The decision to carry a handgun for personal defense is one that comes with great responsibility. Depending on your state, legislation has made it possible for most civilians to apply for a permit to carry, and it often requires a qualification test. Passing that test is only the beginning of the journey.
While teaching and qualifying students in my state, New Jersey, I’ve seen many prepare and successfully pass the qualification requirement, but I’ve also witnessed many new applicants who have not prepared adequately to pass the test, much less take on the responsibility. Many may view the range qualification as the main hurdle; the truth is that this test is only the beginning.
Passing it demonstrates a very basic level of firearm handling and marksmanship, but real-life defensive encounters are far more complex. Understanding this difference and committing to ongoing training is critical for anyone considering carrying a firearm in public.
The New Jersey Permit to Carry qualification test generally measures fundamental safety, firearm handling, and the ability to place accurate shots on a target. The course of fire requires applicants to fire a series of rounds at varying distances under relatively calm conditions. While this is a necessary standard, it does not reflect the stress, unpredictability, and fast decision-making required in a real encounter.
On the range, the target doesn’t move. You’ve made the decision to shoot at the target; the need to ascertain whether the shooter is a good guy or a bad guy doesn’t exist. You have time to set your stance, grip, and sight alignment. There is no threat yelling, moving toward you, or attempting to harm you. In short, the test ensures that you can handle a firearm safely and hit a paper target, but it does not mean you are prepared for the realities of defensive gun use.
Carrying a firearm means accepting responsibility for protecting yourself and others, but it also means being ready to make split-second decisions in chaotic circumstances. Unlike the static range, real-life situations introduce countless variables:
- Stress and Adrenaline – When confronted with a threat, your body reacts with a rush of adrenaline. This fight-or-flight response can cause tunnel vision, auditory exclusion (temporary hearing loss), shaking hands, and difficulty with fine motor skills. Shooting accurately under these conditions is drastically harder than on the range.
- Moving Targets – An assailant is not going to stand still like a paper silhouette. They may be running toward you, moving laterally, or trying to use cover. Being able to hit a moving threat while you yourself may be moving for safety is an entirely different skill.
- Low-Light Conditions – Many confrontations occur in the evening or in poorly lit areas. Identifying a threat in the dark while managing a flashlight or using your firearm’s sights effectively is a challenge most qualification tests do not address.
- Close Quarters – Defensive encounters often happen at arm’s length, not at the safe distances practiced during qualification. At such close range, weapon retention, hand-to-hand skills, and rapid decision-making become essential.
- Legal and Moral Considerations – Every defensive use of a firearm will be scrutinized legally. Understanding when you can and cannot use deadly force is as important as knowing how to shoot. A poor decision in judgment can result in criminal charges, civil liability, or worse.
These variables highlight why qualification alone is insufficient preparation for carrying a firearm. If the permit test is only the starting point, then what comes next? The answer is ongoing, realistic training that prepares you for the scenarios you might actually face. Proper training helps develop the skills, confidence, and judgment needed to carry responsibly.
High-quality training will address:
- Stress Inoculation – Training under simulated stress helps condition your body and mind to perform under pressure. Drills that involve time limits, movement, and problem-solving can help bridge the gap between the range and reality.
- Force-on-Force Scenarios – Using non-lethal training tools, students can experience role-play situations that mimic real encounters. This type of training develops decision-making skills: when to draw, when to de-escalate, and when it’s appropriate to use deadly force.
- Low-Light Shooting – Learning to use a flashlight with your handgun or becoming proficient with night sights or red-dot optics, prepares you for encounters that may occur in darkness.
- Close-Quarter Skills – Training in retention shooting, defensive tactics, and managing space teaches you how to fight from disadvantaged positions. These skills can make the difference in surviving a close encounter.
- Legal Education – Understanding your state’s self-defense laws is vital. A qualified instructor or legal seminar can help clarify when you are justified in using force and what to expect if you ever have to.
It is easy to become overconfident after passing the permit to carry qualification. Some may feel that their ability to put rounds on target in a calm environment translates directly to being “ready” for the street. This mindset is dangerous. Carrying a firearm is not about bravado, it is about responsibility.
A responsible carrier understands that a firearm is a last resort. They know that awareness, avoidance, and de-escalation should always be prioritized. They train not just to hit a target, but to think critically under pressure, to maintain composure, and to act lawfully.
For civilians in New Jersey, earning a permit to carry is an important milestone, but it should not be viewed as the end goal. The qualification test ensures that you meet a minimum standard of safety and accuracy, but the real challenge lies beyond the range. Stress, movement, low light, close quarters, and legal considerations all add layers of complexity to defensive encounters that the qualification does not cover.
If something can go wrong, it will. A few concerning things I’ve seen while conducting qualifications:
- your holster will not work properly if it’s upside down
- you should be able to load your mags
- the rounds will not load correctly if you placed them in the magazine backwards
- you should be able to grip your handgun properly
Oh, and it doesn’t really matter who you are, what you do or who you know… If you’re not doing it right, your actions could be hurtful and damaging to yourself and/or those around you.
Carrying a firearm requires humility, responsibility, and a commitment to ongoing training. By seeking out professional instruction and practicing regularly under realistic conditions, permit holders can transform from paper-qualified shooters into prepared and responsible defenders. Remember, passing the test may be the easy part, but living up to the responsibility of carrying is a lifelong journey.
Proper Repetitive Practice Builds Automatic Permanence!
