So You Got a Gun for Christmas. Now What?

With today being the day after Christmas, a lot of people might well have gotten their first firearm out from under the tree. If so, that’s great. Welcome to the club. You’ll like it here, I think.

However, you may have questions about what to do now. If so, we’ve got some suggestions on where to start and what to do going forward.

While I will list these in order of importance as I see it, others will disagree about the order, I’m sure. Honestly, what really matters is that you hit all of these that apply to you and your situation. Most will be, but there are going to be exceptions.

First, you need a way to secure your firearm. If you got a brand new gun, it likely came with a gun lock. That’s OK for now, and it’s great for keeping small, unauthorized hands from doing something they shouldn’t be doing, but they’re not ideal for preventing theft. You want a gun safe of some kind; something that can’t be transported easily. A large, fireproof safe is ideal, but something that bolts to the wall or floor is better than nothing.

Proper storage is vital.

You also need to look up the applicable laws in your state, and, depending on where you live, you’ll want to see what they are in your city or county. Ignorance of the law is no defense in court, so make sure you understand your obligations under the law. Yes, they might be unconstitutional, but unless you want to establish standing to become a case challenging the law, follow it.

If you’re one of those who got a handgun for personal defense, you need to ask if you’re going to carry it or if you’re going to keep it at home. Personally, I recommend carrying, since bad things happen outside the home all the time, and having a firearm on your person is far better than not.

While checking the laws in your area, you should also check the concealed carry laws. Following the case of NYSPRA vs. Bruen, every state is “shall issue” for concealed carry permits, whether they want to be or not. Most states are constitutional carry, meaning you don’t need a permit to carry there, but it’s a slim majority, so check and make sure you’re in the clear before you carry anything. If your state requires a permit, get one, even if you aren’t sure you’re going to carry. At least then you have it, and in many places, you can show that instead of waiting for a background check to come through when you buy your next gun.

And you will probably want another gun down the road.

Next, you need to get some training. What form that training should take will depend on what kind of firearm you have and what you got it for. At a minimum, you need some basic gun safety training. That is available through a number of sources, and you probably have a trainer somewhere near you. The NRA’s training in this area is fantastic, but there are other variations that are about as good. Learn how to handle your firearm safely.

Also, find a range, because basic safety is only the start. You’ll need to practice with your firearm, no matter why you got it. The last thing you need is a stray shot that misses an intruder and hits a family member, so go to the range and practice and practice until you’re sick of it, then keep practicing. Shooting is a perishable skill, so keep it up.

Basic safety and basic marksmanship are only the start, though. Depending on why you wanted a gun, there are a lot of classes that will help hone your skills and knowledge so that you understand not just how to use that firearm, but what an awesome responsibility it is.

Next, start looking at gun rights organizations and join as many as you’re able. All work to defend your right to keep and bear arms, and that means fighting for laws that won’t treat you like a criminal. You may not be interested in Second Amendment politics right now, but when you’ve had to defend your gun ownership for the umpteenth time because some Karen thinks only criminals and would-be criminals would want to own a firearm, you’ll start to understand some of what we’re up against.

Learn to fight for your rights now, unless you want to see them stripped away later on.

And again, congratulations on your new gun.

Also, I’m sure the comments will have some people filling in suggestions of things I completely forgot about while writing this, so in this case, read the comments!

Editor’s Note: To celebrate Christmas and ring in 2026, Bearing Arms is matching our biggest sale ever on VIP memberships. Now through January 1, until 11:59 pm PT, receive 74% off a VIP membership using promo code MERRY74!