The National Rifle Association has finally decided to get serious about the post-incident legal protection and launched NRA Carry Guard, their new product to compete against the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) and a host of others.
Did I mention that they went high-profile with this?
I wasn’t kidding. This was what we saw when we walked into the SHOT Show 2018 convention center…
… and this was the primary entrance to the show floor itself.
Subtle, they are not.
But how does NRA Carry Guard stack up to all the other post-incident legal plans out there?
Fortunately for you, I’ve written about this sort of thing in the past, so I can attempt some sort of apples to apples comparison of all the plans out there.
All the information on this comparison chart was created from either from what was on each plan’s website or from talking with representatives of each plan in-person or on the phone.
As such, there are some gaps, as I’ve not managed to pry some info out of the few companies on this list, and I recommend you read your policy very carefully before you sign anything.
And now after tons of people asking, I’ve written up a dedicated USCCA Review on why I chose it for my personal needs.
Comparing NRA Carry Guard To Other Plans
| CCW Safe | Second Call Basic | Texas / U.S. Law Shield | USCCA Silver | Armed Citizens Network | Self Defense Association Gold | NRA Carry Guard Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bail | $25,000 / $250,000 | $1,000 / $10,000 | $2,500 / $25,000 | $2,500 / $25,000 | $25,000 + Merits | 10% of Bail | $2,500 / $25,000 |
| Your Own Attorney | - | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Criminal Defense | Y | $10,000 | Legal Fees Only | $50,000 | $25,000 + Merits | $100,000 Combined | $50,000 |
| Civil Defense | Y | N | Legal Fees Only | $250,000 Combined | Based On Merits | $100,000 Combined | $250,000 Combined |
| Civil Damages | N | N | Legal Fees Only | $250,000 Combined | Based On Merits | $100,000 Combined | $250,000 Combined |
| Any Weapon | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Expert Witnesses | Y | Y | N | Up To Coverage Limits | Y | - | Y |
| "First Dollar" Coverage | Y | Up To $2,000 | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Cost | $129/year | $9.95/mo or $119/yr | $16.85/mo or $202.20/yr + $19.95 setup | $13/mo or $147/yr | $135/yr | $15.92/mo or $179/yr | $13.95/mo or $154.95/yr |
How does NRA Carry Guard stack up? Well, as a self-insurance, it’s right in there with the rest of them. I’m glad to see them get serious about this product because they’ve been leaving money on the table for a long time now and others have jumped into the fray with some pretty good results.
So now that we’ve covered the lower-end of the spectrum, not the “Cadillac” plans, let’s look at how things shape up at the top end of the scale, and compare USCCA Elite CCW insurance versus NRA Carry Guard Gold Plus concealed carry legal insurance.
NRA Carry Guard Gold Plus
Aside from all the benefits listed below, NRA Carry Guard Gold Plus comes with a one-year membership in the NRA. The NRA also recently had a “Carry Guard Expo” featuring training opportunities and a trade show, and instructors can also add NRA Carry Guard training to what they teach.
Coverage costs EITHER $550 a year OR $49 a month, and the NRA is promoting Carry Guard very heavily right now. The NRA’s coverage is “first dollar” coverage: You will have to pay for your lawyers in some way, then, if you are acquitted, the NRA will reimburse you. NRA CarryGuard also covers your spouse if they need to use a firearm to defend a life, and it covers firearms only, not the use of other means of lethal force.
USCCA Self Defense Shield Elite
USCCA membership comes with a subscription to Concealed Carry magazine (my first article for them should show up early next year), and coverage costs EITHER $497 a year or $47 a month. The USCCA puts on a “Concealed Carry Expo” each year, and has so for the past four years.
The USCCA also has their own cadre of trainers with their own training program as well.
USCCA self-defense insurance covers your spouse and also covers anyone under the age of 21 in your household if they need to use lethal force to defend a life.
They cover most means of lethal force (knives, pointed sticks, fresh fruit) as well as the use of a firearm. The USCCA’s coverage starts immediately, which means there are no out-of-pocket expenses incurred by you up to the limits of your policy if you are acquitted.
| NRA CarryGuard Gold+ | USCCA Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthy Fee OR | $50 | $47 |
| Yearly Fee (Not Both) | $550 | $497 |
| Criminal Coverage | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| Civil Coverage | $1,500,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Bail | Yes | Yes |
| "First Dollar" Coverage | No | Yes |
| Spouse Also Covered | Yes | Yes |
| Any Weapon | No | Yes |
| Wage Compensation While In Court | Yes | Yes |
| Training Resources | Yes | Yes |
| Choose Your Own Attorney | Yes | Yes |
| SIGN UP | SIGN UP |
Conclusion
What one is best for you is something only you can decide, but at least now you have the information to make a wise decision.
As for me…I’m a current USCCA member…take it for what it’s worth. And again, here’s my full review of USCCA.
The USCCA information needs to be updates. I could not find the Silver plan on their site. Also, the link to the Self Defense Association did not work.