The company will offer legal coverage as long as you’re using a legal weapon, regardless of state-carry permit. If you’re charged with a crime, you may be released until the trial or you may be held. Currently, the defense fund is large enough that they can cover more than any other fixed amount, but that may not always be the case. All these services seem to have a built in catch 22. As a longtime firearms instructor and head of a gun rights group, people ask me all sorts of questions. What To Look For. Before you can decide how valuable this kind of legal coverage may be for you, we should first explore the potential costs of using a firearm to protect yourself. If I purchase both CCWSAFE & USCCA will both cover me? Despite the lack of those features, we have heard positive feedback from people who have used U.S. Law Shield, so they may be right for you. Other than financial help, the company also offers a comprehensive set of educational resources, training, resources, webinars, and magazines to educate people on concealed carry techniques and understanding of legal facts on carrying a firearm. It does not have multiple membership programs like USCCA, instead, the CCW assurance provider has a base coverage with optional add-ons that you can choose to include in your scheme. Yes, they pay the bond premium. I don’t know your monthly budget, your risk tolerance, nor whether you have a half million dollars in a bank account just waiting for you in case you have to use your firearm to defend yourself. Will CCW Safe fully cover me in said capacity? After that, they may require another advance payment or they’ll start to bill hourly. Of course it would have. Thank you for all you do to help and educate others. There are two types of licenses available, a limited term and unlimited lifetime license. Also, USCCA has a TON of extra resources and features that are important to many ccw holders. If an incident is determined to NOT be self defense, services will not be rendered. Thanks. If you can afford it, please consider a CCW insurance option that gives you a daily per diem (allowance every day) during a trial. CV, just remember, a .22 will stop a man if its it a direct kill zone, aka ,medulla etc. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. We think the 9mm vs 45 ACP for personal defense is done and relatively dusted. Also, none of these are actually “insurance,” they are pre-paid legal coverage. However, note that their limits are the lowest amongst the group. With regard to education, the establishment has a special Law Enforcement Program for on and off-duty law enforcement officers and there are also timely seminars and self-defense materials that their members can access to obtain in-depth knowledge about the legal implications of using a weapon in such situations and to prepare them for such cases. Hopefully today’s in-depth review and comparison of USCCA and US Law Shield will make it easier for many people, including you to understand how these two companies relate in terms of coverage. All questions have merit, especially for people who are new to guns. I love everything you do, Mr. Cleckner, and I know you wouldn’t provide anything but honest advice. USCCA offers tiered membership options with different pricing and sets of features. What happens if a plea deal is reached for a lesser charge for instance. Both organizations will not provide assistance if you are charged with violating a local law or ordinance that is not related to a self-defense situation. Be the first to rate this post. In my opinion, there’s nobody better at this than Andrew Branca of the Law of Self Defense and they have him as an advisor/expert for cases and they send out a newsletter with Andrew’s review of current cases across the country to help educate you on what you should and shouldn’t do. Even more reason to like CCW Safe. I can’t answer that question for you any more than I can answer whether health insurance is right for you. Therefore, I can confidently say that our recommendations are not motivated by the affiliate relationships – we’ve chosen to earn less because of our recommendations and we have a company with no relationship listed higher than a company with which we have a relationship. Other plans will also exclude legal representation against a member or covered person’s current or former family member, household or dating relationships. The low cost might be enticing, but if you choose Second Call Defense, you really should be looking at their higher tiers. As far as I know, there are no options for Washington state. If we were giving advice based only on referral money, the order would be different. USCCA was first founded as an educational corporation with the mission to educate people about concealed carry techniques and providing a discussion forum for handgun enthusiasts. Just getting “CCW Insurance” is NOT enough. Not only that, but the services of Texas Shield Law can even be extended to include activities such as hunting, multi-state coverage, minor children protection, and much more. ... [2021] – Safe Life Defense. 9mm 115 gr Federal FMJ vs 124 gr Federal Hydrashok, Top. I suggest you get an attorney that you have confidence in, that is the best you could find, and that you never have to wonder if they are doing what is best for you vs what is the cheapest for the insurance company. What we love about CCW Safe: The biggest reason we love CCW Safe is their unlimited and up-front coverage of certain legal expenses. Thank you for this – you caused me to scramble back and dive into the terms and conditions. Deciding which firearms insurance scheme is best for you depends on personal needs and circumstances. As difficult as it is to rank which ccw insurance is “best,” we’ve reviewed each company here with details about their coverage and costs. On top of getting access to subscriptions, useful training, and a monthly webinar, the Platinum Membership offers higher coverage to help you handle more complicated legal proceedings. Best CCW Insurance. However we realized that all services provide something more or less than others. Best IWB Holsters for Glock 19 in 2021. This is where USCCA has you protected as it provides a daily compensation and wages reimbursement / compensation while in court (Called per diem) to assist those with work loss to pay mortgage, life insurance, car insurance, and your family’s daily expenses, along with personal hardship and psychological support covers, while U.S. Law Shield does not. Nice article! However, if you’re a frequent traveller between states with a concealed weapon, then USCCA may be a better choice as it offers multi-state coverage without additional cost. Address: 40 S Main St, Tooele, UT 84074, United States, Saturday – Monday: Closed Thank you fellow Nebraskans who took time out of their day to voice their support for these bills. If the police say it is not self defense, it is exactly what these services are for: to help you in your criminal defense case. However, it’s likely that you’ll see the name USCCA and U.S. Law Shield appear frequently on your searches and it is no surprise considering these two CCW insurance providers are the two top companies on the market right now. civil defense and civil liability that will be covered next). The criminal defense money is usually meant to cover some of the costs associated with your defense in a criminal trial. One less option is NOT bad news for you. They all just say civil defense, which is only half of the issue. DO YOU have a listing that will work in Washington State. CCW Safe; Second Call Defense; All of the above are great choices for different needs. Been hood winked by to many of those type of companies so had to ask. I wanted to quote CCW Safe from their website : “Membership includes “bail premium” paid for up to a $250,000, bond; or up to a $500,000, bond; or up to a $1,000,000 bond depending on your selected level of service or plan restrictions. CCW Safe will select a bondsman and make arrangements for obtaining the bond. CCW Safe Summary: After comparing their coverage and costs to other companies, it was a no-brainer for me to purchase the Ultimate Plan from  CCW Safe for myself and my family. Hi! It is unlimited. This caused lawsuits for violating state laws and caused a significant payout as a fine. If you have a family, how will a financial hit of this size affect them. I prefer not to pay an additional $220/yr to get it with CCW Safe. This is why “concealed carry insurance” or “CCW insurance” has become a popular option for many people who carry a firearm for self defense. Required fields are marked *. Not all coverage options are equal and some are lacking in a few crucial areas. Liability insurance, according to investopedia, is an “insurance product that provides an insured party with protection against claims resulting from injuries and damage to other people or property.” Effectively it covers anything that you’d need to pay the costs for if you were found “liable” (responsible for). Although US Law Shield comes in at a low cost, the inability to pick your own attorney is a deal-breaker for us. That said, U.S. Law Shield is great for residents in a select few sectors that need a basic plan with unlimited legal safeguard at a low cost. A question has come up with regards to CCW SAFE…Does CCW have the financial resources and assets, as a fiscally sound company, to back up their coverage and payments listed under their plan ? This is where this package’s add-ons step in to protect you. This is due to an international treaty that was signed many years ago that forbids the use of expanding rounds. r/CCW: A subreddit to discuss the concealed carrying of weapons (CCW) and other self-defense topics. Q: What is the best concealed carry insurance?A: We think that CCW Safe is the best concealed carry insurance. This is worth considering if you often travel between areas with your weapon, especially since the insurance policy covers you regardless of whether you have a carry permit in that state or not. I just did a deep dive comparison video myself. Some providers will only provide you protection if you use an attorney they pick. The amount covered by USCCA depends on the membership package you subscribe to. Hunter Shield Protection (+$2.95 per month). Gun Holsters. US Law Shield offers a much affordable plan compared to USCCA for unlimited legal expenses coverage. Here's some HollyGOOD news: Lady Gaga’s dogs are safe and sound! There are MANY variables to consider when picking the right coverage for yourself. You very likely have heard about and may be shopping for liability insurance. Second Call Defense’s lowest tier option is the least expensive among the group of concealed carry insurance providers but it only comes with $10,000 of criminal defense protection and no civil defense protection. Either the evidence doesn’t clearly exonerate you or you may be an example for an anti-gun prosecutor to make. You absolutely must determine which features are best for you. We recommend a company that gives you a daily “Per Diem” payment while you’re in trial. If a lawyer fails to clear you… you lose. No – one of the bottom picks is also a referral link. I know LawShield does not pay forfeitures in a civil matter if the judgement goes against the defendant. I hope this helps and apologies if I explained it poorly. I’m still just a little confused about civil forfeitures. Other than firearms, the companies also cover other things like bats, knives, sticks, and so on. It is not unreasonable for a criminal defense case to cost a few hundred thousand dollars. U.S. Law Shield has an attorney to pick up your call while USCCA has an emergency response representative. However, if you’re only into concealed carry and/or open carry, you can skip this package extension. In addition, you may lose one or more of the civil cases and have to pay damages (money) which are covered by the next section, civil liability. There are a few reasons for this: all the money spent on the wrong lawyer(s) won’t help and there are many other costs that may be incurred (e.g. You also mention that even though you are a firearms attorney, you may not be the best choice. We still have no problems recommending Second Call Defense because they are a great company and we’ve heard nothing but high praise of their service. You can learn more about me here. If you love going out hunting, you should know that different states have different hunting laws. Ryan, I’m a retired Police Officer in New York State, HR-218 Qualified and I have CCW SAFE NY STATE LEO PLUS plan. When it comes to shopping for CCW insurance, most people are concerned with the criminal defense amount covered – and for good reason. Just because you’re covered under the scheme, it does not mean you don’t have to abide by local laws. Although no per diem, this is a decent option for CCW coverage as long as their fund stays full. The association has a large community of users and publishes regular magazines discussing different topics related to weapon carrying and legal updates. But personal defense handguns largely come down to the sense of security they impart. If you want more coverage, you can select from their list of add-on options to build the plan that fits you. Hi Ryan and thank you for this CCW “Review”. Most plans allow the criminal defense portion to cover your attorney fees in the criminal case and fees for experts, depositions, and investigative work. There are many insurance companies that provide criminal and civil defense protection insurance such as NRA Carry Guard, Second Call Defense, CCW Safe, ADLCN, and so on. The civil defense dollar amount is similar to the criminal defense coverage in that it is meant for attorney fees and other associated legal cost but it is meant solely for civil defense instead of criminal defense. The United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) comes in at the highest monthly cost, however, members get an amazing amount of features and benefits including a great online training library and checklist, guides, and even a monthly magazine. Daily Allowance / Per Diem: Having your legal expenses covered should be the most important concern. It has protection for 44 states only, whereas USCCA is available in 48 states excluding New York and Washington D.C. Over and above, the plans by USCCA includes your spouse in your house without having to pay extra. The company’s insurance  for concealed carry scheme also covers situations where they do not have a carry permit but have fired off a legal firearm. Although I can’t decide whether they’re also right for you, I can say that I have no hesitation of giving them my endorsement. On top of that, USCCA will also assist you in getting your confiscated weapon(s) back and firearm replacement after the lawsuit and the company also protects you in вЂ�gun-free zones’, both features that are not available in US Law Shield’s plan. 2 have a partial in Washington, but ZERO $$$$ for Bail or Lawer. Tuesday – Friday: 10am–7pm. It would take some prescence of mind for a civilian to pull that off under duress. Choosing the right option can help cover the costs of a criminal or civil trial. That seems like a huge deal these days and would be nice to see addressed in the charts above. So, what is the difference between civil and criminal? In fact, while they were active, we ranked their coverage and they came in at almost last place becuase they didn’t meet our three basic requirements we recommend above. You’ll see terms referring to coverage amounts like “criminal defense,” “civil defense,” “civil liability,” and “bail bond coverage.” Without knowing what each of these mean, you may not be able to make an informed decision. This add-on will cover all such legal defense budget for a minor should they be involved in such a situation. And then stop and think, you may not want to. You have a perfectly valid concern, but I can’t answer it for you as I don’t know. USCCA vs CCW Safe: Which is the Best CCW Insurance? Despite their lower coverage amounts, Second Call Defense is the only other CCW insurance company to meet all three of our must-have cow insurance guidelines. An excellent option with good coverage and lots of extra features (but at the highest price). 🙂. Additionally, Texas LawShield also has an extensive list of included covers and optional add-ons that you can include in their plan. You repeated the chart of USCCA expenses. Q; How do I get a concealed carry permit (CCW)?A: We cover the CCW process here: How to Get a CCW Guide. While both companies offer 24/7/365 emergency hotlines for you. If I am involved in a defensive shooting, whether or not I am cleared of any wrong doing, I can still be sued. For example, in the membership agreement forms a lot of the other companies state they will not pay for expert witness, private investigators, ballistic experts. Hopefully, you have the option to be released on bail. But, they will only pay up to $1,000,000 in damages if someone wins against you. Having an expert witness on the stand to give the judge and jury a bigger picture and in-depth facts about any subjects related to the crime scene can dramatically improve the changes of defending your innocence. However, after a bit of thought it made sense to me and I understand why they do it. After all, the biggest reason someone gets a legal defense protection plan is that they are worried about the legal costs associated if they are charged with a crime as a results of their defensive firearm use. What do you think the likelihood is for using your firearm in self defense? Also, there’s a bit of fine print to their unlimited coverage: they only cover up to half of their defense fund. As part of a defensive gun use, even if you aren’t charged with a crime, you may be sued by either the person you used a firearm against, their family, others involved, or even perhaps a business that suffered damages from the incident. Once NRA Carry Gaurd was shut down in a couple states, and due to other ways in which their plan was managed, they were no longer able to operate and they shut their coverage down. I think there’s too much of a chance of one company insisting that the other company should cover something. At first, there’s a lot to like about U.S. Law Shield. I tell them that in … Q: Is Concealed Carry insurance required by law?A: No, CCW insurance is not required by law – it is optional coverage for those who carry a concealed firearm. As part of each CCW legal defense option review, we’ll include specifications about the monthly cost for each as well as their respective coverage limits for civil and criminal defense. As you can read below, we recommend that you look for three crucial parts of concealed carry legal coverage: choice of attorney, payment vs reimbursement, and per diem rates. Shipping Firearms Guide [2021] How to Ship a Gun, Introduction of Gun Wiki to Gun University, Gun Sales and Manufacturing Statistics [2021]. Choose the best weapons, improve their shooting and increase their knowledge on their rights. You did not show the expense chart for US Law Shield. Unfortunately, this is a deal breaker for us. ... Best CCW Positions – Recommended Holsters Of 2021. However, such witnesses do not come cheap. How does the price stack up in relation to the coverage offered? The more financial coverage you want, the higher monthly fees you pay. US Law Shield vs USCCA – Everything You Need to know, The creation of a united group to provide awareness, education, and protection, Education is the main priority for the members, Empowerment to act without fear of the consequences in a self-defense situation, Provide strength in numbers for legal and financial protection, A large member base for strength and financial stability, Legal support from a pool of verified defense attorneys from their legal defense network, Freedom to exercise your second amendment rights without fear, Comprehensive sets of education and training programs, Membership Comparison for USCCA and U.S. Law Shield, Self-defense legal expenses max: $600,000, Civil court defences and damages: $500,000, Criminal defense protection and up-front attorney retainer: $100,000, Bail bond funding: $5,000 (a maximum of 10% of total bond value up to this amount), Other miscellaneous bill during legal hearings, Compensation during civil defense legal action sessions: $350/day, Emotional and trauma/psychological support: $3,000, Self-defense legal expenses max: $1,150,000, Criminal defense and up-front attorney retainer: $150,000, Bail bond funding: $25,000 (a maximum of 10% of total bond value up to this amount), Other miscellaneous payments during legal hearings, Compensation during civil defense legal suit sessions: $500/day, Emotional and psychological support: $4,000, Concealed Carry Magazine subscription with 5 Years access to back issues, Access to interactive “Ask An Attorney” monthly webinar, Self-defense legal fees max: $2.25 million, Civil suit defense and damages: $2 million, Criminal defense protection and up-front attorney retainer: $250,000, Bail money: $50,000 (a maximum of 10% of total bond value up to this amount), Other miscellaneous charges during legal hearings, Compensation during civil defense legal action sessions: $750/day, Emotional and psychological support: $6,000, Concealed Carry Magazine subscription with lifetime access to back issues, Entry and Elite VIP experience in USCCA Concealed Carry Expo. Although Second Call Defense appears to meet the requirements in a more budget friendly package, you get more features and value with the lower tier options of USCCA. Bail is a security amount paid to ensure your return for the upcoming court case. You are right, many people are at risk of domestic violence (way too many) and that is why they are likely to have a firearm and need to defend themselves. With the rising number of cases of kids carrying weapons on the news, serious and fatal use of guns is definitely a cause of concern these days. I am an attorney. Both organizations place a strong emphasis on the education and understanding of their members on any legal updates, laws, and other data of importance. Hopefully, you will find something useful over here or just have fun! You can pick your own attorney, you get money up front and you get a per diem during trial. To further understand the bail system, please check out this article we found: How Do Bail Bonds Work. Generally, if you live in PA, TX, or UK, the U.S. Law Shield seems to be a greater choice because of its coverage and pricing. In addition to that, the US Law Shield base coverage also offers some educational perks to provide better understanding of legal boundaries in a self-defense situation. Other deciding factors as to why I picked the USCCA is other companies exclusions. They will provide unlimited attorney representation, but the member may be left hanging in the breeze. Money Up Front: Reimbursement is better than nothing, but most people don’t have the few hundred thousand dollars that might be required laying around to cover the legal costs and attorney retainer up front. Second, you should buy around 500-1,000 rounds of your chosen self-defense ammo, then fire 100-200 rounds for reliability testing in your chosen self-defense weapon. The organization also provides ongoing and focused training as part of their educational process. They also offer “Church Security Team Coverage” and “Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag)” coverage. Top 8 Best IWB Holsters for Glock 26 in 2021 Reviews. However, do take note that you’ll have to bear the additional expenses from your own bank account and life savings should your case get more complicated. The civil defense amount is very important because there is no limit to the number of lawsuits that may be brought against you. I am even an attorney that specializes in firearms law. Others who don’t follow you might think it too coincidental that your top two recommendations happen to be those with referral links! Each person or group involved may sue you separately and the costs can really add up. The regulation has its own twists and turns, which is why several court cases can go on for months before a decision is made. Thanks for the support and accountability! If you are covered up to a $1 million bail amount, for example, often only 10% of the money will actually need to be put down and therefore the provider would pay $100,000. However, if the extra features and the highest per diem amount don’t matter much to you, then you can save some money and even get some higher legal defense coverage with some other options. Instead, we are giving advice based on what coverages are offered. If you choose an ineffective criminal defense attorney, your freedom and livelihood is at risk. Both USCCA and US Law Shield are very popular among gun owners. This is something worth considering if you have children staying with you. With this package extension, you’ll be covered by the company in any legal situations as a result of using your firearm in self-defense across all 50 states in the U.S., including Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. You should look consider the Family / Intimate Partner exclusion clause and see if the rankings still hold up. and it states coverage for Civil AND Criminal is $1,000,000. Even though you used your CCW firearm in self defense that you believe was justified, you still may be prosecuted. However, this plan is not available for purchase by residents of 6 U.S. States. Your email address will not be published. If I like that person and feel that they are good for me, I’d go with them. If there is no criminal trial (if you’re not charged with a crime), then this money won’t be used. However, no free choice on your own attorney and no per diem bumps them out of the running for our recommended concealed carry insurance. In the same specs table you’ll also see how each company measures up against our three “must haves” for legal coverage. Did you select them? Depending on which option you choose to go with, these costs can all be covered for you. As you likely know, there are many different variables and coverage amounts between these coverage plans – this is why it can be difficult to compare them. This is great as you don’t have to worry about being represented by a lawyer who may have priorities other than proving your innocence. Most attorneys, especially criminal defense attorneys, will require the payment of a retainer to “retain” their services. An example would be if the Covered Member received a $100,000 bond, CCW Safe would pay the $10,000 premium. Bought Hellcat based on your recommendations and it is a great EDC. Regardless, this is a great list of the the available options in CCW insurance. Here’s a quick summary and ranking of concealed carry protection options for those of you looking for a quick comparison and just want to know which CCW protection option ranks highest. If you lose a civil suit, even though your legal costs during the lawsuit(s) may have been covered by the civil defense amounts above, you may have to pay damages. Also, if you’re wondering why the NRA is not on this list, feel free to check out our section on NRA Concealed Cary Insurance below. For the unlimited coverage, CCW Safe does cover your legal defense costs for both criminal and civil lawsuits without a limit. by Ryan Cleckner Jan 16, 2021 38 comments 4.9 (112). Here is the breakdown of organization’s comprehensive coverage: Legal defense expenses for Civil and Criminal Defense Protection: Unlimited. CCW Safe will facilitate acquisition of the bail bond and pay the premium, but not more than 10% of the listed bond. However, the company also allows you to choose other add-ons to suit your needs. You would work in a pinch but are not an active defense attorney. Civil liability does not cover your attorney fees from your civil suit. CCW Safe does not put up the collateral for the bond, as this is the responsibility of the Covered Member to coordinate through the bondsmen.