USCCA Membership and the Importance of Firearm Liability Insurance

As of January 1, 2024, there were approximately 175,662 active handgun permits in Maryland. It’s crucial for these gun owners to understand the potential implications of discharging their firearm for self-defense purposes.

The United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) specializes in helping gun owners across the country protect their rights should they find themselves in the impossible situation of having to discharge their weapons in self-defense. Let’s take a closer look at how a USCCA membership can help you protect yourself and your gun rights if facing firearm charges related to self-defense.

What is the USCCA?

The United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) is a national membership organization that offers a variety of support services and resources for responsible gun owners. The USCCA is 100% U.S.-based and boasts a variety of benefits for individuals who legally carry firearms across the country.

USCCA reports serving over 860,000 members, a broad network of like-minded individuals looking to protect and preserve their civil rights. The USCCA gives members the tools and support they need to be prepared legally, physically, and mentally in the event that they are forced to discharge their firearm. The USCCA also offers a variety of different membership tiers so every gun owner can choose the membership that’s right for them.

What are the benefits of USCCA membership?

While we hope that the justice system will do right by gun owners who exercise their right to defend themselves from harm, the reality is that many individuals find themselves in serious legal jeopardy after discharging a weapon in self-defense. These risks may be even more present in a state like Maryland, where there is no “Stand Your Ground” law in place to protect gun owners from erroneous charges. Since Maryland follows a duty-to-retreat standard outside the home, legal analysis of self-defense may differ from states with Stand-Your-Ground statutes.

Subsequently, many gun owners choose to join the USCCA because it offers members vital protection against the legal and financial consequences associated with defending themselves against firearm charges.

The USCCA offers three key benefits to responsible gun owners in Maryland and across the nation:

1. Lifesaving education: The USCCA offers members industry-leading education about what to do in a self-defense scenario. This education is specifically designed to help members cultivate home defense plans, increase their situational awareness skills, and enhance their understanding of key firearm laws.
2. Industry-leading training: The USCCA offers a variety of experiential training options for members looking to level up their self-defense skills. The USCCA offers both at-home training programs and live-fire drills on the range so members get the hands-on experience they need to feel safe and comfortable, even in high-stakes scenarios. The USCCA also offers de-escalation training so members are empowered to utilize their firearms for self-defense only as a last resort.
3. Self-defense liability insurance: One of the most valuable components of a USCCA membership is the policy purchased by USCCA that may cover defense costs for covered acts of self-defense, subject to policy terms, limits, and exclusions.

All of these benefits combined are intended to help gun owners (a) mitigate the risks associated with self-defense shootings and (b) protect themselves from the potentially life-altering consequences of firearm-related charges.

What’s the point of self-defense liability insurance?

You might be tempted to assume that if you are forced to act out of self-defense, you will not have to worry about any legal consequences. In reality, however, many responsible gun owners find themselves in legal jeopardy after taking steps to defend themselves from harm. Police and prosecutors are prone to investigating any and every gun-related incident under their jurisdiction, and some of these investigations result in formal charges being filed.

Many gun owners do not have the cash on hand to cover the exorbitant costs associated with defending themselves in criminal or civil court. Luckily, USCCA insurance is specifically intended to offset these costs and provide members with the funds they need to cover:

• Criminal defense costs
• Any damages assessed in civil cases
• Bail bonds
• Lost wages

Even if you hope you’ll never have to use it, having this kind of coverage in place ensures that you never find yourself in an untenable financial situation as a result of exercising your right to defend yourself. The USCCA also has relationships with a variety of defense lawyers across the country, so you can secure the competent counsel you need without putting yourself at financial risk long-term.

How much does it cost to join?

The USCCA believes that all responsible gun owners should be able to access the resources and support they need without unnecessary financial strain. That’s why they offer a few different memberships at various accessible price points.

Here’s a quick overview of the costs and benefits associated with each membership tier:

Gold Membership

• $39 per month
• 150+ Video Series Episodes
• 30+ Guides, eBooks & Checklists
• Qualification Level 1
• Self-Defense Liability Insurance

Platinum Membership

• $49 per month
• 290+ Video Series Episodes
• 40+ Guides, eBooks & Checklists
• Qualification Levels 1 & 2
• Self-Defense Liability Insurance

Elite Membership

• $59 per month
• 430+ Video Series Episodes
• 80+ Guides, eBooks & Checklists
• Qualification Levels 1, 2 & 3
• Self-Defense Liability Insurance

This tiered membership structure makes it easy for gun owners to find a plan that suits their needs and their budget, so no one is left struggling financially while fighting for their rights.

Final thoughts

If you are a gun owner in Maryland, a USCCA membership might be exactly what you need to help you prepare and protect your rights. No one ever hopes or expects to find themselves discharging their weapon in self-defense, let alone facing firearm charges. But given the potential risks associated with these incidents, it’s better to be prepared with adequate coverage than to face the potentially life-altering consequences of civil or criminal proceedings.

If you’ve recently been charged in relation to a self-defense case, the team at Carey Law Office, LLC, is here to help. We are proud to partner with USCCA to help their members access legal support, but if you do not already have a membership, we would still be more than happy to represent you in your case.

Give us a call today or fill out our online contact form to request a free consultation with a member of our team, and to learn more about how we can show up for you during this difficult time. We’d be proud to provide you with the guidance, resources, and hands-on support you need to defend your rights and protect your peace.