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Owning a gun is a huge responsibility. Licensing and permit processes are out there to make sure that gun owners are aware not only of gun rights but also gun laws and ownership responsibilities. A recent report by the Pew Research Center revealed that 3 out of 10 American adults currently own a gun and that an additional 11% of Americans don’t own a firearm but live with someone who does.
Most people own guns for self-defense or to protect loved ones. Hopefully, you won’t ever need to use a gun in self-defense, but if you do, questions of liability and damages can come into play. These legal issues can be astronomically expensive. That’s why many insurers offer concealed carry insurance, and it can really come in handy. This article will provide you with information on concealed carry insurance and make you a more knowledgeable gun owner. If you’re wondering how to get concealed carry insurance, you’re in the right place.
WHAT IS CONCEALED CARRY INSURANCE?
When you have car insurance, that insurance will help you cover expenses for liabilities and damages in case you find yourself in a car accident. Concealed carry insurance works in much the same way. If you use your gun for self-defense you could find yourself in trouble even if you were justified in using your weapon. The person you shot or their relative could sue you and you could find yourself in a huge financial hole. Trial costs themselves can be too much to handle, before even talking about whether or not you lose a suit.
Policies that give insurance for concealed carry go by many names. Sometimes they are referred to as concealed carry insurance, sometimes CCW insurance. They are also referred to as personal firearm protection insurance, self-defense insurance, or stand your ground coverage policies. Actual coverage and cost will be different from policy to policy and provider to provider. You’ll need to do your research to find out what works best for you financially and what coverage will bring you peace of mind. Most insurance policies will cover the following firearm-related incidents:
Self-Defense – Under the law, it is legal to use reasonable force to protect yourself or your family members from threats or attacks if you think that they are in danger. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t be somehow held liable for your actions. Self-defense cases will always be investigated and you might find yourself charged with a crime and needing to defend yourself in court.
Negligent or Reckless Discharge – In most states, it is illegal to recklessly or negligently discharge a weapon. If a negligent discharge results in injury, property damage, or death, you can be charged in a criminal or civil court for damages to persons or property.
Unlawful Personal Firearm Use – The legality of firing a weapon depends on the situation and location. If you discharge your weapon illegally, you can be criminally or civilly liable for damages to persons or property.
When wondering how to get concealed carry insurance, you’ll have a lot to think about with regard to the types of situations and liabilities you will want to be insured for. There are many different offerings. Here’s a look at what might be included in some insurance plans:
Legal Defense Services Plans – This is usually a type of subscription that will allow you to access a network of attorneys who specialize in self-defense cases. With this type of plan you pay an annual fee and in-network lawyers are obligated to provide agreed upon legal services. Your service provider will recommend an attorney specializing in civil or criminal defense depending on your circumstances. The outcome of the trial should have no impact on whether or not your insurance will provide legal service.
Concealed Carry Insurance – With this type of insurance policy, you will be covered up to a specified limit for civil defense and/or criminal defense, and bodily injury and/or property damage expenses. You will also likely be covered for lost wages. This type of insurance will usually only provide coverage for acts of self-defense.
Gun Association Policies – Some gun owner groups like the National Rifle Association offer insurance as a benefit of group membership. These benefits usually include coverage for civil and/or criminal defense, damages (personal or property), lost wages, and bail bonds.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A POST-SHOOTING INVESTIGATION?
In order to fully understand the benefits of concealed carry insurance, it’s worth looking at what happens investigation-wise after a shooting. Generally, the procedure is:
Your Gun Fires
Round Hits Attacker
Attack Is ‘Neutralized’
Police Arrive – It is not your obligation to remain at the scene until police arrive. Make sure to get yourself to safety if you feel the need to.
Police Will Take the Victim/Suspect to the Hospital – If the victim/suspect survives, they may make a statement which will then be admitted as evidence. They may be taken into custody depending on the situation.
Police Confiscate Weapon – Police will likely take your firearm as evidence and will usually give you a receipt so that you can recover it later. After the investigation you will either be allowed to reclaim your firearm or it will be kept by the police under the policy of “civil forfeiture.”
Police May Temporarily Detain You For Questioning – This is where having a lawyer will come in handy.
Analysis of the Crime – This is where all the evidence, witness testimony, DNA samples, and catalog materials will be evaluated. If there is no reason to detain you further, the police and investigators may release you at this step. If investigators believe that you have committed a crime, they will file the necessary charges and you will be detained further. Once charged with a crime, you will undergo the following steps:
Bail Hearing
Jury Selection
Pre-Trial
Trial Sentencing
It is worth noting that not all insurance for concealed carry policies will cover expenses up through the sentencing portion of the process. Just by looking at the sheer number of steps in this process you might be starting to imagine the large potential cost of a defense. You might need to appear in court several times during legal proceedings and this could make it hard for you to work or to balance your finances. You could very well end up in financial trouble. Insurance policies are designed to help ease this financial burden on you and make it possible for you to mount a defense.
4 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GUN INSURANCE
If it’s your first time buying gun insurance you’ve probably got some questions about how to get concealed carry insurance. As you research your insurance policy, keep in mind the following questions:
Will owning a gun increase my liability or premiums for other insurance policies?
Unlikely. Most insurance companies are not particularly concerned with whether or not you own a gun. Gun ownership is not factored into home insurance premiums. Some of these policies don’t even require you to disclose whether or not you own a firearm.
Will accidental shootings be covered for liability?
Yes but with caveats. If a guest in a home sustains an injury due to an accidental shooting, they could sue the homeowner. This could possibly be covered by a home insurance premium’s liability coverage. A similar coverage is applicable to accidental shooting that occurs outside of your house as long as the accident is not considered a crime.
What constitutes a crime will vary from one state to another. For instance, improperly storing guns is considered a crime in some states. Much of what occurs in firearms cases depends on the situation. For example, accidental coverage may or may not be denied if the accident is drug or alcohol related. It’s important to know the ins-and-outs of your policy and to know your coverage limits. A cheap policy may not cover enough to be worth it.
Is Self-Defense Typically Covered?
Coverage will depend on a lot of factors, especially state laws and the facts of your case. Some states, for example, have Stand Your Ground laws that generally provide greater legal leeway for firearm owners who shoot in self-defense when under threat. Most insurance companies use a different term in outlining their insurance obligations but most include outright exclusion on coverage for injuries caused intentionally by the policy holder even if it is for self-defense. In most instances, liability insurance will not cover self-defense associated with a criminal prosecution.
Some insurance companies offer standalone policies for specific scenarios such as self-defense. Some providers also offer training courses to go along with coverage. Most policies are unique and the future of these policies is quite uncertain given the ongoing public discussion of firearm regulations.
What If My Gun Was Stolen?
Will insurance for concealed carry be helpful if your firearm is stolen? This will depend, again, on many factors, such as the way in which your gun was stored and if or how the weapon was discharged. If your gun was stolen from an unlocked car and later used to perpetrate a crime, you probably won’t be liable. That being said, it will depend on the investigation and state laws. Criminal intent is still likely to bear more weight than your negligence. If someone takes a gun from your unlocked car and this results in an accidental discharge, then that’s a completely different situation due to a possible lack of criminal intent. You could be held partially responsible for any damage or injuries due to negligence when storing your firearm.
SEARCHING FOR THE BEST CONCEALED CARRY INSURANCE
No matter how responsible you are with your carry weapon, it is likely that you will need to draw a weapon for self-defense or when someone is in trouble. In order for you to be effective with how to get concealed carry insurance, you need to take into consideration several factors.
How to get concealed carry insurance will depend on you. Many factors will go into picking the right policy. We’ll look into some of these below. This is because concealed carrying is very situational. When thinking about if you should or how to get concealed carry insurance, take into consideration the following factors:
Location
Where you live is one factor that will help determine whether or not carry insurance is right for you. If you reside or work in unsafe neighborhoods, there is likely a greater chance that you will need to draw your firearm than if you live in a relatively safe area. Insurance plans, however, normally don’t take this into account and your policy will probably cost the same no matter how safe your area is.
Your Current Policies
Chances are your homeowner’s insurance policy may already be providing coverage should you discharge a firearm in your home. Obviously, this won’t carry over to the public use of your weapon. Nevertheless, you should know if you already have some coverage at home so that you will be more prepared when thinking about how to get concealed carry insurance. Having some coverage at home could change which policy is best for you to choose.
Your Personality
What kind of gun owner are you? Are you the better-safe-than-sorry type of person? If you are, carrying insurance is probably the right thing for you. There is always some chance that you will draw your weapon if faced with a threat.
TOP PROVIDERS OF CONCEALED CARRY INSURANCE
When wondering how to get concealed carry insurance, you should probably get in touch with some of the top providers of this type of insurance. You’ll need to research and think carefully about what each provider offers. Let’s take a look at some of these providers:
United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA)
Founded in June 2011, Tim Schmidt established the United States Concealed Carry Association or USCCA to address the plight of law-abiding citizens who had defended themselves only to find themselves in legal trouble. Schmidt found out for himself that mainstream insurance companies did not always want to get involved in providing this type of coverage. USCCA offers three types of concealed carry insurance plans: Gold, Platinum, and Elite. Elite is the most expensive but provides the most coverage.
CCW Safe
CCW Safe offers members different protection plans. The Ultimate Plan, designed for retired military and law enforcement members, costs $499/year and provides coverage worth $1 million in bond, $1 million in civil damages, and unlimited caps on criminal and civil defenses. They also offer a range of other, more affordable plans.
Second Call Defense
Second Call Defense considers itself as the first-insurance backed membership group offering support for gun owners involved in firearm discharge situations. It offers three plans – Entry Level, Full Coverage, and Cadillac Protection. The Entry Level costs $119 per year which includes a $10,000 limit on criminal defense protection, $1,000 for bond, and $2,000 for retainer’s fee.
The 2nd Amendment protects your right to bear arms. However when someone sues you, the only protection for your bank account might be concealed carry insurance. Definitely consider looking into how to get concealed carry insurance if you plan on concealed carrying.
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How to Get Concealed Carry Insurance: Concealed Carry Insurance Basics
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
The GMW IWB magazine holster with built-in neodymium magnets. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
Owning a gun is a huge responsibility. Licensing and permit processes are out there to make sure that gun owners are aware not only of gun rights but also gun laws and ownership responsibilities. A recent report by the Pew Research Center revealed that 3 out of 10 American adults currently own a gun and that an additional 11% of Americans don’t own a firearm but live with someone who does.
Most people own guns for self-defense or to protect loved ones. Hopefully, you won’t ever need to use a gun in self-defense, but if you do, questions of liability and damages can come into play. These legal issues can be astronomically expensive. That’s why many insurers offer concealed carry insurance, and it can really come in handy. This article will provide you with information on concealed carry insurance and make you a more knowledgeable gun owner. If you’re wondering how to get concealed carry insurance, you’re in the right place.
WHAT IS CONCEALED CARRY INSURANCE?
When you have car insurance, that insurance will help you cover expenses for liabilities and damages in case you find yourself in a car accident. Concealed carry insurance works in much the same way. If you use your gun for self-defense you could find yourself in trouble even if you were justified in using your weapon. The person you shot or their relative could sue you and you could find yourself in a huge financial hole. Trial costs themselves can be too much to handle, before even talking about whether or not you lose a suit.
Policies that give insurance for concealed carry go by many names. Sometimes they are referred to as concealed carry insurance, sometimes CCW insurance. They are also referred to as personal firearm protection insurance, self-defense insurance, or stand your ground coverage policies. Actual coverage and cost will be different from policy to policy and provider to provider. You’ll need to do your research to find out what works best for you financially and what coverage will bring you peace of mind. Most insurance policies will cover the following firearm-related incidents:
When wondering how to get concealed carry insurance, you’ll have a lot to think about with regard to the types of situations and liabilities you will want to be insured for. There are many different offerings. Here’s a look at what might be included in some insurance plans:
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A POST-SHOOTING INVESTIGATION?
In order to fully understand the benefits of concealed carry insurance, it’s worth looking at what happens investigation-wise after a shooting. Generally, the procedure is:
It is worth noting that not all insurance for concealed carry policies will cover expenses up through the sentencing portion of the process. Just by looking at the sheer number of steps in this process you might be starting to imagine the large potential cost of a defense. You might need to appear in court several times during legal proceedings and this could make it hard for you to work or to balance your finances. You could very well end up in financial trouble. Insurance policies are designed to help ease this financial burden on you and make it possible for you to mount a defense.
4 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GUN INSURANCE
If it’s your first time buying gun insurance you’ve probably got some questions about how to get concealed carry insurance. As you research your insurance policy, keep in mind the following questions:
Will owning a gun increase my liability or premiums for other insurance policies?
Unlikely. Most insurance companies are not particularly concerned with whether or not you own a gun. Gun ownership is not factored into home insurance premiums. Some of these policies don’t even require you to disclose whether or not you own a firearm.
Will accidental shootings be covered for liability?
Yes but with caveats. If a guest in a home sustains an injury due to an accidental shooting, they could sue the homeowner. This could possibly be covered by a home insurance premium’s liability coverage. A similar coverage is applicable to accidental shooting that occurs outside of your house as long as the accident is not considered a crime.
What constitutes a crime will vary from one state to another. For instance, improperly storing guns is considered a crime in some states. Much of what occurs in firearms cases depends on the situation. For example, accidental coverage may or may not be denied if the accident is drug or alcohol related. It’s important to know the ins-and-outs of your policy and to know your coverage limits. A cheap policy may not cover enough to be worth it.
Is Self-Defense Typically Covered?
Coverage will depend on a lot of factors, especially state laws and the facts of your case. Some states, for example, have Stand Your Ground laws that generally provide greater legal leeway for firearm owners who shoot in self-defense when under threat. Most insurance companies use a different term in outlining their insurance obligations but most include outright exclusion on coverage for injuries caused intentionally by the policy holder even if it is for self-defense. In most instances, liability insurance will not cover self-defense associated with a criminal prosecution.
Some insurance companies offer standalone policies for specific scenarios such as self-defense. Some providers also offer training courses to go along with coverage. Most policies are unique and the future of these policies is quite uncertain given the ongoing public discussion of firearm regulations.
What If My Gun Was Stolen?
Will insurance for concealed carry be helpful if your firearm is stolen? This will depend, again, on many factors, such as the way in which your gun was stored and if or how the weapon was discharged. If your gun was stolen from an unlocked car and later used to perpetrate a crime, you probably won’t be liable. That being said, it will depend on the investigation and state laws. Criminal intent is still likely to bear more weight than your negligence. If someone takes a gun from your unlocked car and this results in an accidental discharge, then that’s a completely different situation due to a possible lack of criminal intent. You could be held partially responsible for any damage or injuries due to negligence when storing your firearm.
SEARCHING FOR THE BEST CONCEALED CARRY INSURANCE
No matter how responsible you are with your carry weapon, it is likely that you will need to draw a weapon for self-defense or when someone is in trouble. In order for you to be effective with how to get concealed carry insurance, you need to take into consideration several factors.
How to get concealed carry insurance will depend on you. Many factors will go into picking the right policy. We’ll look into some of these below. This is because concealed carrying is very situational. When thinking about if you should or how to get concealed carry insurance, take into consideration the following factors:
Location
Where you live is one factor that will help determine whether or not carry insurance is right for you. If you reside or work in unsafe neighborhoods, there is likely a greater chance that you will need to draw your firearm than if you live in a relatively safe area. Insurance plans, however, normally don’t take this into account and your policy will probably cost the same no matter how safe your area is.
Your Current Policies
Chances are your homeowner’s insurance policy may already be providing coverage should you discharge a firearm in your home. Obviously, this won’t carry over to the public use of your weapon. Nevertheless, you should know if you already have some coverage at home so that you will be more prepared when thinking about how to get concealed carry insurance. Having some coverage at home could change which policy is best for you to choose.
Your Personality
What kind of gun owner are you? Are you the better-safe-than-sorry type of person? If you are, carrying insurance is probably the right thing for you. There is always some chance that you will draw your weapon if faced with a threat.
TOP PROVIDERS OF CONCEALED CARRY INSURANCE
When wondering how to get concealed carry insurance, you should probably get in touch with some of the top providers of this type of insurance. You’ll need to research and think carefully about what each provider offers. Let’s take a look at some of these providers:
United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA)
Founded in June 2011, Tim Schmidt established the United States Concealed Carry Association or USCCA to address the plight of law-abiding citizens who had defended themselves only to find themselves in legal trouble. Schmidt found out for himself that mainstream insurance companies did not always want to get involved in providing this type of coverage. USCCA offers three types of concealed carry insurance plans: Gold, Platinum, and Elite. Elite is the most expensive but provides the most coverage.
CCW Safe
CCW Safe offers members different protection plans. The Ultimate Plan, designed for retired military and law enforcement members, costs $499/year and provides coverage worth $1 million in bond, $1 million in civil damages, and unlimited caps on criminal and civil defenses. They also offer a range of other, more affordable plans.
Second Call Defense
Second Call Defense considers itself as the first-insurance backed membership group offering support for gun owners involved in firearm discharge situations. It offers three plans – Entry Level, Full Coverage, and Cadillac Protection. The Entry Level costs $119 per year which includes a $10,000 limit on criminal defense protection, $1,000 for bond, and $2,000 for retainer’s fee.
The 2nd Amendment protects your right to bear arms. However when someone sues you, the only protection for your bank account might be concealed carry insurance. Definitely consider looking into how to get concealed carry insurance if you plan on concealed carrying.