000 members who have the commitment and courage to be their families’ first lines of defense.” However, they understand that defensive shooting is only one component (albeit an important one) of an individual’s or family’s larger preparedness mindset and planning initiative. If nothing else, 2020’s tumultuous events have shown this all too well. To this end, USCCA has announced a new preparedness training program with the following August 31st press release.

USCCA’s training looks beyond just the defensive shooting aspect of preparedness, which is the organization’s main focus.

USCCA Emergency Preparedness Fundamentals Training Program

“The Secret Weapon to Master Ultimate Self-Reliance”

WEST BEND, WI – Ahead of “National Preparedness Month” in September, the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), which provides industry leading self-defense education, training and legal protection to over 400,000 American gun owners, recently launched a new training to help individuals become more prepared in the event of a disaster and confident in their ability to provide for themselves and their families.

Whether it’s a tornado, hurricane, wildfire, civil unrest, a public health crisis or a logistical strike, USCCA’s Emergency Preparedness Fundamentals Training will ensure people have the necessary information and resources to survive when the unthinkable happens. “National Preparedness Month” is recognized each September in communities across the country to encourage Americans and their families to take appropriate steps to educate themselves and prepare for emergencies that could occur in their homes, businesses, schools and communities.

“This year, the coronavirus pandemic has opened our eyes to the critical importance of being prepared for when disaster strikes. The ease and convenience at which we access water, food, shelter and security has caused many of us to lose sight of how to fend for ourselves and loved ones without basic needs,” said Tim Schmidt, CEO and founder of the USCCA. “The importance of self-reliance will never be more real than in a survival situation, which is why the time to become educated and trained is now. No one should ever second-guess their ability to protect themselves and their families when the unthinkable comes knocking at the door.”

Schmidt recently spoke with Fox News about the surge of first-time gun owners in the United States – hitting nearly 5 million in 2020 so far – and the critical importance of training and education:

• “The first thing I would explain to [a] new gun owner or concealed carrier is that the training required by your state is not even close to enough. I don’t care if you’re in the most stringent state in terms of training, it’s not enough. You need to find a way to educate yourself on firearms handling.”

USCCA’s Emergency Preparedness Fundamentals Training will help responsible Americans uncover the four core pillars of survival, build a 72-hour survival kit for any disaster, gain secret insights on sheltering in place and understand the fundamentals of home defense with a firearm.

To learn how to survive a disaster for the first 72 hours, the next thirty days and beyond, sign-up through the USCCA’s website here.

While many think there is a low likelihood they’ll ever need this level of preparedness, 2020 has shown more people that it could happen.

Do you and your family have an emergency preparedness plan? If not, would you like to develop one but aren’t sure where to start? If you do have one, do you think it could use some fleshing out? Whatever the state of your emergency planning, do you think you might benefit from the USCCA’s new training program? Why or why not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Stay safe! See you at the range.

Photos courtesy of USCCA.