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for many criminals. So I decided to go
through the training and the range time
and get my concealed carry permit.
Let’s assume I have my concealed
carry permit and a firearm I am capable
of using. What kind of duty to retreat
does a person have in relation to the use
of deadly force? This will vary by state.
Some states have no duty to retreat. You
may need to check with an attorney in
your own state to discover the applicable
law. A person’s ability to retreat will
be evaluated on a case-by-case basis,
depending on the person’s physical and
mental capabilities. As is more common
in the southern states, in Arkansas
I have a duty to retreat under the law
unless I am in my own home. However,
my own ability to retreat is very limited
because of my physical disability and so
my duty to retreat would be evaluated
based on that disability.
What choices of weapons are available
to me as a disabled person?
Typically, a chemical spray (containing
tear gas, a combination of tear gas and
pepper spray, or pepper spray alone), a
Taser (with a clean background check),
a stun gun, or a firearm. The legality of
each of the items listed varies by state
and locality. Massad Ayoob, an expert in
the use of firearms for law enforcement
and self-defense, sums up the choices
this way: “Guns are the only weapons
that put a physically small or weak person
at parity with a powerful, very possibly
armed, criminal.” 6 That leaves a
firearm as the most practical choice for
a person with a disability. As with any of
the above self-defense choices, hopefully,
a person (especially a disabled
person) can discharge the weapon accurately
and effectively to avoid either
being disarmed or attacked by the assailant.
Fortunately, I have never had to
find out.
A disabled person will have more
problems choosing a firearm than a
Just who exactly is this sign protecting?
non-disabled person. For example, in
my situation, it would be impossible for
me to use a shotgun to defend myself
inside my own home. I have four fused
discs in my neck. I would not be able to
tolerate the recoil from a shotgun, so I
must use a handgun instead. The questions
I had to ask myself in selecting a
handgun were:
1) Do I have sufficient grip strength to
be able to hold the gun?
2) Can I hold the weight of the gun?
3) Do I have sufficient finger strength to
pull the trigger?
4) Can I remember to disengage the
safety when I need to?
5) Can I physically disengage the
safety?
6) Do I have sufficient hand strength
and control to load a magazine, put it
into the gun, and remove it from the
gun?
7) Do I have sufficient hand strength
and control to pull the slide back?
8) Can I physically engage the safety?
The answers to the above questions
lead directly to the choice between an
automatic pistol or a revolver. When I
first purchased a handgun, I bought an
autoloader. I was able to perform the
critical tasks listed above. As time has
passed, my ability to control my arms,
hands, and fingers has decreased. I am
reaching the point where an automatic
is no longer a practical choice for me.
Before too much longer, I will need to
test and purchase a revolver.
I cannot emphasize enough if you
have a disability that affects the control
and strength of your arms, forearms,
wrists, hands, and fingers, make sure
you go to a gunshop which will actually
allow you to try the pistol before you
buy it. On paper, any pistol will look like
it will work, but don’t risk several hundred
dollars on it. If you are disabled,
you need to practice shooting with
your pistol more than a non-disabled
person would. It may be more difficult
for you to learn the proper procedures
for loading and unloading your pistol
because of the pain, medication, or
other distractions you have. I am guilty
as charged on this. I don’t practice as
much as I should.
If you live in a state where concealed
carry is allowed, one question you need
to ask yourself is, “Where am I going to
conceal the pistol?” If you use a wheelchair,
a fanny pack designed for that
purpose may be your best bet. 7 If you
use crutches or a walker, then where to
conceal the pistol and be able to access
1. Bruce N. Eimer. “Coping with Physical Disability in Concealed Carry and
Defensive Handgun Training” Concealed Carry Magazine 4 (February/
March 2007): 38-42.
2. Gregor Wolbring. “Violence and Abuse in the Lives of People with Disabilities”
International Centre for Bioethics, Culture, and Disability (1994): 1-5 www.
bioethicsandsiability.org/violence.html (Accessed November 9, 2007).
3. Martin Wainwright. “Jail for ex-soldier who urinated on dying disabled
woman” The Guardian (October 27, 2007): 1-3 www.guardian.co.uk/crime/
article/0,,2200320,00.html (Accessed November 9, 2007).
4. Randy LaHaie. “The Nuts & Bolts of Awareness: Learning To Detect Trouble”
Self-Defense Articles (2002): 1-8 www.protectivestrategies.com/awareness.
html (Accessed November 9, 2007).
5. “Concealed Carry” Pennsylvania Firearms Owners Association (February 25,
2007): 1 www.pafoa.org/concealed-carry/ (Accessed November 12, 2007).
6. Massad F. Ayoob. In the Gravest Extreme: The Role of the Firearm in Personal
Protection. (Concord, New Hampshire: Police Bookshelf, 1980): 38.
7. Bruce N. Eimer. “Bear Arms In A Wheelchair” Concealed Carry Magazine 2 no.
8 (November/December 2005): 28.
8. Bruce N. Eimer. “Bear Arms In A Wheelchair” Concealed Carry Magazine 2 no.
8 (November/December 2005): 28-9.
9. Carolyn Boyles. A Complete Plain-English Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord
Injury: Valuable Information From A Survivor (Lincoln, Nebraska: iUniverse,
2007): 305.
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USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n JULY 2008