321: Protecting Your Family, Weapons Selection and Mistakes to Avoid with Clay Martin

I realize that talking about guns can be a touchy subject for some people.  But the reality is, a lot of our kids are exposed to guns at a very young age, even if it’s just from video games.  And when you consider the fact that there are tons of new first-time gun owners over the past two years, I thought this was an important conversation to have. Some of you have probably thought about purchasing a gun for protection at some point, maybe you’re even thinking about it now. That’s why I’m thrilled to share this conversation that I just had with a legit badass and share his expertise about how to protect your family with gun ownership.  Clay Martin is a former Reconnaissance Marine, USMC Scout Sniper, and a retired Green Beret. By the end of his career, he finished as a Professional Gunner 3, which is basically at a triathlete level in the professional shooting world. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s also coached a team in the SWAT Olympics.  Did you think I was kidding about the badass comment?  And while he wasn’t born with natural skills, by learning over a long period of time, it’s made him a better teacher.  You’ll learn that there is so much more that we need to think about before making that purchase, including teaching our kids that airsoft guns are not toys and how to be a responsible gun owner. We also run through a real-life scenario where Clay guides me through what we should and shouldn’t do. For those of you who might be considering purchasing a weapon for protection, Clay has a ton of great advice that is on point. We’ll talk about all things you need to know before you head to the store, the types of guns that he recommends (including airsoft guns), and how steep the learning curve really is to be effective and accurate with a gun in your hands. Clay Martin Podcast Highlights How Clay's experience with guns started at a young age, and how hard he worked to improve his skills as a Marine and in scout sniper school. How Clay developed his skills and became a great teacher since he wasn’t born with natural talent. The questions that a dad should ask when thinking about arming himself to protect his family. Why Clay recommends another weapon like a hatchet or an airsoft gun for someone who has zero experience with guns as the first option for home protection. How an airsoft gun is an excellent entry point to gun ownership to help learn the basic mechanisms and hold a gun. Never let your kids play with an airsoft gun. Make sure they understand that it’s a real weapon. Save the nerf guns for playtime. Why Clay recommends a concealed carry gun like an AR-15 pistol as a first purchase, and the other brands he’d recommend. How steep the learning curve is to fire a pistol effectively, and why a rifle or AR-15 pistol is much safer for accuracy. What you need to know about concealed carry. The things you can do to protect yourself in the event of a home invasion. A reminder the next Online Summit will take place on March 24, 2022 and when the next window will open for new memberships. Get the Full Show Notes Want access to the full show notes, including links to all resources mentioned during today's conversation? Visit FrontRowDads.com/321 Want to learn more about Front Row Dads? We are in the business of building better families. While most dads would say that family matters most, the challenge is they feel guilty knowing their careers get the best of them, and their family seems to get the rest of them. We help Dads become family men with businesses, not businessmen who have families, so they can thrive personally AND professionally. Subscribe to the Front Row Dad podcast to learn about fatherhood, marriage and how to level up your game at home, or if you’re ready for the best coaching and true brothers to grow with, Join The Brotherhood! Are you getting all the shows? Subscribe today! Want to leave a review? THANK YOU! http://FrontRowDads.com/review