For over a century, if you lived in New York City or the surrounding suburbs and wanted to carry a firearm for self-defense, the answer from the state was almost always a resounding "no." Navigating the permit process wasn't just a maze; it was an uphill battle against a system designed to keep the average citizen disarmed. Then came June 23, 2022.
Welcome back to the fourth installment of our series, Shooting Simplified: Mastering the Fundamentals. If you’ve been following along, you’ve already started building a solid foundation. We’ve covered mindset, stance, and grip. Now, we’re moving into the "make or break" moment of every shot: the trigger press.
You’ve made the decision. You want to take ownership of your safety. You’ve looked into the requirements for the ny concealed carry class, and you’re ready to step into the role of a protector. But then, that nagging voice in the back of your head starts speaking up.
The headline in today’s Gothamist (March 25, 2026) likely sent a shiver down the spines of many New Yorkers: "The NYPD is not required to protect New Yorkers, city lawyers argue in court filing." For the average person, this sounds like a betrayal of the social contract. For those of us in the training world, it’s simply a public admission of a long-standing legal reality.
Most people walk through the world believing that "it won’t happen to me." They live in a state of perpetual reaction, waiting for the world to impose itself upon them before they decide how to respond. In the world of law enforcement, we call this a "victim mindset." It is passive, vulnerable, and dangerous.
Well-Taught, Well-Trained
Safety always comes first. We teach proper firearm handling to help prevent accidents and encourage responsible ownership.