It is true that the protection benefits of the USCCA membership are worth the fee. Prior to USCCA, I had two other forms of carry insurance – both of which I still retain. As a firearms instructor, I suppose that I might be subject to more intensive scrutiny and litigation than some and the coverage is just too cheap to not have.
So my real enthusiasm for the USCCA has more to do with the other things that it does and for the coverage. First of all, I love the magazine. Every month it has real life stories of people who had use of firearms in self-defense. These are a great resource for me as an instructor and as a second amendment advocate. They also have good reviews of firearms. I no longer feel the need to buying a new firearms because I already have access to a plethora of them. However, my last pistol purchase was influenced by an article in the USCCA magazine and I have not been disappointed with my Sig Sauer P220 SRT (short reset trigger) with a match grade barrel. I also enjoy the articles about particular legal cases or considerations. In fact, I enjoy everything from the editor’s notes to the rear cover of the magazine. I even find myself reading articles about women’s concealed carry written by Beth Alcazar (now officially on my favorite teachers list after attending USCCA instructor training with her!).
Anyone who has not availed themselves of USCCA training is probably missing out on one of the greatest benefits. At an expo two years ago I participated in a handgun retention class as well as several other classes designed to improve your readiness for a dynamic critical incident. All of the trainers were over the top credible, encouraging, and knowledgeable in their field. You really did get the best of the best. Additionally, I have been a professional educator for 40 years. 20 years of that time I have been a firearms instructor. I also instruct into other fields. But after attending USCCA instructor training, I am convinced of that the USCCA organization is more focused on quality than on quantity of instructors. Their training takes a backseat to no one. Beth Alcazar understands the educational process probably better than anyone I have ever met. Her husband also is a gifted teacher with great relational skills. Everyone that I met from the organization in person was a subject matter expert in their particular field.
I have also had the opportunity in the past to correspond with Tim Schmidt on a matter of concern that I had. He evaluated that concern in responded to it, even though his decision might not have been a popular one at the time. I appreciate the fact that the leadership of this organization is responsive to the needs of its members. It is nice to find leadership that is approachable.
So while the legal coverage is certainly a wonderful benefit, I really hope that I never have to use it. But I will on a regular basis make use of the quality USCCA training, and get to know the quality people behind it. And I will continue to read my magazine cover to cover. We have known other second amendment-protecting organizations that now seem to have lost their way. USCCA has not done so. It is a privilege to associate with this organization.