The first two amendments of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights are two of the principal reasons why we're different than the rest of the world. Each American has an unfettered right to speak his mind, believe in his faith of choice, and bear arms. Why? Because those are required elements of a free, civil society.

Owning a gun is nothing new in American culture. It's really only been within the past twenty years where it's come under a surprising amount of heat and debate. But truly, what is there to debate? If you don't want to own a gun (or are not eligible to) – don't. If you do – that's your right.

Having a gun in the home is important for security reasons. It helps give a piece of mind that you're able to protect yourself and your family as a first line of defense against intruders. For those that live in the country, it's an even more practical defense against animals that would pose a danger to you or your property.

But what about when you go outside the home? Carrying a firearm on your person – whether Concealed in an iwb holster or outside the waistband – gives you a degree of security that can't be bought with simply dialing 9-1-1. It means you're responsible for your life.

A lot of people see the benefits of carrying a firearm on them throughout their daily activities. There's likely not a single person who hasn't been in at least one situation – accidentally or intentionally – where he or she thought a firearm may offer a necessary added degree of protection.

There's a number of factors:

• Social stigma – the anti-gun movement has been fantastic at creating a strawman stereotype of gun owners. They try to make you feel bad for just thinking about carrying – much less owning – a gun. Rarely, if ever, will they bring up the point that some of the fastest growing numbers of concealed carriers are women, the elderly, and those most vulnerable to violent felonies.

• Initial cost – Concealed carry pistols and revolvers can be expensive investment. For those living paycheck-to-paycheck, even an investment of $400 can seem like a lot. And it's usually not just the pistol. In most states, there are costs associated with obtaining a concealed carry permit. And then afterwards, what good is having a pistol on you that you can't carry around safely in a holster?

• Family safety – Not everyone lives in some ideal household where it's completely safe to just store a pistol in a nightstand and call it good. There are families where the significant other, child, or even roommate may be battling depression or mental ailments. This may make someone uneasy about bringing a firearm in the house.

• Uncertain living situations – And not everyone lives in a nice house in the suburbs, with a steady income, mortgage, and reliable conditions. If you change apartments year-to-year or even week-to-week, a firearm may seem like an additional expensive burden.

There are a number of considerations that many Americans have to make before becoming a daily carrier. And those considerations can't all be answered with the same, “you ought to because it's your right.” The great news is: most of these issues can be fixed in three ways – training, aggressive budgeting, and using reliable equipment.

In future articles, we'll go after some of the ways you can use these three points to develop a plan to own and carry a firearm. In the meantime, keep tuning into our blog to learn more about responsible concealed carry practice.