The Biggest Mistakes New Concealed Carriers Make in Maryland

Getting your Maryland Wear & Carry Permit is a great first step. But it is just that, a first step.

One thing we see fairly often is people leaving class feeling like they have everything figured out. The truth is, carrying a firearm every day is a skill that develops over time. The permit gives you the legal ability to carry. It doesn't automatically prepare you for the realities of carrying one.

Here are a few of the biggest mistakes we see new concealed carriers make.

They stop training after they get their permit.

This is probably the most common one.

You spend the time, take the class, qualify on the range, get your permit... and then the gun stays in the holster until something goes wrong.

Think about any other skill. You wouldn't take one driving lesson and expect to be a great driver for the rest of your life. Shooting is no different. Regular range time, dry fire practice, and defensive-focused training all help build confidence and consistency.

They carry a gun they've barely shot.

It's surprisingly common. Someone buys a pistol because it's popular or because a friend recommended it. They shoot a box of ammo through it, load it up, and start carrying it every day.

Your carry gun should be the firearm you're the most comfortable with, not the one that looked the coolest in the display case. If you haven't spent time drawing it, shooting it, clearing malfunctions, and getting comfortable with how it feels, you're carrying a tool you haven't really learned to use.

They don't actually carry.

It sounds funny, but it happens. The gun is in the nightstand. Or the truck. Or the safe because today's outfit didn't work with the holster.

Carrying consistently means finding equipment that works for your lifestyle, not the other way around. Sometimes that means trying a different holster. Sometimes it means a different belt. Sometimes it even means a different firearm.

The best carry setup is the one you'll actually wear.

They think the class is the finish line.

Your Wear & Carry class teaches the law, safety, and the fundamentals required to get your permit. That's exactly what it's supposed to do.

What it doesn't do is teach every defensive shooting skill or prepare you for every possible situation you could encounter. That's where continuing education comes in.

Learning to draw safely from a holster, shoot accurately under time, move, reload efficiently, and make good decisions under stress are all skills that improve with practice, not something you master in a weekend.

The good news? Nobody expects you to know it all.

Every experienced shooter started somewhere, and the people who become the safest, most confident concealed carriers are usually the ones who keep learning long after the permit arrives in the mail.

Here, we love seeing students come back after class. Whether it's range time, private instruction, or defensive pistol training, that's where real confidence starts to develop.

Because earning your permit isn't the end of the journey.

It's the beginning.