The decision to carry a weapon concealed should not be taken lightly. For some, such as law enforcement officers or members of certain military units, carrying a covert handgun is just part of the job. But for the legally armed citizen, it is a choice that should be made only after careful consideration.

Carrying a firearm on one's person is a lifestyle commitment. I have no idea how many times I have heard a person who has applied for their concealed carry permit say: "Oh, I won't actually shoot anybody. I just want to have the gun to scare them away." This person has made a huge mistake. Criminals see you as a means to an end, not as a human being with feelings and family. They will hurt or kill you in less time than it just took you to read this paragraph.

The fact is, a handgun fight is quick, close, pandemonium-filled and bloody, and anyone who is considering carrying a handgun for such purposes must ask himself if he is up to the task of close-quarters combat. If not, then the gun will likely be used against him when he draws it to try to scare away an attacker. Over the last 30 years (seven of which were spent working in the county jail), I have spoken with my share of criminals, and the one thing I can assure you is that they are not afraid of guns but are afraid of the willing person with a gun. And trust me--they know the difference between the willing and those who posture.

So if you've decided that you're mentally ready to carry a gun to protect yourself, it's time to consider the system that is concealed carry: handgun, holster, support/suspension system (belt), spare magazine or speed loader, some type of cutting tool like a folding knife and a compact but powerful flashlight.

The ideal concealed carry gun is compact but with grips large enough to fill the hand, which allows for controlled but rapid follow-up shots. The gun should be powerful enough to count on and totally reliable.

The first thing you need to select is the handgun because the other equipment will be somewhat dependent on that choice. Pick a sidearm with the understanding that it is a defensive weapon that cannot be counted on to stop a determined opponent with one or two hits, regardless of caliber.

I'm going to avoid the stopping-power debate, but I will say it has been my experience that a bigger bullet is a better bullet. At the same time, a bigger, heavier bullet will create more felt recoil, especially when contained in the light, compact package that will likely be used for concealed carry. If the gun is so powerful you cannot provide quick follow-up shots (no more than half a second between shots, a third even better) and hit, say, an eight- or even 12-inch square, then select a caliber that you can do it with.

I would not choose a gun less than 9mm/.38 Special in caliber. History has shown that people shot with the .22, .25, .32 and even the .380 continue to fight without even knowing they are shot. While this can happen with larger handgun calibers, too, it is less likely.

You also want to select a pistol or revolver that fills your shooting hand completely so you can control the gun during rapid fire. Short grips may be easier to conceal, but they are also harder for most people to shoot.

Next, decide where you're going to carry the handgun. The biggest mistake many people make is to conceal the gun too deeply, making quick deployment problematic if not impossible.